Today is the beginning of our great backpacking journey along the Skyline-to-the-Sea trail. We probably spent about a week getting equipment, preparing, and packing everything we would need for our three day trip. We'll be heading from the top of the mountains all the way to the Santa Cruz coast. Charlotte dropped us off at the trailhead in Castle Rock State Park.

I never get tired of how beautfiful it is here just about every day. Our first day we'll be covering about ten miles and camp at Waterman Gap.

This has to qualify as the strangest sight on our trip. You don't often bright pink things growing on the side of the trail. At least it sure looked like it was growing.

A huge view as we head down along Highway 9.

Gabe the happy backpacker and his friend the millipede.

I think this car made a wrong turn.