Tag: California

Curves of Morro Bay

Morro Bay From Afar

Morro Bay lies along the central California Coast near San Luis Obispo, and is known for two major landmarks: Morro Rock, a large volcanic dome right near the shoreline, and a power plant with three very tall smokestacks.

Some miles north, Highway 46 cuts through the coastal mountains from Cambria to Paso Robles, revealing cattle ranches, wineries, and empty hills. There’s one spot along the road where the hills part, revealing a perfect view of the bay and the rock. Better yet, there’s a turnout, making it easy to stop and look.

The first time I drove this way, it was gray and overcast, and might actually have been raining. A year later I took the same drive again on an sunny day, unable to remember how far along the turnout was but watching for it the whole way. The result: this shot.

The curves of the dome, the bay, the rolling hills and the patch of heavier vegetation all fit in with this week’s photo challenge theme.

Manhattan Beach at Night

Manhattan Beach at Night on Flickr.

My first attempt to spot Comet Pan-Starrs on Monday evening didn’t work out, but I got to look back at the coast from the end of the pier, which was nice. You can see the Palos Verdes hills/peninsula in the background to the right.

Read about my comet-watching experience.

Santa Monica Bay at Dawn

Santa Monica Bay at Dawn

I don’t usually get out before sunrise, but on this particular morning in 2011 I was up to watch a lunar eclipse. I found myself out on the road running along the top of the cliffs near the beach, watching the eclipsed moon set through the haze above the ocean.

You can see the Redondo Beach power plant near the right, with the pier in front of it and King Harbor jutting out into the bay. Way off in the distance you can see the lights of Santa Monica and Malibu, with the Santa Monica mountains behind them.

Sunset Clouds Above Downtown LA (2/2)

Sunset Clouds Above Downtown LA (2/2) on Flickr.

Gorgeous day after a rainstorm. I kept checking to see whether the San Gabriel Mountains had snow, but the clouds never quite lifted. Even at sunset only the lower slopes were visible…but those clouds made for some spectacular sunset viewing.

Gate

Mercey Springs Gate

Next to the first gas station south of CA-152 along I-5 in California’s central valley.

Here’s to maps+satellite views. I’ve identified this as S. Mercey Springs Rd, at the parking lot of Mercy Spring Shell. The private road runs up into the hills past this gate. Off to the right, it makes a sharp turn to cross the freeway and then head north to Los Banos as Highway 165.

Palm Tree Alley

Palm Tree Alley

The walkway between the Hilton Anaheim and the Anaheim Convention Center. The blocky wall to the right is a large area full of staircases at one end of the convention center.

Taken this past April, during Anaheim Comic Con. The convention center was also host to a much larger coffee convention.

Santiago Canyon in Green

Santiago Canyon after Rain
Santiago Canyon after Rain, originally uploaded by Kelson.

Looking roughly southeast on the side of Santiago Canyon Road, somewhere between Irvine Lake and the turnoff for Silverado Canyon. The peaks of Saddleback, with a dusting of snow barely visible at larger sizes, are shrouded in clouds.

Taken between rainstorms last January.

Gnarled Tree

Gnarled Tree

Somewhere in Cuyamaca State Park (now Cuyamaca Rancho State Park) in the mountains east of San Diego, California. We camped at Paso Picacho, but I don’t remember whether this was near the campsite or spotted during a hike.

This was taken in April 2002, about a year and a half before a devastating fire destroyed large areas of the park.

(It was also about a year before I got my first digital camera, so this image was scanned from a print.)