It happens every spring. At least for the last five years it has. My brother can expect it. The strawberries are starting to pop, the blackberries are slowing making their way in and his brother Devon should be coming around anytime. My yearly flocking to the west coast sparked by the annual Sea Otter Classic.

Sea Otter Classic, one of the largest cycling events of the year situated at Laguna Seca Raceway in beautiful Monterrey, California. Luckily for me, that is right down the road from Santa Cruz, and my brother.

The last five year's I have been going to Sea Otter. Working the event, shooting the races, talking to the companies. It is a long, hot, dusty and tiring four days. This year... I didn't want to go. So, I didn't. I didn't hunt down jobs, I didn't line up any shoots. I made no plans to be there. Sadly that would also mean I wouldn't be making my yearly visit to my brother's place.

But then, I get a call from one of my favorite clients, Light & Motion.

Light & Motion is based just outside of Monterrey. A company that started with diving lights, they are now expanded into any sort of sport lighting from bike to kayak to camping. The call came to do a shoot in Lake Tahoe area, the week after Sea Otter.

How perfect. Now I had a perfect reason to visit my brother and one of my favorite places, Santa Cruz. Four days of visiting my brother and sister-in-law, meeting my new niece, riding amazing trails, and a little organic farming.

All shots taken with Sony RX100ii, unedited.