So while there were plenty of waves, sometimes we have the need for some solitude.
Lucky for us, we live in Goleta, and there are lots of places to go and hide.
And in the springtime, these places are at their best.
Just a short drive from the beach and we’re on top of the coastal range.
That little bit of white water is where we just were in No Mask Required pt.1.
And down the other side is Cachuma.
If you really try, you can get a photo with Cachuma on the left,(barely), and the Pacific on the right.
Back in the next mountain range, a whole new world opens up.
The more effort you put in, the better it gets…
The late spring rains gave the back country creeks a lot to work with.
And we made the most of it…..safely, of course.
We weren’t the only ones enjoying the green hills and flowing water…
There’s a whole world of creatures, hiding in the nooks and crannies.
California Mountain King Snakes.
Bald Eagles,
Friendly Newts,
Horny Newts,
Extremely loud and large Toads,
Snakes that like to swim….
Lots of fish. Mostly Carp I think.
Where do they go when the creeks dry up?
….families of Ducks,
….and a few humans.
Meanwhile, back down at the coast….
Spring and early Summer are always nice at the beach.
Before the notorious June Gloom kicks in.
We love the cold, empty beaches early in the morning.
And the green bluffs are a joy to behold.
One day, while walking on a fairly remote beach, we spied an artist up on the bluff,
deeply involved with his artistic endeavor.
We ventured a little closer to try to see what he was working on…
With the right lens, I could catch a glimpse of his canvas.
Pretty good!
Anybody identify this artist?
A majestic Osprey screeched his approval from above.
Seems like we’ve been seeing a lot of these guys lately.
Further down the beach, another kind of artist was making something good out of almost nothing.
And having tons of fun in just a few inches of water.
So the moral of the story, despite all the strange circumstances we are experiencing,
fun is where you find it, and beauty is in the eyes of the beholder.
Now put your mask back on and get back to work 🙂
