Got my toes in the water (not quite!), ass in the sand
Not a worry in the world...
Zac Brown Band
This has been the warmest S CA winter I can remember. Can you have too much of a good thing? Blue skies day after day after day, daytime highs in the 70's and 80's? Not sure I can take much more of this (😎). I am pretty sure this beautiful stretch of weather will come back to haunt us. Just checking with Mr. Google, and the area where I live in Orange County has received 1.12" of total rainfall since Oct. 1, 2017 (the start of the so-called "water year"). That's only 17% of average. Not good.
What to do?? Might as well enjoy it, so a break from my normal desert posts while I take my granddaughter down to the tidepools at Corona Del Mar. We went during a recent very nice low tide (-1.7) on (yet another) beautiful day. Not only was the air temperature warm (actually hot) at the beach, but the water temp. was really warm as well. My only complaint from my granddaughter was why didn't I pack her swimsuit!!
Dancing in the sunlight. Gotta love that youthful exuberance!
The tidepools themselves were underwhelming. I can remember coming to these same tidepools years ago and always finding something exciting, especially with a really good low tide like a -1.7. You might spot a moray eel in a rocky crevice, a lobster wedged between rocks, sea cucumbers, occasional abalone, large chitons, keyhole limpets, kelp crabs, and even octopus. Sea stars and purple urchins were extremely common. This time... nothing. Only the occasional anemone and hermit crab. Not even any urchins or starfish. Where did all the critters go?? Wonder if it has anything to do with the rising water temperatures?
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| I think these are the little burrows of "sandcastle" worms |
The algae didn't disappoint... red, green and brown algae added their color to the tidepools.
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| A young lady practicing... beach yoga?? |
On the hike back up the hill from the beach, we had to stop and admire Arch Rock and the beautiful view!
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Terrific beach scenes.
ReplyDeleteWow! ~ That is quite the change from desert photos! Awesome beach and ocean photos and your little grand daughter is the Star ~ hugs to you both!
ReplyDeleteHappy Weekend to you,
A ShutterBug Explores,
aka (A Creative Harbor)
The wonders of Southern California - looks like a great day at the beach! I've enjoyed my trips to California but found the Pacific a little cold for my taste. I'm too used to the Gulf Stream making the ocean like bath water. But I must admit that the Pacific is even more beautiful than the Atlantic. The rocky coasts are fabulous!
ReplyDeleteI'm trying so hard not to be jealous!! It seems like eons since I been lounging on a beach in warm balmy temps & not a cloud in the sky!
ReplyDeleteBeautiful beach scenes & sparkling seas! Glad you all enjoyed!
What a perfect "winter" day!
ReplyDeleteLooks like you both had a fun time.Oh,if you need to cool down, where I am it keeps on being very cold. I'll trade you for a while.
ReplyDeleteHello, I would love some of that warm weather here, It is so cold! The beach photos are beautiful! Cute captures of your granddaughter! I like exploring the tidal pools! Have a great day and weekend!
ReplyDeleteSuper pictures... She is so lucky to have a granddad who will give her pictures to treasure for a lifetime.
ReplyDeleteYou guys certainly had a wonderful time. Concerning about the tide pools and lack of rainfall.
ReplyDeleteYou could always come up and visit us! Snowing heavily tonight.
ReplyDeleteWe had a stretch of warm weather up here in the north too; and while it's very nice, you know that the weather pattern is changing and that is most concerning. I cannot wait to go tide pooling in the summer.
ReplyDeleteWorth a Thousand Words
Obviously, when we see this beautiful series sea and sun, we forget one moment the winter. But he(it) is very there regrettably and very very cold. Thank you for this small piece of sun
ReplyDeleteMarvellous captures
ReplyDeleteHubby used to work close by, so I recognize all these areas. Corona del Mar has one of the pretties beaches - we went there several times, just to take photos. Sorry about the tide pools. I have seen when there were many to look the ocean left something. Yeah, pretty warm for this time of year, even for the S. of the state!
ReplyDeleteWow, this is a lovely post of the sand, sea and your cute granddaughter. grat photography as always. Thanks for sharing. Greetings Jo
ReplyDeleteShe was having fun on the beach, I can see why you took time to go there. BTW that building I working can be seen from space on Google Earth.
ReplyDeleteThose are wonderful shots of your granddaughter, must have been a great day for both of you, I think.
ReplyDeleteWhat a difference compared to us. We've had 346 mm since Oct. 1, 2017, that's about 50 mm above normal.
Nice that your granddaughter can play there but not nice the absence of a lot of sea life. I remember very wel Tobacco Road from Steinbeck with doc and his maritime lab in Carmel.
ReplyDeleteBeautiful pics.
ReplyDeleteGreetings
Beautiful!
ReplyDeleteLove the photos of your granddaughter running along the beach!
ReplyDeleteHave a wonderful day!
As the Beach Boys told me long, long ago the California girls are the cutest girls in the world.
ReplyDeletewe had our coldest winter here on the 'other' side. Vegetation that hasn't scene a cold snap in ten years are brown and wrinkled up. Really brown here in Tampa...very unusual.
ReplyDeleteLove this post! Especially the pic of your granddaughter dancing in the sun's reflections of the water - it's magical! What a fun day for you both!
ReplyDeleteThe shots of your granddaughter make me nostalgic for the times our three daughters were at that age....sigh... The back-lit images are especially cool [dancing and yoga].
ReplyDeleteGorgeous photos! Your granddaughter was having a lot of fun!
ReplyDeleteSo thrilled to find another Zac Brown fan ... yep, Cal will probably pay for the current weather, but hey - who are we to question Mother Nature?
ReplyDeleteYour granddaughter is cute as a button - that age is a precious time - enjoy it!
you created such a beautiful moment for me. I love the dancing in the sunlight photo. And the mix and commentary. I'll have to go look at more of your posts. I like your intro and wonder what your hobbies are too. Have you been blogging about them? These photo link parties bring out the best blogs! LeeAnna at not afraid of color
ReplyDeleterecently moved to snowy blustery colorado where there is IceMist at the moment, turning to sleet, then snow tonight. I grew up in Florida!
Beautiful photos of the beach. I am concerned about the lack of rainfall in California. It is really going to affect things adversely. I hope you get some rain or snow soon. I wish I could send you some of our rain.
ReplyDeleteThat looks like a good place for me right about now. - Margy
ReplyDeleteHow warm, inviting and lovely!
ReplyDeleteBeautiful pictures ! I am jealous here in Belgium it's grey and cold !
ReplyDeleteWhat a pity the lack of rainfalls...poor planet Earth!
ReplyDeleteIn Italy we are having the same problem this winter.
Beautiful beach shots...and that youthful exuberance!
What a wonderful time spent at the beach! I haven't been to the beach for a long time!
ReplyDeleteWhat wonderful beach scenes and weather you are enjoying. Hopefully you'll get the rain you need. We have plenty of that here. :)
ReplyDeleteAh, beautiful weather for you and your granddaughter. Enjoy that warmth and that beach, while I freez...no, wait, it made it to 42 today where I live in the Southern Tier of New York State. Heat wave! But, actually,the weather has been so strange in so many places. I feel for your Tampa commenters because I was in Orlando when it went down to 28 degrees in January. Also, St. Petersburg and - yes, saw a lot of frost damage. I hope you don't pay for this lovely stretch of weather.
ReplyDeleteLoving the scenery and your position on the sand looks good. Great that you've been enjoying the sun and beach life.
ReplyDeleteThis is definitely the winter that wasn't. So disturbing that there were no sea creatures in the tidepools...our poor planet. I'm crossing my fingers that we all get rain next week. Your grand daughter is adorable, looks like she had a great time!
ReplyDeleteReally nice photos Pete! You granddaughter looks like she was having a great time. Like you, I love the great weather, but wish it would rain. It sounds like there is a chance of rain this week.
ReplyDeleteThat's exactly the kind of winter I love! Such joyful impressions and a very good eye for the beauty of nature.
ReplyDeleteWas just talking to friends from Oregon who said it had been warmer than usual this winter -- and we talked about how that's probably not good news but .....! (I am pretty sure it is supposed to be warm here in Florida this time of year .... I think.) Anyway, I am glad you and your granddaughter got to take advantage of the weather for a beach trip....her joy radiates right through the screen!! We used to love crawling tide pools at low tide (in Oregon of course) .... I wonder whether they are as good as they used to be. Your algae picture is wonderful.
ReplyDeleteWhat a wonderful day! :-) The photos of your granddaughter on the beach are very lovely! Have a happy week! :-)
ReplyDeleteyour granddaughter really enjoyed the visit at the beach. And, why did you not pack her swimsuit. Might be as well, the waves seem a bit high for young people :)
ReplyDeleteYour granddaughter is adorable and the beach looks lovely. You got some wonderful photos!
ReplyDeleteBeach days are the best! My trip to Guatemala didn't have one beach. But, next year, Costa Rica will have plenty. You found many of the things my camera (and me) would look for. I would love to live in Orange county.
ReplyDeleteCool pictures. Lucky you with weather :-)
ReplyDeleteIncredible park brought to life by your incredible photographs!
ReplyDeleteCool pictures. Lucky you with weather. Great composition and sky, winter frozen
ReplyDelete