Our first stop this morning was to the Gilroy Mercantile that had an advertisement in one of the brochures that sounded like it would be nothing but garlic.  And it turned out to be a quilt store also!  We did have to kill about 20 minutes waiting for it to open at 10:00, but sure glad we waited.  I had a wonderful time in there (NO surprise!) and bought a 'few' yards of fabric and a t-shirt while Tom shopped the garlic section.  I could have spent hours in there (even he was impressed with the fabric selection) but we have 'places to go and things to do' between here and San Francisco.  And Linda heard us discussing the garlic wine we saw advertised on a sign, and said it's surprisingly good.  Who'd have thunk?

Back to the shop that was closing last night - and I got to have garlic ice cream for 'breakfast'!  Tom ate the vanilla, I ate the chocolate (of course, because if it's not chocolate, why bother?) and we both enjoyed our treats.  Then to the winery next door, where they had free tasting.  (Their door was fashioned from a wine cask.)

Once on the road again, heading back to the coast and highway 1, we took a very scenic drive through canopies of trees that reminded me of Mink Hollow. We passed a sign for Vineyard Pre-School; guess some folks wanna start their kids young?  And speaking of signs, I got a chuckle out of one across from the quilt store this morning whose sign merely said Weddings and Car Insurance; quite the combination!

In Watsonville we stopped at a fruit stand and got some fruit to snack on: sweet strawberries, tasty grape tomatoes, a couple of peaches, and a watermelon.  Tom also had his picture taken with a brussel sprout stalk, first one he'd ever seen.  Gee, Mom, thought of you!

In Santa Cruz, while heading to the wharf, I spotted a quilt store on the right (and naturally we were in the left lane) but Tom got us there.  Nice stuff,  but what I really wanted was a dog panel that was already cut into squares and sitting on a shelf.  They've never carried that panel, so obviously someone brought them in to match fabrics.  Hope she figures out where she left them and returns to claim them... but just in case she never does, I left my card.  The wharf was disappointing; no shops, just expensive restaurants.  Did see more seals lounging below the pier.

Stopped along the coast near Ano Nuevo to watch some wind surfers.  It looks like fun, but I'm thinking that even with a wetsuit (and they were all wearing one, of course) I'd still be chilly.  Tom even mentioned how windy/nippy it was in the parking lot while we watched.  I saw more pelicans flying 'neatly' overhead, but none down on the sand where I could get a good picture.

We are both surprised at how much prime real estate, right on the ocean, is being used for agriculture. I have to assume that the land has been in the family for generations (did see some old farmhouses and barns) because this close to San Francisco (30 miles?) land would obviously sell for a pretty penny!

Late lunch (early dinner?) in Halfmoon Bay.  Ate at the BBQ caboose on Lisa's recommendation, and  it was good.  Then in Pacifica we passed Gorilla BBQ, also in a caboose.  I saw a great sign coming into Pacifica: All Day Dog Playcare, at some ranch.  Lucky dogs!

Some issues getting to the motel - where we wanted/needed to turn left there were no left turns allowed.  And as that sign warned, no left turns for the next 3 miles!  If we'd known that we would have turned sooner.  Next time, right? <g> Eventually we fixed the problem by making a series of right turns - and the motel, by the ocean, was right where we expected it to be.  All checked in and now just waiting until closer to sunset to head on over.  In the meantime I'm stretched out and giving my back a rest.