ACTUAL DATE: 9th feb...Waited round until 10ish to pick Barney up from the Caltrain to go red wood hunting near the coast. Stop 1... Santa Cruz pier. Saw some lovely and very noisy sea lions who are apparently different from seal as noticeable by their ears (they have pokey out ones) then had a candy/ caramel apple; good thing I went to the dentist before I left! Then a not-too-bad coffee and back into the car to find the 'big ben' redwood. Stopped at the designated parking area and saw the 4.3 miles to the red wood and decided to find another path. After a few u turns found a spot to start a trail thanks to kath's great spotting of a tiny tiny rules sign. Walked along the only track that we could find. Ran into some ladies and asked if we were on the right track and it seems that we were. Walked and walked and walked and got nervous that we weren't going the right way so the boys got out their phones to do a bit of navigating. We finally found another sign and decided that we'd come this far so we'd walk on. A little while later we stumbled upon it... A not so huge redwood. Glad we didn't walk the 8ish km from the other way! Found a quicker exit and walked up the road back to the car. Jumped in and headed to Los gatos brewery for lunch and had an interesting pomegranate cider. Took Barney back to the train station and took rob and kath on their first Costco experience. Dropped into Safeway for some toothpaste after ours was confiscated at the airport and came back home for a night of vegging on the coach (and some washing). Busy day and am so ready for bed!!