Go to your Happy Place!

You hear it often enough in movies... something not so good is going to happen, and they say "go to your happy place". Well,, for me, that's the beach, preferably in October when the sun is golden, the sand isn't too hot, and there's no local morning fog along the Santa Cruz coast. But I'll take it any time I can get it, now that I live so far away from it.

I traveled to the Bay Area the last weekend in July, and had been watching the beach forecasts all week -- most of them in the low 60's. But no matter what, I was getting to the beach. We went on the very first day I was there. My sister drove, that way we could all ride in one vehicle (Nice ride, Sis!). I was in heaven -- the morning fog had burned off by the time we got there. Thanks to a stopover at Big Basin Redwood State Park. And a side trip to Ocean View Park for some letterboxing.

It was so good to be on the beach again; sand curling under my toes, the smell of the water, even the decaying seaweed on the beach, with its not so pleasant odor was OK. Amazing how smells can bring up memories. It didn't take me long to divest myself of the things I was carrying; to dig out my camera and start snapping pictures. And into the water I went, toes feeling the first sting of the cold water (which is about 58 degrees). Maybe it was too cold for the others, but me and Bree were right there in it. After the first few waves, we were holding hands and braving the higher waves (ok, so they were only about knee high... hahaha).


While the rest climbed on the rocks, looking at the tidepools, I had a few quiet moments to myself. Time to sit and listen to the surf, the waves pounding against the rocks, let go of thoughts and feelings and just absorb what was there for me. (Now if only I had a whole week of this..... )

Our visit to the beach was over all too soon; and it was on to the next activity.
To get a feel for the weekend, see Fifty for my 50 :)

Vacation HUGS to everyone!