A BEACH WALK BLOG
Occasional observations
from afternoon beach walks along Pismo State Beach,
between Oceano Beach,
Grover Beach and Pismo Beach,
along with a few detours to our
favorite local establishments.
Saturday, October 10,
2009 - A Magnificent Sand Castle by the Pier
On
most Saturday afternoons during "tourist season" there appears a most
wonderful sand castle
just north of the Pismo Pier. Hours of labor go into these imaginative
creations - only to be washed away by the next tide. A bucket for
donations to the local Pregnancy counseling center is set up near by
during the construction.
Sunday,
October 11, 2009 - See the Seal
A seal wades ashore and poses for tourists and photographers, before
returning to the Ocean.
Thursday, October 22, 2009 -
Dolphins at play
A pair of dolphins swim about 30 yards off-shore playing in the waves.
Looks like they are having fun!
Saturday, October 24, 2009 -
The Green Flash
As
long as I can remember, father has always wanted to see The Green
Flash, but until now, has never observed it. The Green Flash is a
rare atmospheric phenomena that occurs at sunset (or sunrise)
where a momentary green flash occurs just after the sun sets.
See http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Green_Flash
for a further explanation.
My
parents were visiting, so we decided to have a picnic at the Grover
Beach picnic tables. As sunset approached we went out on the
boardwalk to the beach. About 8 to 10 people were out there
admiring the pretty sunset. My father was there, with one eye in
the camera to try to take a picture, one eye observing the
sunset. Just as the last bit of the sun went down it flashed
green for about half a second. It was not as big or as intense of
a Green Flash as I have sometimes observed, but there was definitely a
Green Flash. Some of those on the boardwalk clapped or commented
about it. At last he had seen the Green Flash.
Unfortunately, digital cameras being slow, he was unable to
capture the image.
Wednesday, October 28, 2009 - A Dramatic Sunset, and another Green
Flash
It was a most an unusual sunset this evening. As the sun set, the
atmosphere refracted it into three parts, making it look almost like a
goblet, with a large base, large top, and a smaller protrusion on the
stem. Soon the center protrusion disappeared, then the sun itself
set below the horizon, yet the image of the sun still could be seen
hanging over the ocean. Just as the final image of the sun disappeared
into the ocean there was a bright Green Flash.
Monday, November 2, 2009 - A
Romantic Full Moon
Now that it is getting dark early, the Beach walks are sometimes by
moonlight. It was a beautiful evening, with a low tide, smooth
ocean, a light, low ocean fog, and the nearly full moon reflecting off
the wet sand. I would even call it romantic - if I was not
walking with my sister.
Wednesday, November 4, 2009
- Scary Poppins
No beach walk today - we went to the Great American Melodrama
in Oceano. The main production was "Scary Poppins", a wonderful.
playful, spoof on Mary Poppins, followed by their United Swing!
Organization Vaudeville Revue. Scary Poppins was very funny with
non-stop parody songs and antics. The vaudeville revue was a
tribute to the U.S.O. clubs and featured song and dance from the 1940's
and 1950's era. Those actors must be exhausted after a show
like that - not to mention serving food, seating patrons,
etc! As usual, the Melodrama provides an excellent evening
of entertainment for a moderate price.
Thursday, November 5, 2009 - The Phosphorescent
Sea
We started our walk at Grover Beach shortly after the sun went
down.
Though it was clear on the beach, the storm clouds in the distance had
a bit of their red glow from the sunset, creating a dramatic
nightfall. It was dark by the time we reached the Pismo
Pier. The lights from Avila Beach twinkled in the distance.
On our return to Grover we noticed many of the waves had an unusually
bright phosphorescent glow as they broke against the beach. The
lights of a ship could be seen in the distance.
Friday, November 6, 2009 - Dinner at Mama's Meatballs
We had dinner at Mama's
Meatballs, a delicious Italian Restaurant on Pier Ave. in Oceano,
before engaging on our evening beach walk. As usual, the place
was
packed, the food was superb, and the service a bit inattentive. I
recommend it both for dining in or for take out.
It was quite dark for our after dinner beach walk as the moon had not
yet risen. The waves flashed a eerie, bright, phosphorescent
green. The stars and Milky Way could be clearly seen overhead.
The walk was a wonderful, relaxing way to end the day.
Saturday, November 7, 2009 - Big Waves
There
were unusually large waves today, though by late afternoon they were
starting to die down. The waves had carved out all kinds of
interesting patterns, undulations and small streams in the
sand. The waves must have been strong as several large rocks with
giant kelp attached to them washed up onto the shore. The surfers
were
out by the Pismo Pier, as were the beachcombers with metal detectors
looking treasures in the sand.
Sunday, November 8, 2009 -
Frozen Yogurt
We
walked from the Grand Avenue parking lot, located next to the Grover
Beach Golf Course,
along the beach, to the Pismo Pier. In Pismo we
enjoyed a delicious fruit-topped frozen yogurt from Pismo Yogurt while listening to
street musicians and watching the world walk by. We took the
board walk trail back to Grover Beach. The "board walk"
(actually only the first and last sections are wood) runs from Pismo
Beach, through the
Pismo
State Beach campground, by the Butterfly Grove, then over
the dunes,
where one gets a wonderful view of the beach. It was a throughly
pleasant Sunday afternoon.
Sunday, November 15, 2009 - A Lovely Sunday Afternoon
It was a lovely Sunday afternoon as we strolled down the beach.
The weather was warm. The surf was quiet. There were joggers,
walkers, and lots of people walking their dogs.
Tuesday, November 17, 2009 - Wonderful Green Flash(es)
The last bit of sun turned pale green just before it disappeared below
the horizon. The sun vanished and a moment later there was a
brief but intense emerald green flash. Unfortunately my digital
camera was too slow to capture the wonderful but fleeting moment.
Thursday, November 19, 2009 - Birds on a dark night
It was a late walk tonight, due to a meeting at church. It was a clear,
dark, moonless night. Dozens of Sanderlings were
running back and forth in the surf in the dark, looking for
dinner. The more sedate Gulls just stood by watching the waves
and hoping to find something to eat. Watching the small
Sanderlings quickly scurry about on their tiny legs is always
fascinating. The amazing birds winter in the Pismo Beach area, then fly
thousands of miles each year to breed in the Arctic during the
summer. I wonder when they sleep.
Saturday, November 21, 2009 - I'm Hungry!
It was another lovely, late afternoon walk along the
beach. We watched the sun disappear into the Pacific. As we
approach the Pismo Pier we are first hit with the magnificent aroma of
garlic and butter emanating from the Sea Venture Restaurant.
Proceeding further we are get the smells of other delicious foods from
some of the fine restaurants along Pomeroy Ave. in Pismo Beach. I
am getting hungry. Too bad my wife did not come along so we could
have dinner here.
Sunday, November 22, 2009 - Butterflies
Today we walked along the boardwalk over the dunes to the Pismo Butterfly
Grove.
There were thousands and thousands of butterflies, some flying about,
some resting in trees. The Pismo Butterfly Grove is one of the
largest Monarch Butterfly wintering areas in the United States.
Butterflies stay here from about October to February, when the fly
north. It is a wondrous place to visit and spend a few minutes
watching the butterflies. The butterfly count is down this year,
possibly due to the drought, however there were still plenty of
butterflies to be seen.
Thursday, November 26, 2009 - Happy Thanksgiving
It was a warm, sunny
day. We had a delicious Thanksgiving feast, then needed a beach
waddle to work off some dinner, before engaging in deserts. We
saw a brief green flash when the sun went down, then walked inland to
Pismo Beach where we passed this giant Clam Turkey in front of the Pismo Coast
Village RV Resort.
The giant clam is one of several throughout the city. A few times a
year the giant clams are done up in a seasonal costume. This
Thanksgiving it is a Turkey. It is always fun to watch to see how
the giant clams change throughout the year.
Sunday, November 29, 2009 - The Historic Price House
It
was another warm, sunny day. Today we decided to explore the Price Historic Park
in Pismo Beach
rather then do our usual beach walk. The park is the home of the
historic Price Anniversary House and other historic structures, along
with a replica of a traditional Chumash Indian village. John
Price, the founder of Pismo Beach, built the house to his wife for
their 50th wedding anniversary in 1893. We were expecting the
Price House to be closed for the season, however to our delight we
found Effie McDermott, President of the Friends of Price House, at the
park. She gave us, and another couple who was related to John
Price, a personal tour of the house and grounds. The Park shows
the dedication and hard work of those who maintain the areas heritage.
Monday, November 30, 2009 - Fancy Riding on the Beach
It
was another beautiful, warm, day here on the Central Coast. We
watched a beautiful sunset on the beach. The moon was almost
full. Numerous birds were feeding in the surf. A horseman
was practicing some fancy riding on the beach.
For those who would like to try some riding, The Pacific Dunes Riding
Stables in Oceano offers horseback rides along the shoreline and in
the beautiful Oceano Dunes
Preserve.
Sunday, December 6, 2009 - Family Visit
No beach walk today. Got a call today from a distant cousin who we have
not seen for years. She was in the area so we met at Cafe
Andreini in The Historic
Village of Arroyo Grande. It was good to see her at an event
other than a funeral, and to chat and visit in the relaxing, casual,
atmosphere of the Cafe.
The
Historic Village of
Arroyo Grande runs along East Branch Street. It has a
wonderful collection of small shops, antique stores, restaurants, and
museums located in historic buildings. Adding to the "old time"
atmosphere are a few chickens running loose. If you visit, be
sure to walk across the "swinging bridge" that crosses Arroyo Grande
Creek. Originally built in the 1800's, it is the last of its kind
in California.
Monday, December 7, 2009 - A Beautiful Sunset
It rained today - we really needed it. It has been a dry few
years. The clouds broke in the late afternoon creating a
spectacular sunset with multiple layers of clouds reflecting the sun's
orange rays.
Saturday, December 12, 2009 - A Short Walk
The rains continued off and on today. After we finished dinner,
there was a break in the rain, so we thought we would take a night
beach walk. We started at the Grand Ave. parking lot and headed
north towards the Pismo Pier. Alas, we did not get very
far. The rains caused the normally dry creek that is next to the
Pismo State Park camp grounds to turn into regular stream that flowed
across the beach. Though the stream was not deep, it was
wide, the night was dark, and I was wearing socks and
sandals. After getting about half way across and getting my feet
wet, I decided to turn back and head for the comforts of a warm,
dry, home.
Sunday, December 13, 2009 - Nature Center and Nature Trail
Today we
visited the Pismo
Nature Center
located in the Pismo Beach State Park campground off of Pier Ave. in
Oceano. Though not large, the nature center has exhibits on local
wildlife and the Chumash Indians that inhabited the area, as well as a
small gift shop. Most of the exhibits are oriented towards
children, though us adults learned some things as well. The
Nature Center is open Friday - Sunday 1 to 4PM Sept. to May, and daily
except Tuesday and Thursday June through August. Docent programs are
offered most weekends, so check their schedule. Following our
visit we attempted to walk the Guiton Trail. The 1 1/2 mile loop
trail guides you through the many habitats that surround the Oceano
Lagoon. We saw a variety of birds and ducks, a deer and signs of
beaver. It is hard to believe as you walk through the woods and
meadows that you are just a few hundred yards away from the state
highway and housing developments. It is all so quiet and
peaceful. The water level of the lagoon was high due to the
recent rains. Part of the trail was flooded out, so we will have
to save the rest of the trail for another day.
Wednesday, December 16,
2009 - Oso Flaco Lake
Oso
Flaco Lake provides a lovely and varied nature trail. The
trail starts through a wooded area, then proceeds on a boardwalk that
crosses the shallow lake. You will then cross the huge sand dunes
to end up at the ocean. Numerous birds and wildflowers are found
along the way. It is a wonderful way to spend a few hours
observing and enjoying nature. The Oso Flaco Lake is
located a few miles south Oceano off of Highway
1.
Friday, December 18,
2009 - Oklahoma!
No beach walk today. We are in Enid, Oklahoma. Our daughter
received her Air Force Pilot's wings today. Mom and Dad (and the
rest of the family) are very proud.
Thursday, December 24, 2009 - Christmas Eve
A glorious, warm day today. Numerous people are walking and driving up
and down Oceano Beach. Oceano
Dunes is the only public beach in California where vehicles are
still permitted to drive on the beach. Further down the beach
others enjoying the ATVs and dune buggies in the dunes. I am
glad we are no longer in Oklahoma. There are reports of heavy
snow, blizzards, and below freezing weather.
Friday, December 25, 2009 - A Donkey Cart
Merry Christmas! It was another warm
day. Many families were on the beach enjoying games of soccer,
beach walking, dog walking, picnicking, building sand castles and so
forth. One of the more interesting was a couple that came
trotting down the beach in a donkey cart!.
Saturday, December 26, 2009 - Santa Maria Museum of Flight
Today we visited the Santa
Maria Museum of Flight, located at the Santa Maria Airport.
We had a personalized tour of the exhibits, which included two hangers
as well as outdoor exhibits. Included were a variety of early
airplanes, "home built" experimental aircraft, military jets and
numerous models and exhibits. The facility
was used in filming the 1991 Disney film "The Rocketeer", so material related
to the movie is also exhibited. The museum also houses extensive
historical achieves.
I recommend a visit for anyone with an interest in aviation.
Tuesday,
December 29, 2009 - Photographers Out To Get Another Beautiful Sunset
Shot
There are really a lot of gorgeous sunsets here in the Pismo Beach area
in winter and today was no exception. The sun sets over the ocean,
which allows for long, wide vistas. Even when it is clear on land,
there are often clouds over the ocean which pick up the bright orange,
pink and red hues of the setting sun. It is not hard to get a
beautiful sunset picture, so there are often a lot of photographers out
to that always impressive sunset shot.
Friday, January 1, 2010 -
Walking a Goat
Many people walk their dogs along the beach. The people enjoy the
beautiful scenery, and the dogs enjoy all the intriguing smells found
along a beach. Today we saw someone walking a baby goat.
Previously we have seen someone walking their pig. You
never know what you will see on the beach.
Saturday, January 2, 2010 - Guadalupe Dunes
We
drove a few miles south, to the Guadalupe
Dunes to begin our beach walk. There is
a small museum at the dunes which has exhibits about the Dunites and
Cecil B. DeMille's 1923 silent film classic "The Ten
Commandments". The Dunites were a group of artists,
writers, misfits, and mystics that inhabited the Dunes between Oceano
and Guadeloupe from about the 1920's to the 1940's. Buried
somewhere beneath the Dunes is the set used to create Cecil B.
DeMille's 1923 epoch movie. Giant sets were constructed to
recreate the glories of ancient Egypt. When the film was
completed the sets were buried in the sand. Occasionally pieces
are found after a storm shifts the dunes. According to some of
the Dunites the “Pillars of Atlantis” are also buried beneath the
Dunes, however they have yet to be discovered.
Sunday, January 3, 2010 - Dinosaur Caves Park
We walked from the
Dinosaur Caves Park in Pismo Beach, along the bluff,
and down to the beach. There are no dinosaurs or caves at
Dinosaur Caves Park, however there once was an amusement park and
roadside stand that featured a headless dinosaur (the neighbors
objected, so the dinosaur was never completed). One could enter a
cave beneath the bluff by going through the belly of the
dinosaur. Alas, the dinosaur the dinosaur was removed in the
1950's, and the cave collapsed some years later. Now all that is
left is a peaceful park with multi-million dollar views of the cliffs
and the ocean. Included are benches to watch the surf,
restrooms, a small play area and nearby picnic tables. One can observe
the jagged rocks of the rugged coastline from the park and bluff and
can easily imagine what it would have looked like when dinosaurs did
roam the area. Farmers Markets and Artists sales are held
regularly at the park.
Tuesday, January 5, 2010 - A Beautiful day with lots of surfers
It was a wonderful, warm
day. I read about the thick Tule fog in the central valley, and
how the much of the nation is experiencing snowstorms, near record cold
spells, and I am glad to be here in Grover Beach / Oceano area. Winter
is probably the nicest season. The weather tends to be mild and
pleasant with little or no fog, and there are no crowds. On the
beach someone built a magnificent sand castle. Dozens of surfers
were out catching the waves near the Pismo Pier. This is truly a
wonderful place.
Wednesday, January 6, 2010 - Blimp, Bird, and a Beautiful Sunset.
It was another warm day. Across the bay we could see a
blimp circling near Avila Beach. Eventually it flew overhead, and then
headed south towards Santa Maria. Though it is common to see a
bi-plane, this is the
first time I have seen a blimp over the beach. An Egret was
fishing for its dinner in the surf. We had a beautiful sunset with
bright, florescent reds and oranges.
Saturday, January 9, 2010 - The Exploration Station
We attended the opening of The Exploration Station's
Children's Interactive Science Center today. The place was packed
with kids trying out a variety of hand's on exhibit, including exhibits
on flying airplanes and the human body. Looks like they were
having a LOT of fun. The Exploration Station is located in the
old fire house at 9th and Ramona St. across the street from Ramona
Gardens Park in Grover Beach. It is one block north of Grand
Avenue. There were heavy clouds today. It looked like it would
rain, but just before sundown the clouds broke, revealing another
gorgeous sunset.
Tuesday, January 11, 2010 -
Night Rain
A storm approached this evening as we walked along the shore.
Just after sunset it started to sprinkle, and continued to rain
throughout the night. By morning the skies had cleared, yielding
another beautiful day. For some reason it seems to rain more
often at night than during the day around here. We are not quite
like the song in Camelot, where it only rains at night, but the Central
Coast is a magical area, and it does rain more often at night, leaving
us with beautiful days.
Monday, January 18, 2010 - Big Storm
A big storm blew through today (OK, so it does rain during the day some
to the time). We had a few hours heavy rain starting in the
morning followed by very strong winds. It knocked power to much
of the area, including our house. The skies cleared, and it
became a beautiful sunny afternoon. Having the choice of staying
in a dark house, or enjoying a sunny afternoon on the beach, we
headed down to the beach for a walk and to observe the
heavy surf. Seems a lot of other people had the same idea.
There were lots of people walking up and down the beach, discussing the
storm and blackout. The power was still out at our place when we
got back, so we went to Mexico Viejo Restaurant on Grand Ave. in Arroyo
Grande for dinner. The place was busy, and as usual, our dinner
was delicious. And
the power was back on when we got back home.
Tuesday, January 19, 2010 -
Rough Surf
There
is still a lot of rough surf caused by the storms that are passing
through this week. It is fascinating to watch the large waves
tumble ashore.
Wednesday, January 20, 2010 - A Double Rainbow
About 5PM sudden gale force winds blew in extremely heavy rains.
I was immediately drenched. Though there were heavy clouds
overhead and the rain was pouring down, the sky was clear over the
ocean. The sun, low on the horizon shown brightly through the
rain, creating a spectacular double rainbow. The wind and rain
ceased within a few minutes. As we drove east on Grand Avenue,
one of the rainbows appeared to end at The Girl's Restaurant on Grand
Ave. in Arroyo
Grande. We immediately drove there. Alas, we did not find a pot
of gold, however we did find a delicious dinner and friendly service
(along with a dry towel).
Saturday, January 23,
2010 - The beach after the storms
The
storms passing through this week have carved small cliffs into the sand
and left the beach littered with seaweed. The waves and tides
have left intricate patterns in the seaweed and and small pieces of
debris swept upon the beach.
Thursday, January 28, 2010 - Sunny Days Are Back.
The
beautiful Pismo Beach weather has finally returned. It is again
sunny and warm. The normally tiny or non-existent creeks
running into the sea have turned into small rivers from the recent
storms, which limits where we can walk along the beach without getting
our feet wet.
Friday, January 29, 2010 - Dr. Danger at the SLOdown Pub
After this evenings beach walk we visited the SLOdown Pub
on Grand Avenue at Brisco Road in Arroyo Grande. Ellie's Cafe, a
wonderful, "casual gourmet:" restaurant shares the facility.
The Pub is a relaxing, mellow, establishment that features local
wines, local beers, local bands, local art, dancing and friendly
conversation. There is live music most evenings, supplemented by
an occasional poetry reading or other activities. Check
their calendar at http://www.slodownpub.com/event_calendar.shtml.
Tonight music was provided by one of our favorites, Dr. Danger
Blues Band.
They preformed their usual, slightly eclectic, mix of blues, soft rock
and a few other odds and ends thrown in as well.
Saturday, January 30, 2010 - Full Moon and Dinner at Cafe
Vostro
It
was a gorgeous full moon tonight. The sky was almost clear, with
just a few bright, whispy, clouds reflecting the moon's rays.
Dinner tonight was at Cafe Vostro,
located about 2 blocks from the beach on Grand Avenue. Dinner
was delicious, the Lemon Cake we had for desert was absolutely
wonderful, and the service excellent. The Cafe is usually open
for Breakfast and Lunch, though not always for dinner.
Tuesday, February 2, 2010 - Unusual Colors
We
started our beach walk shortly before sunset. The Ocean was an
unusual yellow-green, almost peridot, in color. The
sun and clouds were bright orange. The orange sky reflected on
the wet sand creating a fascinating array of colors on the beach
Sunday, February 7, 2010 - A delicious Thai dinner
We had friends visit from out-of-town. After enjoying a delicious
bottle of wine from the local Edna Valley Vinyard,
we brought them to one of our favorite local restaurants: Thai Dheva,
located at the corner of 5th and Grand in Grover Beach. It is a
great, little, Thai restaurant. The food is wonderful, the prices
are reasonable, and the staff is friendly and accommodating.
A relaxing and tasty dinner was enjoyed by all.
Monday, February 8, 2010 - A Flying Saucer!
The tide was high this evening, so we were forced to walk on the soft
sand rather than the hard, damp, sand that we prefer. As we
looked up, over the ocean, we saw in the sky a large saucer outlined in
white lights. Glowing red lights were on the top and bottom center of
the saucer. It proceeded silently and slowly across the sky,
heading north. Perhaps it was going to Moffett Field.
Monday,
February 15, 2010 - Campfires
It was a pleasant, warm day and a cool evening. Between Grand
Ave. and Pier Ave there were a few groups were gathered around
campfires. Someone with a guitar was singing into thel evening
breeze.
Tuesday, February 23, 2010 - Beach Zones
Pismo Beach has about
20 miles of beautiful, continuous, white sand,
which provides a lot of opportunities for everyone to enjoy various
beach activities. Both officially and unofficially, the beach has been
divided into zones for different activities. The beach
starts below the cliff north of the Pismo Pier. Below the cliffs
are tide pools and small caves that can be explored during low
tide. There are a number of nice motels and hotels with easy
beach access between the Cliffs and the Pier. During summer
hundreds of vacationers enjoy relaxing on the this section of the
beach. Near the Pismo Pier are some beach volley ball courts and
swings to be enjoyed by all. Surfers and boogie boarders often
gather near the Pismo Pier to catch a few waves. The shallow
bottom and relatively mild waves make the Pismo Pier an excellent place
to learn to surf, and nearby surf shops as well as the city recreation
department offer surfing lessons. Surfers do have to be careful
about getting too close to the Pier, as there are often fishermen
casting their lines from the Pier. Rods may be rented and bait
purchased from the concession stand on the pier, and no fishing license
is required. The area south of the Pismo Pier to Grand Avenue in
Grover Beach is a favorite for local walkers. Each day hundreds
of walk along this stretch of the beach, with many walking their
dogs. Both a public and a private campground are located just off
the beach, allowing campers easy access to the beach. Parallel to
the beach but a few hundred yards inland is the boardwalk with provides
beautiful beach views. Cars are allowed to drive on the
beach from Grand Avenue to the area around Oso Flaco Lake about 6 miles
to the south. Campfires are also allowed in this section of the
beach. It is the only public beach on which cars are allowed,
making it a popular vacation destination. Families will load up
the car, find a comfortable spot on the beach, and spend the day.
Cars may enter the beach either at Grand Ave. in Grover Beach, or at
Pier Ave. in Oceano. Just south of Pier Ave. is a small group of
homes built next to the beach. The area, generally known as the
Strand neighborhood of Oceano Beach consists primarily of second homes,
long term rentals and vacation rentals. It is a popular area for family
reunions, get togethers and church retreats. About a mile or so
south of the Pier Ave. entrance to the beach is the on beach camping
area. Many campers bring their Recreational Vehicles as there are
minimal public facilities. You can camp right on the sand at on
the beach, however there are no formal camping sites and it can get a
bit crowded on busy weekends. South of the camping area is the ATV
area. Those with All Terrain Vehicles or Dune Buggies may ride them on
the huge sand dunes. At the end of the ATV area is Oso Flaco
lake. From Oso Flaco lake to the end of the beach the area
returns to its natural peace and quite. The beach here is pretty
much empty except for the hundreds of birds that live along the
shore. In order to protect some endangered species, the beach is
sometimes closed to the public for parts of the year.
Saturday, February 27, 2010 - Tsunami?
The beach was closed for much of the day due to a Tsunami warning from
the Chilean earthquake. Apparently there were some surges,
however but we did not notice them, perhaps because we were not close
enough to the water, and the waves were already large due to off-shore
storms. By evening the tide and waves were high enough (without
any Tsunami) that most of the beach was covered up to the sand dunes,
limiting our ability to walk on the beach.
Thursday, March 4, 2010 - Starry, Starry Night
It was a clear, cool, night. There was no moon. The stars
shined brightly in the sky. The waves lapped quietly upon the
beach.
Sunday, March 7, 2010 - Kiteboarders
It was a windy afternoon. Dozens of kiteboarders or kitesurfers
were on the beach between the Grand Ave. entrance and the Pier Ave.
entrance. Some were learning, some were performing amazing
stunts, some were leaping high into the air. They all looked like
they were having a LOT of fun.
Questions or Comments?
You may e-mail me at blog@oceanovacationhomes.com
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Saturday, October 10,
2009 - A Magnificent Sand Castle by the Pier 
There
were unusually large waves today, though by late afternoon they were
starting to die down. The waves had carved out all kinds of
interesting patterns, undulations and small streams in the
sand. The waves must have been strong as several large rocks with
giant kelp attached to them washed up onto the shore. The surfers
were
out by the Pismo Pier, as were the beachcombers with metal detectors
looking treasures in the sand.
We
walked from the Grand Avenue parking lot, located next to the Grover
Beach Golf Course,
along the beach, to the Pismo Pier. In Pismo we
enjoyed a delicious fruit-topped frozen yogurt from Pismo Yogurt while listening to
street musicians and watching the world walk by. We took the
board walk trail back to Grover Beach. The "board walk"
(actually only the first and last sections are wood) runs from Pismo
Beach, through the
Pismo
State Beach campground, by the Butterfly Grove, then over
the dunes,
where one gets a wonderful view of the beach. It was a throughly
pleasant Sunday afternoon.
It
was another warm, sunny day. Today we decided to explore the Price Historic Park
in Pismo Beach
rather then do our usual beach walk. The park is the home of the
historic Price Anniversary House and other historic structures, along
with a replica of a traditional Chumash Indian village. John
Price, the founder of Pismo Beach, built the house to his wife for
their 50th wedding anniversary in 1893. We were expecting the
Price House to be closed for the season, however to our delight we
found Effie McDermott, President of the Friends of Price House, at the
park. She gave us, and another couple who was related to John
Price, a personal tour of the house and grounds. The Park shows
the dedication and hard work of those who maintain the areas heritage.
It
was another beautiful, warm, day here on the Central Coast. We
watched a beautiful sunset on the beach. The moon was almost
full. Numerous birds were feeding in the surf. A horseman
was practicing some fancy riding on the beach. 
Today we
visited the Pismo
Nature Center
located in the Pismo Beach State Park campground off of Pier Ave. in
Oceano. Though not large, the nature center has exhibits on local
wildlife and the Chumash Indians that inhabited the area, as well as a
small gift shop. Most of the exhibits are oriented towards
children, though us adults learned some things as well. The
Nature Center is open Friday - Sunday 1 to 4PM Sept. to May, and daily
except Tuesday and Thursday June through August. Docent programs are
offered most weekends, so check their schedule. Following our
visit we attempted to walk the Guiton Trail. The 1 1/2 mile loop
trail guides you through the many habitats that surround the Oceano
Lagoon. We saw a variety of birds and ducks, a deer and signs of
beaver. It is hard to believe as you walk through the woods and
meadows that you are just a few hundred yards away from the state
highway and housing developments. It is all so quiet and
peaceful. The water level of the lagoon was high due to the
recent rains. Part of the trail was flooded out, so we will have
to save the rest of the trail for another day.
We
drove a few miles south, to the Guadalupe
Dunes to begin our beach walk. There is
a small museum at the dunes which has exhibits about the Dunites and
Cecil B. DeMille's 1923 silent film classic "The Ten
Commandments". The Dunites were a group of artists,
writers, misfits, and mystics that inhabited the Dunes between Oceano
and Guadeloupe from about the 1920's to the 1940's. Buried
somewhere beneath the Dunes is the set used to create Cecil B.
DeMille's 1923 epoch movie. Giant sets were constructed to
recreate the glories of ancient Egypt. When the film was
completed the sets were buried in the sand. Occasionally pieces
are found after a storm shifts the dunes. According to some of
the Dunites the “Pillars of Atlantis” are also buried beneath the
Dunes, however they have yet to be discovered. 
Tuesday, January 19, 2010 -
Rough Surf
Saturday, January 23,
2010 - The beach after the storms
Pismo Beach has about
20 miles of beautiful, continuous, white sand,
which provides a lot of opportunities for everyone to enjoy various
beach activities. Both officially and unofficially, the beach has been
divided into zones for different activities. The beach
starts below the cliff north of the Pismo Pier. Below the cliffs
are tide pools and small caves that can be explored during low
tide. There are a number of nice motels and hotels with easy
beach access between the Cliffs and the Pier. During summer
hundreds of vacationers enjoy relaxing on the this section of the
beach. Near the Pismo Pier are some beach volley ball courts and
swings to be enjoyed by all. Surfers and boogie boarders often
gather near the Pismo Pier to catch a few waves. The shallow
bottom and relatively mild waves make the Pismo Pier an excellent place
to learn to surf, and nearby surf shops as well as the city recreation
department offer surfing lessons. Surfers do have to be careful
about getting too close to the Pier, as there are often fishermen
casting their lines from the Pier. Rods may be rented and bait
purchased from the concession stand on the pier, and no fishing license
is required. The area south of the Pismo Pier to Grand Avenue in
Grover Beach is a favorite for local walkers. Each day hundreds
of walk along this stretch of the beach, with many walking their
dogs. Both a public and a private campground are located just off
the beach, allowing campers easy access to the beach. Parallel to
the beach but a few hundred yards inland is the boardwalk with provides
beautiful beach views. Cars are allowed to drive on the
beach from Grand Avenue to the area around Oso Flaco Lake about 6 miles
to the south. Campfires are also allowed in this section of the
beach. It is the only public beach on which cars are allowed,
making it a popular vacation destination. Families will load up
the car, find a comfortable spot on the beach, and spend the day.
Cars may enter the beach either at Grand Ave. in Grover Beach, or at
Pier Ave. in Oceano. Just south of Pier Ave. is a small group of
homes built next to the beach. The area, generally known as the
Strand neighborhood of Oceano Beach consists primarily of second homes,
long term rentals and vacation rentals. It is a popular area for family
reunions, get togethers and church retreats. About a mile or so
south of the Pier Ave. entrance to the beach is the on beach camping
area. Many campers bring their Recreational Vehicles as there are
minimal public facilities. You can camp right on the sand at on
the beach, however there are no formal camping sites and it can get a
bit crowded on busy weekends. South of the camping area is the ATV
area. Those with All Terrain Vehicles or Dune Buggies may ride them on
the huge sand dunes. At the end of the ATV area is Oso Flaco
lake. From Oso Flaco lake to the end of the beach the area
returns to its natural peace and quite. The beach here is pretty
much empty except for the hundreds of birds that live along the
shore. In order to protect some endangered species, the beach is
sometimes closed to the public for parts of the year.