Monday, April 5, 2010

Wandering the California coastline at Spring Break


I've just returned from a 1250 mile trip with our family from San Diego to San Francisco. It is said that when Spanish galleons sailed up and down the shores in the 18th century, mariners chronicled the deep orange and yellow wildflowers of the region and called it the "land of fire". These photos document our journey.


Seared in our senses are the silhouettes of farm workers in vast fields of juxtaposed verdant green and blazing morado. This blanket of colors gets inside you and for the past week we breathed it in traveling along scenic 101, and 1 the San Simeon Highway.



In the early morning light and with lanterns at night we explored the dark sands of Moonstone Beach in Cambria. The shore offered up clear smooth rocks like opals and subtle shades of burnt umber. Santiago and Rafael built crazy sculptures and wind shelters from unique pieces of driftwood that had washed up on shore.



The textures of these rocky cliffs reminded us of the leathery skin of a rhino. We followed the route to Big Sur and the beaches were crowded for Spring break but not with any people- just scores of sea lions lazing around in the sand.


The twisted, dangerous San Simeon Highway was built by convicts in the twenties and thirties. It's an amazing feat and the magnificent cliffs plunge into the churning sea rich with islands of shifting kelp.

The Bixby bridge is a wonder of curved steel spanning a rugged gorge. Fortunately we arrived to Point Lobos, Monterrey at high tide to watch the powerful surf continue it's rampage on the fringes of land.






Descending the cliffs we watched the show in the seclusion of China Cove Beach- just 40 feet wide. It was exhilarating.



At Stenibeck's cannery row we sampled clam chowder and watched sea kayaks and seals skillfully dodging the waves. The next day in sheets of rain we proceeded North to Moss's Landing for garlic shrimp at a local mom and pop called the Fish Trap.


In San Francisco the sun pushed through the clouds and in Golden Gate Park we sipped
steaming cups at the Japanese Tea Garden, visited the Young Museum and wandered Chinatown. We sampled great wines up and down the state. At La Osteria in Little Italy there are just 10 tables but the pizza and caprese are worth the wait.








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