text: The New Dharma Bums: Low Tide Walk
  Mark P April 06, 2014 10:43 PM
  I'll bet the view from the top of the cliff is magnificent, but I don't think I would want a house there.
  lindaj April 07, 2014 1:46 AM
  Those apartments on Grand will not be there in 50 years either! Like the march of time, the sea is relentless.
  John "By Stargoose And Hanglands" April 07, 2014 2:02 AM
  I too enjoy walks along the tideline. We only have a short stretch of real cliffs along the East Anglian coast and it's eroding in the same fashion. Despite the huge boulders that lie scattered on the beach families still sit there picnicking. I wonder does it ever occurs to them where the rocks have come from?
  Arkansas Patti April 07, 2014 6:47 AM
  Just beautiful if a wee bit scary. The size of that rock is alarming. I often kayak past large cliffs with huge boulders in the water and hope my karma is on the plus side.
  robin andrea April 07, 2014 11:00 AM
  Mark-- It's true the view from that cliff is grand. Your comment reminded me that the first time I lived in Capitola in 1975 it was in a grand old resort (and at the time a hippie enclave) on that cliff. Here's a link to the old place: http://www.monarchcoveinn.com/about/history-grounds.htm
  It's all going to fall into the ocean at some point. One good earthquake will rearrange everything.
  lindaj-- There really is no stopping the erosion of that cliff. I know many people would like to try, but that's not going to happen.
  John-- We think of those fallen rocks and cliffs every time we walk there. We understand the risk, but I think most of the people we see are clueless.
  Arkansas Patti-- We have seen some of the best fossils on this walk. Beautiful and scary, and we hope our karma is on the plus side too!
  Annie April 07, 2014 1:28 PM
  This post made me think of the old El Salto? resort in Capitola. friends lived there long ago... it too is perched precariously on crumbling cliffs. Glad you had some good beach time.
  robin andrea April 07, 2014 2:52 PM
  Annie-- I lived in the old El Salto Resort in 1975-77. It was an amazingly grand place to be back then. Makes me wonder when your friends were there. It's a big-time resort now, all fancied up and everything.
  R.Powers April 07, 2014 3:35 PM
  Your beach is SO different (geomorphologically) than ours!
  NCmountainwoman April 07, 2014 4:31 PM
  What a great place to walk. Although one of you needs to look for fossils and the other watch the cliffs for falling debris.
  robin andrea April 07, 2014 5:45 PM
  RPowers-- It's pretty wild, isn't it? A lot of geological activity going on here and subduction zones. The fossil layers are such a grand view of time.
  NCmountainwoman-- It really is quite a nice, albeit a bit spooky, walk. We love it. We do take turns enjoying the view and keeping our eyes on the tide and the cliff.
  John Pendrey April 07, 2014 10:30 PM
  Enjoyed the walk. What fossils?
  robin andrea April 08, 2014 12:44 PM
  John-- There are fossils all over this walk between Capitola Beach and New Brighton Beach. Here's a link to an old post we did years ago:
  The cliff face itself is beautifully stratified with bone and shell, layer after layer. It's quite a sight.
  If you google fossil cliff Capitola, you will see some wonderful images.
  am April 09, 2014 4:21 PM
  Your photos of the coast and the ocean are always a pleasure to see. Who knows when I will ever see them again in person. Thank you for including the aerial view of the cliffs.
  Tara Crowley April 09, 2014 5:08 PM
  Live dangerously, kids. And send us the photos!! I know how much you love the minus tide walks, and it makes me happy to know you were able to get out there. Love the photo of the fence hanging out over the cliff. No doubt about its future.
  robin andrea April 09, 2014 6:24 PM
  am-- We can't wait to move back to the coast. It will probably be Humboldt County. We just love being by the ocean. Glad you liked the pics.
  Tara-- We do live dangerously, don't we! We are coastal kids. It's in our hearts to be there.
  alan April 12, 2014 5:01 PM
  T'would be wonderful to take that walk in your company! Thanks for bringing me along by proxy!
  kenju April 13, 2014 3:20 PM
  How I would love to be able to see that and explore a bit.
  P.S. In reference to your comment, I should have mentioned that Blond Goddess and her husband had to drive 6 hours 1 way to get here. Their visit was the reason for the meet-up, and I am so glad they came.
  robin andrea April 13, 2014 4:04 PM
  alan-- It is a wonderful walk. So glad we could share it with you, even if it is by proxy!
  kenju-- It really is quite a place to explore. We have always loved it.
  Six hours is a long time to drive, but it sounds like it was worth the journey. Very nice!
  Pat Tillett April 14, 2014 10:59 PM
  I've spent quite a bit of time in that area and I never knew anything about the fossils. Considering the time frame, I'm surprised I even remember being there...
  I'm going to put it on my "do and see" list.
  robin andrea April 16, 2014 5:17 PM
  Pat-- Absolutely take this walk. It's not very far at all, and it is so worth it. Make sure you check the tide table and plan for a good minus tide trip. Hopefully, the sands will have shifted again and the fossils in the rocks on the beach will be visible. I can't wait to see what you find and photograph.