I've stayed at this beach on a few different occasions while exploring California. There is a lot to explore, Northern California being no exception. The sign proclaims "Chadbourne Gulch" but the local folk call it Blue's Beach.
It's one of few undeveloped beaches left in California that you can camp on. But probably not for long. Don't be surprised to see raging bonfires and trucks parked on the beach on the weekends. The surf can break decently from time to time and it is common to see surfers testing their luck in the frigid water, toes dangling for Great Whites to sniff and sometimes nibble on.
We showed up with just enough time for me to wander around with my gear to look for a pleasing sunset shot. After walking about a quarter mile down the beach I learned that the big sentinel of a rock sitting just off-shore actually had a nice arch in it if you if viewed from the right angle. Tripod set up, wide-angle lens in place, wireless remote on and the layering of three bracketed photos later yielded this photo.
After lighting a modest fire, comparatively speaking, and a delicious fire cooked dinner/wine combo we turned in. I followed my usual protocol of sleeping under the stars.
I awoke just as the sun began to give everything a misty, dull glow and you could just make out the mountains behind and the breaking waves in front.
Or was I awakened?
My brain clicked on before I opened my eyes and as I laid there I got this strange feeling that something woke me up.
You know the feeling of getting lightly bopped right on the nose? It's not necessarily pain but a kind of reverberation through your face. That was what I felt next.
Then I opened my eyes.
It was moist and chilly out so I had cinched down the opening of my sleeping bag so there was only about a ten inch hole. The top of the hole was blocking my view so I pulled it down to peek out.
Well, what have we here mister beady-eyed seagull standing a foot in front of my face. I'm going to go out on a limb and chance a guess you are guilty of something that has to do with me being prematurely awakened at this wee hour.
You have probably pieced together this tale of wild-bird-treachery thus far. After many, many years of sleeping out under the stars in all types of environments with all sorts of nasty creatures lurking about, this is how it's going to be?
Months of sleeping on the ground in the deserts of Baja California with no friendly rattle snake or curious tarantula?
No, it has to be a big nasty unkempt looking seagull with a curved dagger of a beak that decided to taste the tip of my nose during my peaceful slumber. Drew blood at that.
I couldn't just roll over and go back to sleep so I got up and wandered the beaches getting some nice photos and throwing rocks at seagulls. Don't worry, I didn't hit any-it was just a symbolic understanding between them and I about boundaries.
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