The fog lifted enough this morning for a clear ride out from Monterey to Santa Cruz.  As our formation rolled down the highway, a California Highway Patrol car came alongside to check out our style, then gave us a wave and a flash of his patrol lights to wish us well on our journey.

By the time we reached Santa Cruz Harley-Davidson, the sun was fully out, and the day was almost as warm as the welcome we received!  Santa Cruz HD has been a great supporter of Amazon Heart over the years, and not only offered some excellent shopping, but lunch and gifts for all the group!

As we were eating lunch we had some surprise guests drop in – Jenny who rode with us in ’07, and Rhonda – an Amazon Heart US Foundation Board member, who rode with us for all or part of every US ride and the first Australian one.  Some of the local Ladies of Harley and HOG members also came out to say hello.

One special visitor was Cheryl, a young breast cancer survivor just finishing her chemo who heard about the ride and came down to make a donation and say hello.  She stayed for lunch and we were proud to give her one of our special Amazon Heart ride buffs.

Heading out from Santa Cruz it was time for our van drivers to start feeling the wind in their hair!  Beth jumped on the back of Meredith’s Road Glide, and with the stereo pumping we headed out into the beautiful redwoods on Highway 9.  Rhonda, Jenny and our friends from HOG rode along with us.

The smell of the redwoods and peacefulness of the forest was breathtaking, as were the fantastic twisty roads.  After an hour of fantastic riding, we pulled over to give Anna a turn on the back of Meredith’s bike, and brief again for our run down to Half Moon Bay.  We said goodbye to our HOG friends and hit the road again.

Heading back out again we came across a few challenges!  Kathy was stung by a bee and had to pull over.  The rest of the group found itself on one of the tiniest most twisty roads we have been on, and Collette had to pull over with a bee stuck in her helmet!

Down the other end of the road we all regrouped, and talked about how incredible the day’s ride through the forest was.  The road out to Half Moon Bay brought us back to the ocean with stunning views of sun shining on water, and cliffs and coastline.

Coming into Half Moon Bay the local paper came out to photograph us as we rode in.  A quick gas stop, and then a beautiful ride past pumpkin fields and farms, and on to the 280 to head into Palo Alto.  Our hotel stop for the night was generously supported by the Westin and Sheraton who gave us an incredible deal to be able to stay in luxury right in Palo Alto.