Another of our favorite bike paths is just 25 minutes from our door, along the shoreline of Santa Cruz, California.

This is not a “workout” path where you can haul along at 20mph+ – it’s more of a cruise-and-look-around journey. We laze along at 10mph or less, making many stops for sightseeing and pictures. People-watching is also great sport here, with young and old folks out-and-about enjoying the seaside air. If you enjoy the eye-candy aspect of this (and who doesn’t?), there are plenty of handsome lads and lasses to capture your admiration along the route.

Weekday outings are one of the many blessings of retirement, and we parked easily at Seabright Beach (no fees) to begin our ride. There is only a short stretch to cross the river and then the path begins at the famous Boardwalk. From the Wharf, we sprinted up a brief hill to get our blood pumping, and then the cruise began along West Cliff Drive.

Many pleasant sights along the path….

The wave action wasn’t enough to make the blow-hole perform – but on good days, it will spout 40 feet into the air.

The bridge part of Natural Bridges is long-gone, but the area is still a pretty spot. It also (slightly inland) hosts a large seasonal congregation of the world-famous Monarch butterfly migration.

Lots of nice views along the path, with many benches placed for a rest or contemplation.

Pelicans routinely patrol the updrafts along the cliffs. They will glide swiftly by only a few feet away, supreme masters of the winds and waters. Lovely bird.

A very secluded, clothing-optional beach, invisibly in the front yard of the West Cliff homes.

Here, the cliff on the left reflects incoming waves back out to sea. You can see one wave headed to the right (outbound) and another headed to the left(inbound). Sometimes when they meet, they will send up a 40-foot geyser of foamy water.

The afternoon breezes brought the sailors out to play.

And of course the ever-present surfers along Steamer Lane.

There’s even a surfer commemorative bronze.

Near the end of our ride, we stopped by the Wharf…

…for one of our guilty pleasures, a great ice cream shop (invisible at the far end of the buildings).

Thus suitably carb-ed up (to avoid the risk of any unintended weight loss), we rode across the bridge and back to the car. Yet another fine day not working. Highly recommended.