Sea and Shores Home - San Mateo Coast    Morro Bay and Port San Luis
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South of San Francisco, South of Daly City, here the land is folded as the San Andreas enters the ocean at Pacifica. This is the start of the San Mateo Coast. It is a rough place, open directly to every point in the Big Pacific Ocean.
South of San Francisco, South of Daly City, here the land is folded as the San Andreas enters the ocean at Pacifica. This is the start of the San Mateo Coast. It is a rough place, open directly to every point in the Big Pacific Ocean.
It is a place of wide beaches and sandy coves as well as steep hillsides plunging into the sea. It is a windswept place of harsh beauty at the edge of the cold sea.
The land is old and broken and falls into the sea. An old concrete gun emplacement gives testament to old wars that fall from memory. The sea claims all eventually.
This is an endless shore. The battle line between the shore and land is held by the tough Ice Plants.
Large deserted coves just beckon one to explore. California Golden Poppies stubbornly sprout their bright colors in the harsh landscape.
The land is the San Francisco Penninsula, a mountain range that extends from Salinas in the south to the Golden Gate. It is lush from the storms flowing from far off in the Pacific. The rains support farms and forests. Ancient Redwood groves thrive in the canyons here, protected for the enjoyment of the Bay Area residents.
There are large valleys that go miles inland. They make one wonder "what is there". Actually, hidden from view are hundreds of greenhouses for growing flowers in the mild, moist weather.
South of Halfmoon Bay, the road follows remote shores with beaches that are crowded in summer, but deserted in winter.
Eventually you came to Pidgin Point Lighthouse where the coast starts to turn to the East into Monterey Bay. The lighthouse is now a Hostel where you can stay the night. See those rocks out there at the right of the picture. That was a fun scuba area... when calm enough
Right about here is where I used to always park my van on Friday nights with a pizza and a book. The cove was largely protected from the north swell. If it was calm in the morning, I would go diving. If it was rough, I would go back to Santa Cruz and go Body Surfing.
This was a great place for tidepooling. All kinds of things wash up on the shore.
(Wide) The area from Pidgin Point to Ano Neuvo Island on the south was a giant area of great diving and prime territory for white sharks. It was my play ground for years. The landlord never bothered me for rent.
The coastal hillsides are covered with chaparrel and pine.
(Wide) The first place I went diving on the San Mateo Coast was Grey Hound Rock. The diving was exceptional. I finally moved on to Pidgin Point, because it was also probably the most dangerous dive spot in California. It was a challenging hike down and then up with dive gear and game. It was an amazingly beautiful cove protected from spoilage by its cliffs.
As you head into Monterey Bay, there are many more beautiful, empty beaches. They can get real lively at times though and giant bonfires burn there on summer nights.
Inland rise the tree covered mountains with deep, cool, still canyons.
It is a harsh, but pretty place.
Those rough days I mentioned... This is where I was then. Steamer Lane at Light House Point is exposed to giant waves coming in a straight line from the whole Pacific Ocean from Antarctica or Japan. That means, you always get surprises.
The wharf at Santa Cruz is popular with tourists and the local crowd. Next to it is one of the few remaining Ocean Parks with a wooden roller coaster. This is another playground for the folks in the Bay Area and it is fun. It is a magical place for those that live there as well, but that is a complicated story.
Welcome to California. It may be paradise crusin' Hiway 1, but that doesn't mean you get to escape the traffic.