We found a new way to get to the beach we like. Our friends told us to look for a Coastal Access sign, so we drove slowly down a shaded lane behind the fancy homes and found it. In California, all beaches are open to the public. There has to be public access to every beach, whether the people living there like it or not.
Before we were parking at the busier end of the beach that doesn’t have houses and famous residents like George Lucas, Kevin Costner and Ashton Kutcher. We had to walk over railroad tracks and then scramble over rocks on a narrow pathway to the sand. It was hard for me with my healing ankle, but I managed to do it all on my own the day before we discovered this path to the beach.
This pathway is flat and easy for me to walk. It runs between mansions of the rich and famous.
Here’s the view at the end of the trail. I can manage these steps easier than boulders.
Here’s the view when you walk over the steps pictured above. In the distance is where we used to park and walk to the beach.
Interesting moments at the beach:
I finally got some pelican photos!
One day we got buzzed by Army helicopters. It was quite dramatic. The video below is when they approached the beach flying by Kevin Costner’s house and eventually flying directly overhead where I was sitting on the sand!
A more relaxing sight was watching dolphins two days in a row.
My days consist of beach walks, relaxing at the beach, watching waves and wildlife, physical therapy and eating my favorite foods. Also reading and writing of course.
What’s on your agenda this week?
What a beautiful getaway, and a nice little secret path! Lots of work meetings on my agenda this week, but also it looks like it may rain which is always a welcome sight.
It’s a great place to be to escape the heat. I’m glad you found time out of your busy schedule to get back on WP. The night before we left we had thunder, lightning and rain. I hope we get more rain, too.
I know, we need it. And it’s such a welcome reprieve from the relentless heat.
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Love the pics, especially the pelican and dolphins. We saw dolphins but not as close up. So glad you are having a wonderful time. ❤️
We are helping my in-laws move this week. In the beautiful TN mountains. From the beach to the mountains. 🙂
I love the beach escape. Dolphins and pelicans seem magical. I’d love to see Tennessee. Have a good week!
Everything is magical at the beach!
The beach will always be my favorite place, but the mountains are pretty! Hope you can make it there sometime.
So true! I love the beach the best. I’m surprised my friends who live here only take a beach walk once a week. We take two beach walks a day! I guess they are used to it. We feel we need to get as much beach time as possible.
Yes! My friend and I walk as much as we can, too, when at the beach. I would definitely be taking daily walks if I lived by the beach!
Our friends have a sailboat, so I think they’re more into boating than beaching. I love sitting at the beach after a walk and watching waves, birds and dolphins.
🥰 Yes, so soothing and listening to the waves !
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What a wonderful vacation and that trail/path was a great find!
It’s such a nice entrance to the beach and it’s so much more private. Over the railroad tracks and rocks there is a crowd. Plus you hear the highway there plus the horns from the trains.
I hope you dropped by and had a cocktail with Kevin, but if not… that’s still a lovely beach.
Those helicopters were low, is there a base nearby?
Kevin has the last house at the end of the beach. Only at very low tides can you walk by his house. Otherwise he’s on a bluff overlooking the water. He has a ton of privacy at his home. Ellen’s home was on one side of the pathway we discovered. She moved because she said she felt exposed.
As for the helicopters, I don’t know why they were so low. I think they were showing off. Vandenberg is about an hour away. That must be where they were from.
Hmmm. Mostly writing. Looking forward to weekend. My husband is on a guys weekend and my daughter’s away with her friends so excited for time alone
Take advantage of the time alone to write. That’s what I need to do! But my husband is taking actual vacation days when he usually has working vacations. We are spending our days together and with friends.
Thank you so much for taking us along, Elizabeth. I love the flat path you found to navigate to the beach. Yay! Sending big hugs…hope you have a great week of relaxing…and sharing the beautiful scenery with us! 🥰
Thanks! It’s beautiful here and I’m getting so much exercise. I’m sure my ankle is benefitting. It was so hot at home I wasn’t able to go outside much. We’ll be here for a few more weeks. Then I’ll be more than ready to go home and hopefully we’ll have cooler weather. My photography workshop begins the week I’m home.
Yay! More time to enjoy the good weather and the gorgeous sights. It’s your happy place! Love you oodles…so glad you’re doing well. 🥰
Thank you! I hope to find time to write while I’m here. But beach walks, friends and watching waves seem to take priority!
All good for the soul! 🥰❤️🥰
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That is a pretty beach. Thanks for the share.
It’s the nicest beach around here. No wonder the rich and famous live there!
Ooh, I hope you see some of them. That would be interesting!
Their homes give them privacy. I once saw Kevin Costner on his deck. I saw George Lucas on his steps and he waved to us as we walked by. Then Ashton Kutcher was playing in the sand with his kids. But this was a few years ago. No sightings lately.
Wow, Elizabeth, that’s a pretty great list of daily activities. Glad you found a better approach to the beach. Love your pictures and that dolphin video is amazing! Enjoy your week!
Thanks! I do want to work in some writing, but I’m having trouble with all the beachy things to do. My son sent me the syllabus for my DIL’s AP English class. They asked me to read along with them for the semester. It’s a big list, but I’m going to try to do the reading assignments. So that’s added to my beach list of things to do! I have seen dolphins three days in a row now. I love watching them.
This is so lovely…with the exception of the helicopters. I miss the ocean.
The helicopters were something else! Not quite the tranquil average beach day with birds and dolphins.
Not at all!
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I love that there are public access paths to the ocean! So glad you found perfect path!
I agree that public access paths to the ocean are the best. I know the Malibu set has tried to block them and not let people on their beach. But they always lose in court, thankfully.
I love that public access law! The homeowners often try to make the paths as hard to find as possible, but the coast belongs to everyone. I’m glad that you found a way to get to the beach that is quicker and safer.
Yes, it’s a good law and one that we appreciate. We have rented homes and cottages in beach town for more than 30 years to escape the desert heat. It’s nice to know we can always access the beach, because we never stay right on the ocean. The newly discovered walkway is working for me and my ankle!
It was good you could find an easy access to the beach
It helps me so much, plus we end up right in the middle of the beach where we want to be.
I’m doing Pre-hab – exercises to strengthen my hip muscles so I’ll be approved for hip replacement surgery. And, of course, reading and writing. I finished the first draft of my play about President James Buchanan, and I’m now working on draft #2.
Good for you! I did prehab before my ACL replacement surgery in 2018. It really helped. My recent ankle surgery was an emergency so it was PT two weeks after surgery. How exciting to work on draft number two!
The pelican was trying to fill in for Red. Like him and all, but Red gets a better rating. Ha, ha.
I’m hoping Red waits for me to get home. A neighbor just sent me a video. We are having a haboob at home, which is a major wind and dust storm.
Wow! Beautiful place and the dolphins are swimming so close by. Enjoy the beach my friend
We saw dolphins three days in a row, plus seals. Such a treat!
That’s really great.
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Beautiful photos! Love the pelicans and dolphins, but the helicopters would be a surprise. 🙂
The helicopters were a surprise. The guys were really excited to see them. Go figure!
I’m so happy you found a better entrance to navigate yourself to the beach. All the beaches in Florida are also for public use, which is how it should be everywhere, right? Maybe it is.
I love watching the dolphins—that is a view I never tire of. It looks like there are gigantic barges out in the distance too; freighter ships? I love watching the helicopters!
Yes, the new path to the beach makes it much easier and enjoyable for me. I love dolphins, too. Those are oil rigs five miles out from shore. I think California may be closing them all down. At least that’s the rumor I heard.