We live by the surfing beach in Stone Harbor, so I know to look the other way when the young (and not so young) men are wrapped in a towel next to their cars in the morning. They try to be modest…especially with the nun’s retreat house in full view.
Tonight, we selected a restaurant by the beach just in time for sunset. Didn’t realize that the public rinse off shower was located in front of our patio dining area. One by one, the surfers dropped their boards on the grass, and proceeded to remove their full wet suits while juggling a towel. It was our entertainment for the evening!Â
 We drove to Pebble Beach today and walked around- spectacular… but I don’t think I will be crashing their pool 🙂
 Arrived to our destination last night in time to see the full moon over Monterey Bay- very beautiful. Staying in a charming home in Capitola, and we are anxious to explore the area. 
 Leaving tomorrow to visit another beach town- Santa Cruz, California. We will spend a week exploring their coast (Monterey, Carmel, Big Sur) and then our last 2 days in San Francisco. 
 Well, my life is very ordinary- in an extraordinary environment!
 The wild goldenrod blooms with yellow flowers in October - adding color to the sand dunes. And the back bay marsh grass fades from bright green to a more muted color- eventually turning brown in the winter.
 The pumpkins and mums in front of the year round homes look great, too!
 With the tourists gone, the sea gulls have turned “organic”. Instead of potato chips, the birds are feasting on crabs and small fish. Interesting to watch their hunting skills in action- dive bombing in the shallow water and actively searching the water’s edge. 
Beach Access
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 California has a sense of humor regarding their “public beach access” signs. It’s often a partial set of steps hanging from a cliff. The erosion leaves a shear drop to rocks and maybe a spit of sand. Just can’t picture bringing a chair and a book for for the day.
And we have the nerve to grumble when walking through the long paths in the high dunes of Avalon!