My 20,000 miles on BMW's

[ian408]

Now that I have your attention...

The clock turned over 4K on the GS today. This makes over 20K miles on BMW's. More
miles on other bikes but a significant milestone for me.

One significant difference today is that motorcycling has been more than
just a means of transportation or sport riding. I have finally learned to
merge the joy of riding with my desire to see and learn about the great
state of California. Not to mention I've met some pretty neat people.

Carrying on with a theme in my last report (you did notice there was
something of a theme, right?), I headed over to Santa Cruz to visit
Santa Cruz Mission.

Santa Cruz is the 12th mission and founded in 1791. Unfortunately, the only
part of the mission that remains is the neophyte housing. Most of the other
buildings were demolished when the production output of the mission fell
below what was considered acceptable levels for the times (hmmm....). In 1860,
a new church was built on the old ground. Holy Cross is a rather modern looking
structure built on the old mission site.

http://ian408.smugmug.com/photos/11668296-M.jpg

When the mission closed, families were given ownership of the rooms they
occuppied. Some stayed but most left within 10 years. One women
(Cornelia Hopcroft) lived there until her death in 1983. It was Ms. Hopcroft
that sold the land and the adobe to the state of California on condition she
be allowed to live there for the rest of her life.

Here's a shot looking down the mission's exterior.

http://ian408.smugmug.com/photos/11668289-M.jpg

A couple of examples of the living accommodations. Rather spartan on
this side...

http://ian408.smugmug.com/photos/11668291-M.jpg

And oppulent on this end...

http://ian408.smugmug.com/photos/11668292-M.jpg

The church was reconstructed on a slightly different site and now
looks like this...

http://ian408.smugmug.com/photos/11668297-M.jpg

http://ian408.smugmug.com/photos/11668293-M.jpg

Of course what trip to Santa Cruz would be complete without a stop on West Cliff
Drive for a picture of the Boardwalk?

http://ian408.smugmug.com/photos/11667686-M.jpg

Or the surfers?

http://ian408.smugmug.com/photos/11675810-M.jpg

http://ian408.smugmug.com/photos/11668298-M.jpg

http://ian408.smugmug.com/photos/11675813-M.jpg

Or maybe you just want to wander on the beach...

http://ian408.smugmug.com/photos/11676030-M.jpg

If you've read this far, thank you. I hope you enjoyed this little bit of
California's history.

[BradfordBenn]

Very cool :clap

Congrats.

[SNC1923]

Ian,

Enjoy your thoughtful reports and your good photography. Though a fan of architectural studies (like the missions) I really enjoyed the surfer pics, too.

Thanks for sharing with us.
:wave

[Rad]

When you were look'n at that church, ya could have turned and spit on dbrick's house, not that you would want to.:D

And, when you were look'n at the surfers, you were a few blocks from my house. :thumb

Welcome to Santa Cruz :wave

[ian408]

When you were look'n at that church, ya could have turned and spit on dbrick's house, not that you would want to.:D

And, when you were look'n at the surfers, you were a few blocks from my house. :thumb

Welcome to Santa Cruz :wave

I sneezed walking back down the way--you think I might have hit dbrick's
place? I hope not.

I tell you, except for tourist season, you are both pretty lucky.

Ian