Extended Weekend at Morro Bay

Little water-babies that we are, we wanted to have a fair share of beach relaxation before the night of nail-biting (a.k.a. the US election night). And so, we hopped into the car, and off we went to San Simeon in Central California… But to be honest, it was not as impulsive as I made it sound. Ro and I had planned a beach camping getaway at Morro Bay Strands since a while. And the San Simeon pitstop was just an extension for the Morro Bay camping to follow.

Morro Bay

The sea lapping at the sandy beach was more endearing here at Morro Bay with its gentle calmness. The sheer blueness extending on both sides mentally transported me back to the Mediterranean. It is not just I who was transported there, and the antique shops in the Morro Bay downtown fostered the European sea-life charm further. Whitewashed or pastel colored exterior for the low-rise buildings skirting along the Bay marries the American and European charm.

Naturally formed bay and estuary (and the sand bar) at Morro is a part of eroding volcanic formation from millions of years ago. The iconic Morro Rock is the volcanic outcrop from the oceanic floor that stands tall to this day. Morro Bay is home to many aquatic and amphibian species. Finding varieties of kelp, sand dollar and other aquatic life on the beach, are common things when one takes a casual stroll on the sandy beaches.

Sight of the Morro Rock from T-pier

We camped to the north of Morro Bay downtown, at the Morro Bay Strands. The beachside campsite offered lovely views of the beach and the most coveted spot for sunsets. Incidentally, we were at the site on a full moon night, and the night views were spectacular! Overall, we were surrounded by natural beauty all around – while being at a stone’s throw from the city.

Camping at Morro Bay Strands, overlooking the sea

Morro Bay was a highlight for us for the array of dog-friendly activities. Kuro had a blast running on the beach, playing in the sand, peering down from the pier, and chasing the gulls! Another thing Kuro did for the first time was accompanying us in the canoe! a tiny dog that he is, he smelt the gentle Bay breeze, and gradually warmed up to the idea of having fun in a mobile contraption on water (the canoe). I was impressed by the other dogs who accompanied their humans on the paddle board and maintained their calm composure. That may be the next step to aspire for, for little squirmy Kuro!

Kuro enjoying the view as we paddle forth

And sometimes he snuck up to me with the cutest “mleh” expression

Mammals and birds at Morro Bay

And oh, the birds and aquatic animals at the Bay! I was spoilt – with the sightings of herons, cranes, egrets flying, fishing, and doing their thing as we walked on the beach and then to Morro Rock, and then when we sat by the pier. We didn’t catch a glimpse of any whales, presumably because they all swam to the south to breed around this time of the year. The sea otters were plenty at Morro Bay around this time, and we joked how big they are, as compared to our little 7 lbs pooch.

Whale jaw-bones near the Natural History Museum at Morro Bay

Could we take a moment to express the annoyance about seagulls and geese? I absolutely adore all birds, don’t get me wrong. BUT, yappy seagulls and (entitled) geese that sometimes actively attack humans, have been on my list of annoying birds. And at Morro, seagulls were plenty! Surprisingly, like the sweet humans of Morro Bay, the seagulls there were not too annoying… Maybe the place rubs on you 😉

We named this one Mr. Magoo

With some sporadic shopping, playing boardgames under the moonlight and cup of tea by the fire, we felt at home at Morro Bay. The sky was clear, and gradually we emptied our minds off work-stress et al. Camping also afforded us a sort-of analog life, away from internet and fancy gadgets. This time around, we did not take many pictures as much as capturing mental images of us having a good time, relaxing and soaking upthe sun.

We returned home with our hearts full, and plans for heading back to Morro sometime soon, to unwind 🙂

D.

Amazing backdrop of the sea and the Morro Rock

Breaking monotony at Albany Waterfront

Fires in California made headlines. And the stupidity of humans – gender reveal party that set thousands of acres ablaze – was not lost on us, staring haplessly at the screens, looking at latest news updates. A thick blanket of smoke was hanging above. And the sun became a rare sight in sunny California.

I was laboriously dusting the ash off my plants in the balcony… Only for new soot to settle down next morning. Did the women in Pompeii feel something similar thousands of years ago? What would they have thought, seeing ash pour down, and sky turning deep yellow and orange as if ablaze?

Albany waterfront

That day, much before the fires, Ro and I were marveling at the beautiful Bay landscape. And how this beauty was a creation or a product of intense pain… Heat, lava, erosion, exfoliation, and so on. The petrified mute geological markers of time and landscape formation had borne the brunt of these natural elements.

On a scale of this vastness, we are indeed tiny speckles of carbon.

The undulating landscape of the Albany waterfront was a natural setting for nerds such as ourselves to reflect on the many ironies of human life. And this mulling over was accentuated with eclectic pieces as embellishments of the landscape. It was a fine example of public participatory art. I could totally imagine one person setting up the wooden planks, and some other random person adding a few pieces until finally a ship shaped up…

Bespoke pirate ship sculpture at Albany waterfront

We as humans mark the landscape in some way or the other: through tangible material expression, or narratives, or merely by our presence. Sometimes it is a desirable intervention, but oftentimes, not so much.

Our actions beget reactions from nature, and the fires have shown us what scale it could reach, so as to engulf everything in its wake. In our monetary calm at the waterfront, we immerse in the natural beauty that surrounds us, but carries a slight taint of being momentary, or fleeting.

I oscillate between being a hopeless romantic and a bleeding heart worrier (not warrior). I proclaim that the nature has its course of healing, and we should let it be – only to turn around and panic about how irresponsible we as humans have been! And in such oscillating states, something like a thousand acre fire shakes me to the core. Every view that I see here’s colored with that immediate concern running in the background: that of fleeing to safety.

View of San Francisco skyline from Albany waterfront (pre-forest-fires) – Aug 2020

We return to waterfront in the hope of taking in the calm pace of nature, to heal and nurture. The gentle harmony of ripples sets a pace for busy days to come, and we can mentally zone out to the tranquil depths at the waterfront.

The gentle unfolding of patterns in nature struck me more as I read “The Hidden Life of Trees”. In this book, Peter Wohlleben renders endearing pen picture of plant life. And it truly makes us seem ignorant. Nah, self- obsessed! So self-consumed, that we fail to look around us.

Hills and beaches

Berkeley is spoiling us with choices for food, cultural events, activities for Kuro and evening getaways. Hills and beaches are never too far, sitting in Berkeley…

Kuro is getting used to the car rides… And being sassy about it

Stroll by the waterfront in Berkeley is a perfect recipe to unwind after a long day

Even on the cloudiest of the days, the beach is like an immersion into a different sensorium

Like water, we cascade from the hills to the beach… Every week

Standing at the brink where the beach meets the hill, we tune into the best of both the worlds

This week was once again being close to the nature. It was kuro’s first visit to the beach, and a feeling of ” happy feet” for myself and Rohan. Bundled up in Calgary cold all this while, my feet thanked me for the promenade by the beach and my mind for building castles of air as we soaked the sun on the hills.

Kuro was ecstatic at the beach! (Hardly surprising)… He made some new friends, and the furry friends frolicked in the sand together (sometimes resembling the wrestlers in a sand pit).

Kuro is now a confirmed water baby! It seemed like he wanted to walk into the salty water lunging at him as he tried to stay still on the slipping sand. Tiniest of the waves were too big for him, and I won’t lie that I was a little apprehensive to let him wade into the waters. After a brief “wave-game”, Kuro was drenched and looked like a smaller version of himself – the fluff sticking to his bony limbs and a cute little snout showing through the dripping fur…

Beaches near the Golden Gate bridge brought home the feeling of being on a holiday. We discussed that this feeling is worth every cent we pay as the exorbitant taxes to the state of California 😉

After the weekend at the sea and the hills, we continue this fling with nature, sun and the sand.

D.

The waters

Caribbean Mexico has the Azul blue waters and exquisite marine life. I was drawn to the beaches since I set my foot in Cancun.

The experience of snorkeling in clear blue sea was out of the world. As I dove in, I became one with the water and it opened it’s treasures to view. Shoal of fish swam along, exhibiting their vibrant colors and sheen. I could taste the salt, feel the cool water enveloping me and hear the rustle of the fins. The air bubbles made a symphony of their own in the melody of the waters and encrusted corals.

The second stage of complete immersion came with an hour long scuba diving. I could hear my breath through the air pipe, and my mouth sucked in more air to fill my lungs for long strides underwater. The cylinder on my back, weights around the waist and buckles of the life jacket hung onto me, sometimes making their presence felt. For all other times, it was me and the Azul waters. With the scuba dive, I was flipping through the corals and trying to catch glimpses of eels, barracudas and starfish. The water pressure increasing with depth presented a glimpse of the unfriendly side of the sea… My nose and ears felt the blockage and my vision started to blurr… I gasped for air and flung my arms and flippers trying to make way up… The pressure ceased, and I regained my self. Then blue waters were visible once again, work their flamboyance open to explore.

Once back on the surface of the water, I yearned to dive back in and become a part of the salty blue scape of fins and corals. The dives had changed me with the glimpse of a different world…

***

The interaction with dolphins and manatees was another experience which made me forget the world around, momentarily. I touched the dolphins, petted them and was reminded once again how closely they are connected to cannis familiaris. The manatees, close cousins of the modern elephants were peaceful giants. A baby manatee by the name ‘Africa’ became my instant favorite. Feasting on leek, Africa nudged me with her truncated trunk and her whiskers brushed against me in affection. I almost wanted to carry her home! 😉

Home to the largest turtles, Cancun offered a glimpse of wild sea turtles and their nesting grounds. Visiting a large catchment for turtles on Isla Mujeres is still on our list which we will soon check off!

***

A water baby that I am, the element seems to beckon me as I sit on the shore peering at the depth through the crashing waves. The frothy waves make patterns at the shore, sometimes assuming the form of crab legs and crawling spiders as the water hits the sand bank. I see floating shapes of creepers, mammals and faces of men and women through the light and dark patches of water and the froth of the waves. I weave stories through these patterns, only to be washed away by the wave. The passing of time sense to cease with each wave that comes rolling towards me.

Every evening I would come home with sandy feet and dry hair standing at the tips. This was a mere acknowledgement of a fulfilling day by the sea…

My friend’s family in Goa used to tell me that “once you let the sea in you grow, you can’t stand the land”. And I hadn’t quite understood what they meant till my trip to Cancun and while week by the sea. Needless to say, such is expressed through art and life of the cultures by the sea. The turquoise and lapis in art draws us to the colors of the sea in the cultures of mesoamerica and continental europe. The waves and fish as decorative motifs throughout the art of the maritime world and the Paramount sea god, forget highlight this…

On the New Year’s day, we sat by the sea, watching firecrackers reflect on the surface of the silent waters. The serene experience made a home for itself in our memory trove. As water takes on the color of the surroundings, we mused that we do very much the same in many situations… Although, we try to maintain our distinct color through the reflections as well. In Heidegger’s terms, aren’t we but he projection of our cumulative experiences and the world around? Aren’t we the sea that seeks to see and absorb all?

In the Azul color of our selves, we immerse in the depths of blue, yet with our distinct hue. I long to see that reflected in the waters at the shore, which come crashing at me from faraway lands. I already long to go back to the sea!

D.