Last March, my husband had an opportunity to travel to California to close down an office in Sacramento and relocate that office to Southern California in the quaint little village by the sea otherwise known as San Clemente. At this point in my life, I had never seen an ocean (I was 31 at the time, gasp!!) and he presented me with the option of accompanying him on this journey. I jumped all over it and I took off and met him in Sacremento. We packed up the rental and took off to travel through the great state of California. I will willingly say that I was in love before we even laid eyes upon the Pacific Ocean. Gorgeous rolling hills, wind farms, vineyards and wineries that never seemed to end and then there she was, the Pacific Ocean. I first saw her in Pismo Beach and if you are an 80's baby and old enough to be of the "Clueless" era then most certainly you are like me and are immediately started wondering how Cher's Disaster Relief program had gone.... My husband had no clue what in the world I was referencing, I guess you could say he was CLUELESS!!! See what I did there?! Ok, I digress and if you never saw Clueless, then you too are wondering what in the name of hell I rambling about. (You should also go now after reading this blog post and watch Clueless with Alicia Silverstone and bask in the awesomeness that was the 90's)
The ocean was beautiful. Crashing blue tides, gargantuan rock walls withstanding the constant beating from the tide, the ocean air smell, seagulls flying about, even without my toes in the sand I just stared in awe. Simply breathtaking. Fast-forward to that evening when we landed in San Clemente and a very naughty burrito from Green Burrito and I spent the next 24 hours barfing my brains out. It was horrible. The ONE DAY I had to traipse about the beaches of the Pacific, I spent in bed. Total bummer. We got to enjoy a nice dinner that night on the pier though (on shaky stomachs, mind you) a few hours the next day on the beach, and even squeezed in a couple hours at Knott's Berry Farm to get some good out of our Cedar Fair Platinum Passes.
When we got the word in December that the office was scheduled to be closed and Jason needed to return, it was clear what Santa would be getting Mama this year!!! We made it back and I got everything I wanted and more from this visit!! I am obsessed with this state and would have a hard time finding another one to top it. It has EVERYTHING! When I landed on Friday I snagged up my rental (and even upgraded to a yellow Mustang convertible because WHY NOT?!) and headed East to San Bernardino National Forest to see Big Falls. I had done some googling and decided this would be how I spent the day that I was alone there. I drove two hours with the top down (IN DECEMBER) on the California Interstate blaring my best sing-along playlists and singing at the top of my lungs with no regard to the confused stares I was getting. When I reached the forest, the temperature instantly dropped what felt like 20 degrees. I had to put the top up!!!! *frowny face* Grabbed a six-pack, my camera gear, my sneakers, and off I went. I was in awe! It was like I had taken a wrong turn and ended up in Colorado! Surely this couldn't be the same state that would have me sitting on the beach in just a couple hours drive time, I mean, there was SNOW on the ground!!
Even ALEX stopped by! Kidding, I have no clue who Alex is but I thought the tree was rather interesting as it represented all of the people who thought enough of the beauty of the park to visit (although with no regard to preservation of said beauty)
There she was! Big Falls! I hiked up the mountain for a closer look, but ultimately feel like this was the best angle and shot from the trip.
These trees were all so much bigger than they appear!! In the photo to the left, notice the couple standing at the base of the trees!!!
After spending an hour or so here in a completely cell phone signal-free zone, I moved on and checked into our room in San Clemente. After checking in, I knew I wouldhave plenty of time to spend in that town tomorrow so I ventured on to my next adventure and cruised the streets of Newport Beach. To my complete surprise and delight, I stumbled upon a boat parade. I was in total awe over these boats and how gorgeous they looked glittering along the water with their strings of lights!!
The next morning while my husband set off to work, I decided to walk along the beach. I immediately put my toes in the sand as this was something I did not get to do the last time I visited. I then walked the trail that runs alongside the RR tracks for the Metrolink and Amtrak as well as the beach.
San Clemente Beach near El Portal
Like a total Midwesterner, I was just in love with the tracks that were left behind as the ocean nudged this rock along the sand of the beach.
I very much enjoyed all of the gorgeous Spanish tile that adorned all of the homes, shops, beaches, and even staircases.
After walking for a bit I decided to check out one of the spots in San Clemente that most of the locals suggested that I see. The home is now called Casa Romantica and was once occupied by the family that first occupied the city. It was his vision that this become the "Spanish Village by the Sea" and had even put in all of the real estate decrees that new buildings were to don the Spanish tiles and stucco that you see when you visit. The home was complete with a courtyard right in the center. I was focused on the chandeliers for some reason so most of the photos are of them. I took a few more with my film camera but have yet to get them back.
By this time, Jason had wrapped up with work and joined me for another stroll along the beach trail, this time heading South.
Jason checking out the beach - shot with my 35mm Canon EOS Elan IIe
Also shot with my 35mm camera, I learned a valuable lesson - DO NOT TAKE FILM TO WALGREENS! Most of my photos have pink along the edges. :(
35mm Canon EOS ELAN IIe
And now, for the most unexpected highlights and pleasant surprises of the entire trip!! I am a huge Yelper for those of you who don't know, and I absolutely love discovering new adventures and eating places via the Yelp app. I found this gem and it did NOT disappoint! We went on a whale watching adventure with Captain Dave and after much deliberation on whether or not this would be something that would be fun, we are both so glad we did. Totally worth it, highly recommend, and you can find the website HERE.
Leaving Dana Point our first wild life encounter was this rocky island of Sea Lions and various sea birds
I swear this little fella was looking RIGHT at me!!!
TTHHHHHAAAAAAAAAAAAARRRRRE SHE BLOW!!!! We first saw a few Dolphins of the coast (I believe it was Laguna) and then we saw her. The first whale of the trip! Look how close she was to the shore!!
We followed her around for a bit until we received word of another whale in our area. The setting sun was a sight to behold on the water and the passing by bird, who I am sure was rather large, looked so small and insignificant against the vast ocean skyline.
There it is, boys and girls, the whale watching trip money shot... CA-CHING!!!
The minutes couldn't tick by slow enough for me in this moment.
I leave with you with what I feel is my favorite shot from the trip. Our last sunset in California (until next time, that is) taken from the balcony of our room at the Holiday Inn. It might be because pink is my favorite color. Or just because it's pretty sweet. Either way, I hope you've enjoyed seeing Southern California from my eyes and through my lenses.