fstopandsee

The world can be crazy, sometimes you just need to think about a happy place. I love the rocky and cold beaches of Northern California, and this image sums them up pretty perfectly.

Last week was all about the big sharks, this week is all about a tiny seahorse. I was very lucky to see multiple seahorses during my dive at Blue Heron Bridge. This orange seahorse was happy to stay still for his photo op, which I greatly appreciated! The eyes are very interesting, it almost looks as if they are completely hollow.

Why would I go diving with sharks? To dispel the myth that they are interested in biting people. These sharks were very curious and wanted to check out all the divers around them, but they are very aware of what type of food they are looking for, and it isn’t us. The chance to be up close and personal with these impressive animals was a very exciting opportunity and something I’ll never forget. You can see two other divers with cameras doing the same thing I was, trying to get clear photos of these amazing creatures. Long live the sharks!

Our first night in Thailand and we are treated to an amazing sunset. I knew we had lots more to see, but this trip was really off to a great start!

I wish I was feeling ice cold right now! It hit the 90s in the Bay Area today, much too hot for my liking. I’m thinking back to when I was on this amazing beach in Iceland two years ago. There is a huge bay surrounded by a glacier nearby where icebergs break off from the glacier and float out into the ocean. Small chunks wash up on the black sand beach, like this unique little bit of ice.

As usual I came here for the sunset, but word on the street is that this beach is also a good place to catch some fish. On this night everyone got what they wanted!

As you hike through these hills along the Pacific there are lots of ups and downs. This is one of the steeper ravines that you cross, known as Pirates Cove. The pirates seem to like this place and so do I!

We spent our days in the sun on the beach, but we spent our nights in this cozy little place under the glow of the night sky.

I recently said I was ready for winter, but then last weekend rolled around. I did a great hike and enjoyed one of the warmest beach days I’ve had in Northern California in a long time!

You might look at this photo and see some interesting basalt sea stacks and a beautiful black sand beach. What I see is waiting and waiting and waiting, an extreme exercise in patience as I waited for the moment when no one else was standing or climbing on these rocks. It paid off, and I’m glad I didn’t have to decide if I should photoshop people out of the shot or not!