Purisma Creek Redwoods Open Space Reserve, CA, USA
I would like to show this photo to everyone who thinks that all of California is a desert: look, there are green trees, green grass, and even clouds in the sky! :-)
The photo above was taken at the Purisma Creek Redwoods Open Space Reserve that we have explored together with spupyrev the weekend before. The reserve's website advertises the opportunity to create differently sized loops to match visitors' hiking abilities. The reserve is not very large, so the longest loop you can create is only 13 miles.
Despite its modest size, there is quite a bit of variety on the reserve. One gets to walk on open ridges and enjoy the views of the green hills around:
Or walk along the flowing (!) river surrounded by the gorgeous redwoods and blooming flowers:
However, with us not being adjusted to hiking along the coast, we have briskly walked the 11 miles in under 3 hours and came back to the parking lot as energetic as we have left it. To compensate for our disappointment, I decided to share my favorite spot at the nearby Half Moon Bay State Park.
I discovered this spot after walking for about an hour, completely alone on the beach, not a sole in sight...
And then I rounded the corner and saw a castle! I felt like a mermaid in that instant, that has encountered a human city for the first time in her life! :-)
Curiously, I didn't find anything interesting in the tidal pools along the beach, however, I did find velella velella or "by-the-wind sailors". Even though those organisms are not jellyfish, they can sting, if you touch sensitive areas after touching velella velella. "By-the-wind sailors" usually float on the surface of the ocean, riding wind and currents in search of food.
I was lucky to experience another incredible encounter: I saw humpback whales right from the shore of Half Moon Bay state park! I do wish I had my real camera with me, but showing something is better than nothing, right?..
The photo above was taken at the Purisma Creek Redwoods Open Space Reserve that we have explored together with spupyrev the weekend before. The reserve's website advertises the opportunity to create differently sized loops to match visitors' hiking abilities. The reserve is not very large, so the longest loop you can create is only 13 miles.
Despite its modest size, there is quite a bit of variety on the reserve. One gets to walk on open ridges and enjoy the views of the green hills around:
Or walk along the flowing (!) river surrounded by the gorgeous redwoods and blooming flowers:
However, with us not being adjusted to hiking along the coast, we have briskly walked the 11 miles in under 3 hours and came back to the parking lot as energetic as we have left it. To compensate for our disappointment, I decided to share my favorite spot at the nearby Half Moon Bay State Park.
I discovered this spot after walking for about an hour, completely alone on the beach, not a sole in sight...
And then I rounded the corner and saw a castle! I felt like a mermaid in that instant, that has encountered a human city for the first time in her life! :-)
Curiously, I didn't find anything interesting in the tidal pools along the beach, however, I did find velella velella or "by-the-wind sailors". Even though those organisms are not jellyfish, they can sting, if you touch sensitive areas after touching velella velella. "By-the-wind sailors" usually float on the surface of the ocean, riding wind and currents in search of food.
I was lucky to experience another incredible encounter: I saw humpback whales right from the shore of Half Moon Bay state park! I do wish I had my real camera with me, but showing something is better than nothing, right?..
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