Continuing down the coast
Continuing down the west coast
The title of this post should be Running from the rain, because that’s what we are doing. Monday we left Sandy Bay and continued down the coast. The weather forecast was for rain, and more rain so we saw no reason to hang around. The coast is amazing with these storms though, the waves are unreal. The best place we saw the power of the ocean was at a place called The Devils chute. There is a long natural channel in the rocks that the ocean moves back and forth in. Because the waves are huge right now, this was an awesome thing to see. Water spraying up, waves crashing powerfully, and the sound of it.
I have to tell you though, shooting photos in these gray sky conditions is hard, really hard. Between the bright waves, the dark sky, it’s hard to get settings that work.
The Devils chute was great because there is a path that takes you right down to the bottom. Talk about exhilarating! All that power.
It’s not very easy to tell in this photo, but the sea foam is so thick from all the churning. When the waves would crash huge pieces of foam would fly way up in the air, over my head.
We drove until we got to Cape Blanco. It was getting later by then so we stayed the night at the state park. I got a few quick shots before it was totally dark. It was very windy, and then it poured rain all night. The next morning Tuesday, we got out and on the road by 9 and drove and drove trying to escape the rain. Highway 101 is very, very pretty. There are some amazing viewpoints along the way, but it is slow going. You drive through a lot of little towns, and the road is just slow. So even though we have been driving for 3 days, we haven’t gone very far.
Somewhere in Northern California we stopped and walked along the beach for a little while. Everyone needed a break, and this was the perfect spot.
We soon came to the redwoods. The highway takes you through the redwoods, but there was no place to stop and get out and look around. My mom had told me about a side road called The Avenue of the Giants. This road actually just skirts the 101, and goes through the middle of Humboldt redwoods state park.
It was amazing. These giant redwoods are just incredible. To think about how old they are, how huge they are, is just fascinating. By the time we got here it was getting later, and moving fast towards dark. We wanted to stay in the redwoods but the campground is closed in winter. So back on the highway we went in search of an RV park, and dinner.
We ended up in a little place called Benbow, were it rained all night, and into the morning. I’m starting to feel like Eeyore with the gray cloud following us around. Wednesday we headed east, got on Highway 5, and made it to just past Sacramento. We are hoping to be in Death Valley on Thursday.
The desert is calling, and we must go.
Mary, gray skies and ocean are TOUGH to work with; when we went up the 17 mile drive during our stay in Carmel, I was so disappointed that my photos did not come out to show the awesome beauty of that place. We won’t be going back any time too soon as we had hoped, but I sure wanted to photograph that space. But it was much too gray.
What you did here however, was capture TEXTURES, especially in that foamy water. I guess what I’m learning is to capture moods, and that is what you did here. SUPER GORGEOUS!
Lightroom saved my pictures this time for sure. But even at that, sunshine would have been much better.
Your photos are great Mary! Like Anita mentioned…the texture is amazing! What a beautiful beach you took a walk on! The Redwoods are really stunning. I have never been to that part of California…and hope to get there one day. Safe travels! Thanks for sharing your journey with us!!
Gorgeous views of the ocean and coastline. The Redwoods are beautiful. Wonderful photos. Happy Thursday!
I sometimes think the ocean talks to me, when the wild waves and the wind make their unique noises… even when it sounds crazy :o) My grampy once said those who can see the special things will hear it too… maybe you are the one? You can see the things we mostly not notice and you are the one who gives them the attention they deserved :o)
Oh yes!! I love the sound of the ocean, and the way it speaks to me. These days on the coast the storms really had it churning, and it was wonderful.
Seeing those redwoods would be AWESOME!!! I can only imagine standing below those towering trees…:)JP
They are incredible, A sight to see for sure.
The Avenue of the Giants is such a fantastic road. Our first trip on this road was on a motorcycle trip which really is the only way to see all its beauty. Glad you took the trip down:)
You captured the power of ocean waves, amazing images! Love the tree image of the Redwoods. :)
Thank you for taking us along, Mary.
Unfortunately poor timing on your part to drive along the coast during an El Nino winter! I remember seeing the weather report about all the rain out west even, but hopefully it will help the drought some. At least you got some gorgeous photos and I hope you didn’t get too close, we even get people washed overboard here at the lake when the waves hare high.
Too bad about hitting more rain, but those spots are so gorgeous, no matter the weather! Love the redwoods, and the coast of OR is just gorgeous. But, yeah… the 101 is sloooow going. Looking forward to your pics of Death Valley. Have skirted past it but never really been there.
Your photos make me want to take a road trip to take photos.
There are spots along the coast where the trees that have found there way to the ocean wash up on the shore…During the storms the waves will move these 2 to 4 foot in diameter trees as if they were tinker toys, it is the most amazing thing to watch.
That is so stunning!
Rain or not, I’m so jealous of you right now! :) I’m with Emma, you make me want to hit the road with my camera. I hope you’ve made it out of the rain by now.
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