The Lure of the Ocean
Our visits to the ocean in Southern California have been terrific—even though we previously avoided spending time there—we have overcome our reluctance! The most prized surfing beaches lie in and around Encinitas, about 30 miles north of San Diego.
Cardiff-by-the-Sea
Cardiff-by-the-Sea was our favourite beach to just sit and watch. Ships pass back and forth on the horizon as they come and go to San Diego. The waves splash up against the rocks only to rush back out to the ocean leaving the stones wet and waiting. Back again, stronger and higher the waves envelop the spot they just left – always changing. All description of people stroll along the shore.
Swami's State Beach
Swami's State Beach is an internationally renowned surfing destination for all levels of boarders, especially longboard and shortboard surfers. The beach is named after Swami Paramahansa Yogananda, a swami from the Self-Realization Fellowship ashram that sits on the cliff above the reef. Although we are not surfers ourselves, we have been known to spend hours just watching them. The strength it must take to paddle out to their chosen spot—wait for just the right wave—battle to gain their footing and ride the wave until they either reached the shore or fell off the board. Almost compulsively, they would do it all again. Many surfers will choose to end their rides before the wave reaches the beach because the distance from the beach to the main peak is several hundred yards from shore.
Leucadia Beach Encinitas
Four levels of the steep staircase lead down to the first view of the surf, the birds, the people and the beach. This beach did not seem to have as many surfers as others but it is right in town and used extensively by visitors and residents alike.
South Carlsbad State Beach
Many of the beaches charge for parking so every road that is adjacent to a beach is lined with vehicles no matter what the time of the day. The Carlsbad Beach extends along highway 101 just north of Leucadia. There didn’t seem to be much surfing but the whole area was crowded with people: playing beach volleyball; fishing or just captivated by the ever-changing tides and waves.
In Oceanside, we stopped to talk with the tiny little woman who was polishing her husband’s motorcycle, “He promised to take it out for a long ride if I polished it for him,” she told us. She was standing in front of a parked small Class C motor home that she calls her clothes closet. Their small boat sits in the marina across the road and it’s smaller than the motor home.
Southern California has a culture of its own . . . whether it is the fellow running up and down the staircase leading to the beach, or playing volleyball on the beach, fishing or just sitting mesmerized by the water and the waves . . . they do have their own culture.
