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It was a gorgeous November day when Sharon and I drove south past Santa Cruz to Aptos.

There is a large resort along the clifs overlooking Monterey Bay and parts of the long stretch of beach. During the off season we were able to book a one bedroom suite near the pool for only $139 a night. So we spent the day walking along the grounds and the beach below.

Lunch was outdoors with a nice view. The whole complex has numerous buildings overlooking the ocean. There are studios as well as two bedroom suites.
A path leads you through a narrow canyon to the beach below and pampas grass growths against the hills and amongst the cypress trees as you descend.

It was very quiet and we hardly saw a soul. A few people were walking their dogs on the beach, but most of the rooms were empty this time of the year.

Although it was sunny, there was a cool breeze and certainly not bathing suit weather. But we almost had the miles and miles of beach to ourselves as we walked about a mile south.

Later in the afternoon we relaxed with a book and cocktails on the little porch. This is when I thought I saw a small sail boat way off shore. It disappeared behind one of the cypress trees. Then Sharon saw another one and soon we realized that we were watching the spray of humpback whales migrating south for the winter. There must have been a dozen or so.

It was still early when we watched the sun set behind the cypress trees. Dinner was at the Shadowbrook Restaurant in Capitola. It is an old but scenic place that has served good food at a beautiful setting for many years. The following morning, I took a three or four mile hike along the beach, 'cooled off' in the spa one more time, and then we headed home again.