The dogs had fun running on the beach in Santa Cruz while I waited for the fog to lift. The sun came out around 10 am and was with us all day long after that. All that perfect-weather shooting made that five-hour drive home not quite as agonizing! This was the first of many trips to the San Francisco Bay Area. I can only afford maybe one trip up there per month, so it will take a while to finish this list. If someone wants to drop a few grand in the donation bucket, it’ll get done much sooner!
On with Santa Cruz — I’ve got a big batch of signs to get things rolling. This one was shot last night after my blog post was done:
The same sign by day:
A faded beauty for the Plymouth Court (originally a motel):
Most likely, went by another name originally. Lit at night but I didn’t get a chance to shoot it:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/51035555243@N01/6730690315/
An institution in Santa Cruz — there since at least 1958:
A neon detail from The Jury Room bar:
More motel & apartment complex signs:
Here’s a clover modern sign on the side wall of Larry’s Photography — although the camera reference is probably lost on much of today’s younger generation:
This sign is at the Rip Curl surf shop. I read somewhere that it was originally a grocery store sign:
A little strip mall sign — I don’t know how old this one is:
And one more sign from Santa Cruz:
It was nice to be at the Boardwalk before it opened and all the people were there — but I missed a chance to try these!
I’ve been told by the historical folks that the swiss cheese-hole fins on this Boardwalk building are “real” (vintage from at least 1967):
Moving on — this one in Boulder Creek:
And from Ben Lomond:
The city’s welcome sign:
And then on to the “Bay Area” — this sign in San Carlos (I believe the business is closed):
That should be enough neon overload to last you for a while! But if not, there’s more signs, buildings & statues over at my Flickr stream from yesterday:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/agilitynut/
The dogs and I will be hitting the road again in about three weeks. Back down San Diego way for that one.
RoadArch.com companion 