It’s another sunny clear day here in San Jose, and I’m stuck at work in a windowless office trying to work on something I don’t particularly feel like doing. I wish I could hop on my bike and ride away to a carefree, beautiful place with the breeze on my face and the sun on my back. Somewhere where I can be free like a kid again.
I want to run away to the beach town of Santa Cruz like my mixte did last weekend, sadly without me.
My friend Richard borrowed my bike for the Bike Snob NYC video shoot, and kept her for the weekend at his home in Scott’s Valley, just up the hill from Santa Cruz. When we met for the handoff I said, “If you ride her anywhere interesting, please take a photo for my Where’s My Bike Today? series.”
Little did I know that he would take dozens of amazing photos of my Susie Q PUBLIC all over town, including a few favorites below. Quite an adventure for a sweet little bike, one that I know I could do with a short ride to the Diridon station and a bus ride over the hill. If only I didn’t have to do this adult thing called work.
If you could run away for the day–today–where would you go?
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- First step to getting out of San Jose: Hopping a bus for a ride over the hill.
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- Heading down the hill from Scott’s Valley takes Susie Q through the redwood forest.
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- Roaring Camp railroad used to haul lumber, now it hauls tourists.
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- Recognize this trestle bridge? It was featured in the movie Lost Boys.
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- Lots of gulls feeding in the San Lorenzo River.
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- The Beach Boardwalk is Santa Cruz’s version to Coney Island.
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- Santa Cruz is a surfer’s paradise.
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- West Cliff Drive is a great place to hang out and watch the surfers.
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- Susie Q dipped her wheel in the ocean at Cowell Beach.
All photos in this post were taken by Richard Masoner of Cyclelicious and are used with his permission.
Richard Masoner (@cyclelicious)
February 12, 2013 at 2:09 pm
Your bike had an awesome time at the beach. You should take her out more often.
Bonus points for anybody who can guess which photo I ‘shopped to remove the Coca Cola cup.
ladyfleur
February 12, 2013 at 2:25 pm
The Coca Cola cup was wedged under the kickstand, right? I think I know, but I’ll hold off to give someone else a chance.
Rachel Unger
February 12, 2013 at 4:02 pm
She’s so photogenic!
The last few days have been glorious. I wanted to be out along Canada Road, m’self.
ladyfleur
February 12, 2013 at 4:16 pm
She is photogenic, but Richard definitely brought out the best in her. He’s a great photographer. You’ll find his bike photos in lots of publications and articles.
By the way, I ran into a guy named Nathan on Caltrain last night who said a woman who reads my blog recognized him from this photo: http://wp.me/p1sDc4-42G Was that you?
Rachel Unger
February 12, 2013 at 4:20 pm
Nope, not me – though I keep wondering if I’ll run into you one day and be that person. “Hey! I know you from the internet!”
ladyfleur
February 12, 2013 at 4:23 pm
That’s only happened once. We were riding home after a Bike Date Friday and a woman on a recumbent trailed us for a bit, then pulled alongside and asked: “would this be a bike date perhaps?” Made our night.
TinLizzie72
February 12, 2013 at 6:43 pm
I’m kinda jealous of your bike! It’s been a while since I’ve been anywhere near Southern CA, and now I’m longing to feel wet beach sand. And maybe rent a fatty cruiser for some nice slow, flat beach biking. : )
ladyfleur
February 12, 2013 at 8:56 pm
Santa Cruz is a definitely Southern California-style beach town, but the natives would probably bristle if you said so. It’s the kind of place where people have high end road or mountain bikes AND a fat tired cruiser with a surfboard rack. Fun place.