California #3 – the Pacific Ocean
When I went to California, I wanted to do four things: see my brother and my sister-in-law in their new home, drive over the Golden Gate Bridge, see Star Trek Academy (or its eventual location) and stick my toe in the Pacific Ocean. The first three were easy, but seeing the Pacific and touching it were two different things. We saw it almost immediately from the plane. Then we walked along Fishermen’s Wharf, watched the boats bobbing in the quay, walked among the Bay fish at the Aquarium and travelled on the Bay Cruise around Alcatraz and under the Golden Gate Bridge twice. Beyond the Golden Gate Bridge, I experienced some of the power of the Pacific Ocean. As you cross under the Bridge, the water turns very choppy and churns and twists and swells.
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Once we got to Calistoga, my brother gave us his car for the day and my son and I headed across the winding roads of the Calistoga hills. Thanks to our GPS and my son’s piloting skills, we reached the coast with little problem. The waves were gorgeous – big white breakers on a blue ocean and a blue sky in the background. Surfers were riding the biggest of the waves. However, we couldn’t seem to find a way down to the beach that wouldn’t wreck my knees, so we contented ourselves with the view. Then we ate at the ‘Tides’ restaurant, at a seat near the window directly over the water. It was so close we both felt as though we were moving!
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Our last stop was at Goat Rock. After a snail’s pace and a harrowing descent of very twisty roads, we reached the beach, but after reading the signs (they said it is the most dangerous beach in California for undertows), we decided to content ourselves with walking in the deep sand. As we turned from the ocean to return to Calistoga, I wondered why I was not disappointed at not getting my feet wet. The answer … I intend to return again and I’ll poke my toes in then!!!!
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Since my son has all our photos, I will share some photos and my painting of the Atlantic Ocean (Lawrencetown Beach) from my visit this spring with my other brother.
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November 16, 2013 ‘Lawrencetown Beach, Nova Scotia’ Jane Tims
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Copyright 2013 Jane Tims
nichepoetryandprose 
Seeing the people on the beach – little dots – gives a great perspective of the vastness of the shoreline and ocean there. So majestic!
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Barbara Rodgers
November 28, 2013 at 11:01 am
Hi. Every beach we saw had lots of people, even the dangerous ‘undertow’ beaches! Jane
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jane tims
November 28, 2013 at 3:30 pm
Sticking my toes in the Pacific was one of the things I wanted to do, too, during my first visit to California. I was surprised by how cold it was. The colors of the Pacific are different from the Atlantic, I think. Blues in the Pacific instead of the grays and greens in the Atlantic. Your painting is beautiful. 🙂
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Robin
November 27, 2013 at 8:25 pm
Hi Robin. Bright sky blue is the colour I took away from the Pacific. I hadn’t thought of the temperature. I’ll have to wait until my next trip to check that out! Jane
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jane tims
November 28, 2013 at 3:29 pm
You did not mention that two of our beaches were closed this year for Great White’s…. Sue and Flash love running on the beaches out here because most are dog friendly. They do not like the water either.
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Sue Tisa
November 22, 2013 at 11:18 am
Hi ‘Sue’. I will post M.’s photos when he remembers to send them to me. The breakers on the beach were bluer and bigger than the ones I posted from Lawrencetown. If my big toe was at risk of being shark-bait, I’m glad I didn’t stick it in the water!!!!!!!! Just seeing the Pacific was amazing. And you made that possible!!!!!!!!! Jane
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jane tims
November 23, 2013 at 10:41 am