Hiking Slowly
The California coast is pretty spectacular, and if you have never driven along the west coast, I definitely suggest you add that to your list of things to do. The terrain is really diverse, with warm, sandy beaches in the south and tall cliffs in the middle, and then giant boulders studding the shores of the north. Regardless of the landscape, there is nothing quite like the watching clouds and fog filter rays of the afternoon sun as they reflect off of the Pacific.
Craving that view, I went searching for a place to hike along the coast and found myself in a little state park with several trails that ended at different look-out points over the pacific. Each trail seemed to be slightly different, one flat, one rocky, one with steps, and each facing a different direction (Yes, everything was westward over the ocean, but I did get to also look north and south-ward.)
My first stop was at Wedding Rock. This path heads through a wooded area and opens up to a gorgeous view of a a reddish-brown dome creating a peninsula in the ocean just beyond a fork on the trail that allows visitors the choice to climb down to a little cove or to head up a windy path studded with steps to the top of the rock itself. Feeling adventurous, I explored both.
Being efficient with my energy, I climbed to the top of Wedding Rock first (That way I didn't have to walk from the shore to the top of the hill in one go. See, efficient.), where I was led around to the south side of the tiny peninsula and onto a balcony-like area, offering views of Patrick's Point to the south and the expansive ocean due west. Looking back the way I came from, the steep shore cliff was shrouded in trees and shrubs and covered in a blanket of fog. The trail that headed down to the cove gave me the opportunity to climb over rocks and watch as the waves crashed against the shore and between the boulders. I'm sure this is a wonderful place to look for tiny, hidden creatures when the tide is low.
Heading back up the trail toward the parking lot, I veered right toward Patrick's Point. This ADA accessible trail leads through a beautiful forest tunnel under branches that had shed their leaves and were now wearing lacy lichen as a winter shawl. It’s the type of place that brings to mind stories of enchanted forests where creatures like fairies and elves exist. Emerging from the magical tunnel, I came to a loop offering views of Wedding Rock to the north and the steep, rocky coast to the south. There were a few benches on the loop, so I paused to look out at those points to watch the movement of the dark sea and listen as the waves crashed against the shore.
Ready to head to the next viewpoint, I went back to the car. Now, we all know I'm not great with distances and I'm also directionally challenged. That's how I managed to get turned around in a park with only six miles of walking trails. Along the coast. Where I would always know which way was west. So I couldn't really get lost. But I did. I even had a map.
What had happened was...I turned right onto the next road that actually was a loop that led back to the main road. Then at a fork in the road I saw a sign that said going right led to the exit. But I didn't want to leave yet so I went to the left, which took me to a campground away from the coast. So, I headed back out toward the exit and found another road that led me to the viewpoint that I was looking for. And, as I parked my car, I passed not one, but two groups of people I had seen on the first trail. There were no other cars in the parking lot. They had walked. I could have walked.
Anyway, I'm used to this so I just shrugged it off and went to look at the amazing views. By this time, the fog had lifted and the sun was shining and the ocean had changed from dark gray to a deep blue. I could see for miles and even got to watch as a pod of whales swam south. I stood there for quite a while, soaking up the warmth of the sun, listening to the roar of the ocean as it hit the rocky shore, and watching the whale spouts burst farther and farther down the coast. Who cares about getting lost when you end up in a place like this?
