Santa Cruz

I had a full day to explore today but ended up not going far. A read of the Lonely Planet had mentioned 'The Mystery Spot' a quirky attraction not far from the hostel and just out of the town. I drove up there and nearly turned back at the sign which read $5 for parking and a $5 entrance fee.
I didn't and I paid. Essentially the who thing is a series of optical illusions but is wrapped up in a series of elaborate stories and clever design. The place is in a narrow red cedar valley just outside the town and allegedly was found by some surveyors working through the land. Compasses fail to work properly and there are places where people appear to grow or shrink just by changing places, also balls and objects can roll up seemingly downhill or flat planks of wood. There is a wooden shed halfway up the hill through which you pass to see most of these 'mysteries' which apparently slid down the hill by 'the forces' to rest here and is now at a ridiculous angle that you have to hold onto rails to walk through. It's all done with cheesy suave and very quickly so you are in and out of the tour within 30minutes. On the opposite valley side there was a track leading gently up which was an Interpretative Nature Trail so I started to follow this not intending to go too far however it was really interesting and every so often small wooden plaques would explain about the varied flora and fauna along the way. Eventually the track topped out on the ridge above the valley but still in the red cedars which towered overhead, then the path doubled back and ran along the ridge. I walked on and suddenly in front of me in a small clearing was a young deer. At first we both looked at each other and then it decided to go down the hillside but I had only been about 15ft from it. I carried on the path for about another mile or so until it came to a fence and a private property sign, so I started to retrace my steps. Back near the clearing I slowed as I could hear the deer was back (there was a good covering of low bushes here that it was munching on) I crept forward and tried in vein to get a good shot of it with my camera and for about 4 minutes it stopped and stared right at me through the shrubs, however I don't think I could get the camera to focus on the deer and not the bushes.
Back in the hostel that evening sat chatting to the other guests and agreed to give two German girls a ride up to their next hostel as it was on my way the next day.