A Clearing Run

If you don't mind seeing more beach photos, then please come along with me on my morning run! the beach pictures I've posted before are about a mile north of here. This is officially "our" beach, the one my kids grew up on, the one my husband and myself have both worked on, and my husband still lifeguards on in the summer months...

Oh, and we met on this beach, right up there, where you see the trees. And our first date was here too, we went kayaking. And we were married at a house on this beach. And...my husband grew up in a house on this beach. So, that is really actually alot of things that happened right here. Now that i think of it, many many moments in our lives, happened right here. Including running... so let's go! (or walk if you like, I am more than happy to do that too!)





Oh, ok, here is another thing. My kids all play volleyball here, on these courts. The very bold western seagulls are occupying the space right now. It's a quiet morning, not many people out, just you, me and the gulls...





We'll do a 6 mile out and back, it won't feel like it at all, because there is so much to see, it'll be fun. Really. Really...







We will be running through the Carpinteria Bluffs, an incredibly beautiful treasure in our town. Here is some information that you may be interested in:" In September of 1998, the City Council of Carpinteria adopted a resolution conceptually supporting public ownership and management of the Carpinteria Bluffs with the intent "to preserve the property's value as scenic, natural open space; to protect and enhance existing Bluff Habitats; to provide for the restoration and expansion of native plant communities; and to provide the community the opportunity for passive and active recreation." The Council agreed that acceptance of public stewardship of this property would include the establishment of an on-going endowment fund. We know Carpinteria citizens clearly value their open space and parkland". I like whoever wrote this!





....so our children and their children and on and on forever can enjoy the beauty of the last of the wild open spaces here on the California coast. If you squint you can just make out Santa Cruz Island in the distance. Wouldn't it be nice to sit right here with a cuppa hot coffee,chai or tea, mmmmm...but! not yet! we're not done, we've got a way's to go... let's keep going.. :)



can you smell the ocean air? it's already warm out at 7 a.m. Here the trail comes right next to the cliff, don't get too close to the edge, it's a long way down.

...along the way, you might see some educational signs, full of information and photos. We have a LOT of tourists in our town, so it's important to have these. I am also partial to them because, if you squint again, you can see my husbands name on it. He is the photographer and writer of these brilliant signs. Thank you honey, good job!

...we are in luck! we get a little rest in our run/walk. Here is the Carpinteria harbor seal rookery. The rookery includes a haul-out area where the females bear their pups. During the pupping season, volunteers watch on site to protect the newborns from human disturbance and to educate onlookers about the federally protected seals. The rookery at the Bluffs is significant in that it is one of only four along the Southern California coast and is the only one accessible to the public. Let's stop and watch for a bit.

...here they are, the California Harbor Seals, I don't think they've begun to pup yet. In the spring you will begin to see the little ones... so cute!

...along the way there are a few turnouts for the beach. But the tide is too high for us to go very far, so we'll stay up on the Bluffs this morning...

....isn't this worth getting up out of a warm cozy bed for? It's this very picture I keep in my head to sometimes motivate(bribe) my oh so lazy self...

...we're past the halfway mark now, heading back. I ran into friends and forgot to photograph the south end of the bluffs. Next time :) In the above photo you can see just a little of the campsites. There are facilities for tents and campervans. The campgrounds are usually full year around. It's hard doing this run in the mornings or evenings because the campers are always cooking delicious things and the smells waft on the breeze...

...well, we did it...back where we started. I thought about stripping off my running shorts and tee and jumping in the ocean like these brave camper kids. But I changed my mind when I dipped my toes in. It is shockingly cold. I have a better idea, how about a hot tub instead? ahhh...

xxx lori