Natural Bridges State Park

A few months ago I would have pictured my first hike in the New Year as being cold, windy, and requiring snow boots and mittens.  Instead, I spent the day walking in rolled up jeans, sloshing through puddles of a different sort while we explored tide pools and watched the waves roll in at Natural Bridges State Beach in Santa Cruz. 

We had plans to go snowboarding this weekend, but when the snow never fell, we decided to make lemonade and changed directions and went west toward the Pacific Ocean for the day.  We spent time in Capitola, where we stretched our legs walking along the wharf and amongst the shops.  Then we stopped for pizza and made our way to the beach. 

Heading out on to the wharf

After paying the ten dollar fee to enter the park we stopped the car, changed our shoes, and began our walk.  A short stroll across the sand later we reached the rocks and the tide pools.  The tide wasn’t quite out yet (or was it coming in?) so our space in which to explore was a little limited.  But we barely noticed with all the interesting things there were to see already.  Staring at sea anemones, snails, barnacles, mussels, and one lone starfish, we were more than entertained.



I see something...





Hah! Got it.



In addition to looking downward at beauty, we were treated to it all around us.  It was in the waves crashing on the rocks, homes of grand stature looming above us, the sun shining across the water, and in the handful of people walking all around us, laughing, joking, and taking in the fresh air.  It seemed that everyone was enjoying the unseasonably temperate weather. 

This hike didn’t take us over much ground, but we still spent a good hour and a half checking things out and taking it all in (and taking pictures).  All in all, quite a good way to start out the year. 

Taking it all in

As an aside, we also ran across the slowest waterfall, just a single drop at a time falling from an overhang in the cliff face.  Thought I would share those pictures as well. 

Splash!