We only took Pacific Coast Highway for part of the way, it was a nice day. But taking the serpentine road all the way to Santa Cruz would've been more leisurely than our schedule allowed for. We still had four parks to visit and we didn't want to go running through them snagging footage We wanted to enjoy them, absorb them. Let the parks work their magic. The Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk combines magic and class along with just the right amount of sea-rot; it's a heady combination that overwhelms the senses. The boardwalk sits on a long stretch of tidal beach within barking distance of sea lions and nestled at the elbow of craggy California cliffs. It's a wonder to behold, parallel lines of faded jaunty colors, twirling machines, elegant coaster trains leaping like whales. The smells are next to hit you, from the buttery popcorn and sweet candy scents to the grease and the musty reek of decades past. Sound filters in, the clattering of rails, murmur of faraway voices, sharp percussive whacks and bells, blooping music synthesizers and electronic carnies beckon with "everyone's a winner!" Before long, the rest of your senses are indulging in the whole kid-in-a-candy-store grip of the boardwalk, it invites the child to lose concerns for the world and just go brainless. Eating, drinking, playing, buying, standing in line to ride things that make all of the previous regrettable. The Giant Dipper is good punishment though, still kicking after all these years. Built in 1924, it's somewhat of a movie star, having been featured in films as diverse as "Killer Klowns From Outer Space", "The Lost Boys" and "The Sting II." If you ever make it to this seaside funspot, be sure to ride this beauty and take time to read the funny article posted in the queue. The one that spanks Paramount's Great America's Grizzly woodie. For fans of the steel persuasion of coaster, there's a powerful little layout that goes by the name of Hurricane. You might find yourself smirking at its seemingly tame nature, but set down in the back seat and attempt to hold your hands above your head throughout the trip. I don't think I've ever seen anyone manage to do that on this turbulent little thriller. Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk PR goddess Jan Bolwinkle-Smith set us up with unlimited crew passes and happily mentioned that the Cave Train was back and better than ever. As a former neighbor of the park, this was news to my ears. The Cave Train was this silly little dark ride that took you back into prehistoric days and presented encounters with cave men, dinosaurs and other beasts. The light-humored and kooky attraction was sort of like It's A Small World or Knott's Bear-Y Tales as seen through the Cartoon Network. Now, resurrected as the Cave Train Adventure, it was enjoying a second-life of sorts with a whole new design by its original creators. A snappy new station theming and special effects add to the anticipation for folks who don't know what to expect; we miss the brachiosaurus who used to pop out of the lagoon though. Passengers board vehicles that have a Bedrock-esque stone-age look to them. A pleasant and perky female voice welcomes boarders and then rolls off a safety spiel before the train gently lurches forward, engine disappearing through a pair of dark doors. The ride tends to put people off, make them scared, wondering what's to come next. But it's all in fun, still completely obvious once your eyes begin adjusting to the light. Joy of joys! The storyline has been updated, the furious day-glo-in-the-dark colors are brighter and more furious than ever. The crudely animated cavepeople dance, play instruments, bounce, walk, chase each other, serve drinks and make wisecracks via a soundtrack that features Danny Elfman music. It takes a simple mind to enjoy simple charms, and the ride will never take awards in the state-of-the-art category, but its anachronistic view of caveman life is full of character and more than a few groaning chuckles. Like Six Flags Over Georgia's Monster Plantation, it is a one-of-a-kind treat. By the time we got out of the ice-age, the lights had begun to twinkle on around the boardwalk, rides began to glow and buzz like fireflies, the orange sky blurred into a cobalt blue. There was still so much more to experience that was new. The recent expansion efforts had produced a handful of new thrill rides, a kid coaster and a new upper deck area. Unable to turn down the chance to ride the Giant Dipper at night, we zipped down the fairway and prepared for a mini-marathon of frightful flights. Unlike many of the parks across the country, SCBB allows us to take video cameras on the rides, which makes for some great shots. Using the digital video cam as a still camera lessens our chances of getting vivid shots of lap bars and train floors. Somewhere along the line we decided to compile a montage of those ubiquitous on-ride photo opportunities and nail them together. It never seems to cause folks to wonder what kind of person would subject himself to riding hands-free on a rollercoaster with a video camera at his eye. Truly the brave. Another wonderful experience at one of the last sea-side amusement parks in the country. It began to get damn chilly as the sun retreated farther west and we were still dressed for southern California. With a reluctant farewell to Santa Cruz, the Giant Dipper and the denizens of the Cave Train Adventure (we forgot to eat at Positively Front Street!) it was back onto Pacific Coast Highway with an eye on the City By The Bay. We were going to our usual next stop, but this time--something incredible was waiting for us.

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