Sunset and low tide came together on the Santa Cruz beaches yesterday. That combination called out to me to join them. John had prior plans, so I was on my own.
I chose Seacliff State Beach in Aptos for my expedition. The lay of the beach is one of the best for sunset shots, it is the beach I know best from living in Aptos, and it has one of the strangest ships ever built.
The S.S Palo Alto, generally known as the cement ship (but actually a concrete ship), sits in three or four pieces on the ocean floor at the end of the Aptos pier:
The Cement Ship at Sunset
Built in Oakland in 1918 to be a supply ship for U.S. troops, but never used as such, the S.S. Palo Alto now serves as a marine reef and home for thousands of birds.
Further up the coast toward New Brighton State Beach is this little beach house. It is a bit better than I — or anyone — needs, a true McMansion. I remember watching it being built when I lived here:
Beach Bungalow
Sunset at New Brighton State Beach
When the sunset came to this beautiful conclusion, I retreated up from the beach. After climbing the 167 steps up the cliff, I now truly know why they call this Seacliff Beach. And at the top of the cliff, I captured this moment just before the sun set:
At the Cliff's Edge at Dusk
A few hours earlier I caught the sun shining on this tulip tree in the yard of John’s next door neighbor:
The Neighbor's Magnolia Campbelli (Pink Tulip Tree)
One of the Tree's Flowers Close Up
This tree has nothing to do with my beach expedition. It’s only redeeming value is that I find it beautiful, and I think that you will too.
2 responses so far ↓
1 Debbie // May 23, 2009 at 10:21 am
The pictures are very nice. We live in SJ but have been going to Sea Cliff State Beach quite a few times in the last few years. We enjoy cooking, eating, sunset,……… memories. Thank you so much for taking the time to display your photography, you are a very special person.
2 David Mendosa // May 23, 2009 at 4:59 pm
Dear Debbie,
Thank you. I am only hoping to inspire others, particularly those people who have diabetes as I do, to find ways to enjoy staying fit. For me it is getting out in nature and capture the beauty of our world with my camera.
Best regards,
David
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