Sunday, January 11, 2015

San Onofre State Beach

Even though I've lived in S. CA most of my life and have explored most of our local beaches, I've only been to San Onofre beach a couple of times. It's somewhat hidden from the masses, but it's like stepping back in time. Before San Onofre became a state beach, you had to be a member of the San Onofre Surfing Club to ride waves at this spot. To this day, it feels like you've entered a private beach. There are personal touches all over... everything from carved tiki statues to custom built benches and surfboard totems. I have no idea who maintains all this stuff, or who built it to begin with (I'm pretty sure it's not the State of California!), and it's very cool that nobody messes with it.

I was in San Diego on business a few weeks ago and, knowing my meeting would end around 2 PM, packed my camera gear. I was lucky... we had rain that morning and some great clouds mixed with blue sky worked to enhance my photos. It was a weekday after a rain, so the beach was nearly empty. Actually, it was closed (I parked in a lot next to the closed gate and made the short hike in). Hoping those of you in frigid climes will enjoy these photos (taken in December, 2014).
Just look at the surfboard up in the sky to see which direction the wind is blowing!
Just give me a firepit, a picnic table, and a beautiful beach.  What more do you need?? 
Surfboard, totem, rock-lined gardens... feels like you are in somebody's back yard!


Surfboard racks on the left... shower straight ahead!
If you continue walking to the far end of San Onofre State Beach, there is a surprise waiting for you. Can you guess what it is? I'll post again in a few days with photos of what you'll see as you continue your journey down this beautiful stretch of coastline.

19 comments:

  1. Surfin` USA!

    Glorious shots



    ALOHA from Honolulu
    ComfortSpiral
    <3

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  2. Fantastic photos!
    I really love the next to last one.
    Have a great day!
    Lea

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  3. Thats an Awesome place, really like the 3rd & 4th photos

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  4. Great shots. Always now when I see photo's of palms like in your first I am wondering if they are from plastic. Yes the plastic ones in Los Angeles spoiled it for me but of course there are the dream factories situated who let everything shining more real then real and your pictures look fabulous.

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  5. Super photography. You have brought out the true beauty of the beach.

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  6. Oh how I miss the beach. Such beautiful photos!

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  7. This is very nice. More beaches could be like this. Oh wait, my mind went back to the 60's just then.

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  8. Beautiful pictures! I especially like the way the clouds look.

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  9. What a special place you visited, so beautiful, gorgeous scenery and fabulous captures you did. I am looking forward to your next post.

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  10. Fabulous - what wonderful photos and beach!!!!!

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  11. wow stunning scenery! almost like one of the pacific islands like fiji

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  12. Wow -- how very gorgeous!

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  13. wow! reminds me of a private resort, for sure! beautiful setting!

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  14. Wow is right ! Beautiful sorry about your loss Yay Bucks!!!!

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  15. What a cool place! (see, I'm picking up surfer-speak already). And beautifully photographed too.

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  16. wow, I would love to explore this beach for myself :)

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  17. Of course I am reading backwards, catching up, so missed the suspense, but I would never have guessed. Such a beautiful beach... Don't want to spoil with further comment in case a later visitor catches up the right way!

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