"Now on this road trip, my mind seemed to uncrinkle, to breathe, to present to itself a cure for a disease it had not, until now, known it had." ~~ Elizabeth Berg, The Year of Pleasures
It's no secret how much I love getting in my car with my camera and heading off for adventures.
No matter how many times I've been someplace before, it still seems like finding a bright, new shiny penny. Finding a random penny might not have value to a lot of people...but it does to me. :-)
No matter how many times I've been someplace before, it still seems like finding a bright, new shiny penny. Finding a random penny might not have value to a lot of people...but it does to me. :-)
For instance, every time I see the "mothball fleet" I'm fascinated.
And seeing it enshrouded in fog made me think of ghosts that might still be roaming the remaining ships, waiting for the call to protect the Pacific shores.
And seeing it enshrouded in fog made me think of ghosts that might still be roaming the remaining ships, waiting for the call to protect the Pacific shores.
But I did kind of wonder if the day was going to be spent under the marine layer.
Spoiler alert: It was not.
Spoiler alert: It was not.
My drive to Ano Nuevo was beautiful and uneventful. And I was greeted by such beauty! I'll let the photos speak for themselves.
Quoth the Raven "Nevermore!"
Northern Elephant Seals sunbathing.
They were joined by an inquisitive California Sea Lion.
He was absolutely dwarfed by his much bigger cousins (see the picture above...he's sleeping just above the water line near the center of the picture).
He was absolutely dwarfed by his much bigger cousins (see the picture above...he's sleeping just above the water line near the center of the picture).
I saw this hill with what looked like rows of planted yellow flowers. I left Ano Nuevo and drove South on PCH, but couldn't find anything that resembled a planted field. It's quite possible that you just couldn't see if from the highway.
I did, however, find yellow flowers in abundance!
I stopped at a little turnout on the side of the road because the edge of the road was filled with flowers. I thought they were just near the road because there was a little hill.
I stopped at a little turnout on the side of the road because the edge of the road was filled with flowers. I thought they were just near the road because there was a little hill.
I was amazed to look over the edge and see a field completely filled with the beautiful pineapple-colored blossoms waving in the breeze. They meandered through the fields almost to the edge of the cliff overlooking the ocean.
Turning to the North, South, and West, my eyes drank in the stunning vistas of sea, sky, and earth.
I walked the pathway to the cliff's edge, thinking I couldn't find anything more beautiful than that field of green and gold.
But I was wrong.
The dazzling Pacific was waiting to display her charms.
The dazzling Pacific was waiting to display her charms.
I sat on the edge, listening to the ocean speak and watching the flowers and birds.
Feelings of gratitude for these splendid sights and experiences washed over me. I felt like a small, but loved, piece of the universe as I made my way back to my car.
Feelings of gratitude for these splendid sights and experiences washed over me. I felt like a small, but loved, piece of the universe as I made my way back to my car.
As I was driving homeward, I saw another strip of beach that I wished I had time (and energy!) to explore. But I didn't so I had to content myself with one photo which I like to call Love on a Beach.
We shall not cease from exploration
and the end of all our exploring will be
to arrive where we started
and know the place for the first time.
~~ t.s. eliot
xoxo
