San Francisco -> Santa Cruz - 82 miles

San Francisco -> Santa Cruz - 82 miles

Heading south on Highway 1, one of the most beautiful drives of my life, was proof in itself that I made the right choice to ditch Napa Valley. Just south of San Francisco I see two hitchhikers with a sign reading SOUTH. Having never hitchhiked or given a ride, I decide that my trip is going to be full of firsts, and pull the bus over. Moments later a breathless trio arrives. Jaded, as he introduced himself to me, is carrying a pack that seems to just about match his weight. With week old growth, a nose ring, and plentiful tattoos he fits the image of an aimless wanderer perfectly. Dahlia sidles up to my driver side window, with Highway 1 traffic blaring past just feet from her back, and introduces herself with a dead-fish handshake. Curly haired ginger that she is, (thats for you mikey) she has tried to tie it back with a bandana, but the bandana is losing. She makes her way around the front of the bus and I finally lay eyes on the third member of the troupe, Zucca, an exhausted German Shepherd. As it turns out, Zucca is the entertainer. Dahlia belts out the first lines of “I’m walking on sunnnshinne” by Katrina and the Waves, and Zucca, right on cue howls “hooo ohhhh!!”

Again, I made the right choice...