Day 35 Goodbye Shirley, Hello Half Moon Bay.
I left Shirley's house but not on my own. She had offered to ride with me to a point where she could send me on my travels. Being local she could also send me the best way, avoiding the heavy morning traffic. She said we would be going up two big hills on our way but they would both be gentle and loving. I would be interested to know what Shirley thinks rough and painful hills are as both these were as hardcore as any I had come across since I got to California. She led the way and I have maximum respect for her as a host and now as a bike rider. If she hadn't of come with me I would have stopped a few times on both climbs. When we reached the second summit called "Kings Mountain" she explained the next part of the route that I would take alone. It would all be downhill to the coast from here. We said goodbye and I thanked her for her kindness and hospitality. I arrived in Half Moon Bay around lunchtime and set my tent up, went and grabbed some food then lay on the beach. I saw two incidents while on the beach, both amazing and unexpected.
The first was the Whales coming up for air around a hundred yards out to sea. The second was really brilliant to see unfold. I noticed a man and a lady walking on the path behind the beach while I was sun bathing. What drew my attention was the lady had a broken leg and was using a sort of scooter where she rested her injured leg and pushed with the other. I saw the man then walk onto the beach almost to the shoreline with the scooter while the lady sat at the back of the beach. He placed a blanket and some other items down then walked back over to the lady and carried her all across the beach to the blanket. They were sitting down and drinking, watching the sunset when the lady pointed at something on the sand a few yards in front. The man went over and picked it up and took it back to her. It was a box that he handed to her which was followed by him getting down on one knee and proposing. I could tell that she said yes and she gave him a big hug. I did catch it on film as I was just about to film the Whales when I saw it unfolding.
The things you see when chilling on the beach.