Two weekends ago, I took a drive.
I started in Mountain View, then drove up into the hills where I followed Skyline Boulevard north. Every mile or so, the trees would clear and I would be treated to a view of the valley to my right or the hills to my left.
At one point I stopped to take pictures, and a train of Dodge Vipers passed me going the other direction. This happens more frequently in Silicon Valley than one would expect. A few weeks before, I passed a train of Lotus Elises on the same road.
I turned south on Highway 1 near Half Moon Bay. Not long after that, I stopped at a rocky beach where I got my first close look at the Pacific.
Some fishermen got an even closer look when they tried to help an injured pelican.
Unfortunately, it had a broken wing, and they could not do anything for it.
As I continued south the sky cleared and the air warmed. Near Santa Cruz I passed a windy bay that was filled with dozens of wind and kite surfers.
The last leg of my trip went quickly. I passed through Santa Cruz and crossed the hills back into Silicon Valley and home.