rain is pattering on the cottage roof. i’m sitting in front of a roaring fire clattering out another missive from the north coast and thinking about my morning walk at glass beach. this is my 3rd visit and it’s no less spectacular than before.
at first you see nothing but small pebbles covering the beach, but as you get closer you realize you are walking on a sea glass carpet. almost as much as the glass itself, i love watching people intent on combing the beach for just the right pieces. dedicated hunters and gatherers dazzled by the selection. this morning there were only a few people looking and soon they were gone and i had the jeweled cove all to myself.
i’m not much of a collector, just a few pieces here and there. i was more interested in all of the giant mussel shells. i put some in the roomy pockets of my jacket. i will paint them into my sketchbook tonight. i found a lovely piece of an abalone shell, and various other treasures.
yesterday saw me at the pomo bluffs at sundown. earlier i walked along the lonely boardwalks of mackerricher state beach with its seals, tidepools, and chocolate colored sand. if you love walking by the water this is your place.
tonight i drove into fort bragg to check out the street light situation. i was bitterly disappointed to see glaring white led lights placed at regular intervals on all of the streets. who could possibly think it a good idea to flood the streets with garish light, i don’t know. i can’t live on light-polluted streets. if i relocate here it will have to be outside city limits. this is getting complicated.
what’s not complicated is the rain that’s falling heavily now outside. it’s the first rain i’ve experienced in at least 7 or 8 months. i’m going to snuggle up on the couch with one of my books. maybe a cat will start mewing at the door and need to be let inside. one can hope!
After seeing this postcard – the decision is made. I’m traveling to the glass beach this weekend! Also, I seem to remember (but I might be very wrong) that many years ago you drove up North and found some ceramic birds sitting outside someones house/studio. You left $20 there and took a bird home. I always longed to have the same experience but I can’t find it on your blog. Did I make it up?
I don’t suppose I could ever get enough beach. Love the ocean. Love the view. Love the glass, love the natural wonders…………………. Thank you for taking us along.
Vicki, I’m staring at it through the window as i type this reply…the ocean i mean. never ever can get enough of it.
MAM, did you look at Port Townsend with an eye to living there when you were at Lumi Island? Sequim, WA, also? Supposed to be much sunnier than Seattle, and both are art towns. Love the photos of Glass Beach. Makes me want to go back!!
Port Townsend is lovely. Don’t know about Sequim…thanks for mentioning. Will investigate! I’m afraid of the grey. I’m also not sure what I would do without my wild ocean. But I’m open. more or less.
We have traveled to Mendocino for over 40 years and stay in Boonville. We have an RV. You may want to look for the art scene before deciding on moving there. Mendocino sells marijuana legally and this has changed the whole area. Ft Bragg is very different than it was a few years back. There are a large number of Mercedes all over the county as there are now high income people living there. The wine community has not changed except that our once quiet valley has now been discovered and newer wine places opened by the “yuppie”. the roads were repaved from the increase in tax funds from the medicinal sales. I am referring to the Andersen Valley as this is where we have been going to Navarro Wines, for 40 years. Their children are now grown up and the daughter has a dairy that makes cheese in Boonsville. It is very much a farming community. it is very beautiful there but I think the art scene has shrunk dramatically. The town of Mendocino shows a lot of decline. .
monica, i fell in love with boonville..the anderson valley is beautiful.
MAM, WOW. The photos of glass beach have me longing for a visit, if only I knew where this is! Is it really called Glass Beach? Do tell. I LOVE sea glass and the pieces I’ve collected over the years have been real treasure finds, can’t even imagine a whole beach filled with sea glasss! And the blue shells and abalone, oh my. Swooning here in FL and wishing you Happy Holidays.
suzy, yes, it’s called glass beach. right in fort bragg. ask anyone for directions! park your car and head down the path towards the water…i like to go to the right a little ways then go into one of the coves on the left. all of these little coves to the right and left of the main path have sea glass. visit the sea glass museum (not by glass beach) when you come. it’s delightful and run by a wonderfully quirky old fellow with a lot of knowledge about glass beach.
Wow. You have some gorgeous photos. Being an Easterner, I have only been in that area once and we only drove through Fort Bragg. Now I want to go back and find that beach.Your photos are amazing! Good luck on your property search and a very happy holidays to you MA.
thanks erika 🙂 happy holidays to you too. one of these days i must get out to the EASTERN part of the usa. unexplored territory
Such beautiful jewels to be found on the beach!
hello trish dear, always love to hear from you 🙂
We haven’t been able to go to Cape Cod for about six weeks. Your post has filled me with longing to be walking along the bay or oceanside. I’ve heard about glass beach many times and hope I get there someday. Keep on sending us pics and posts – you are my heroine!
i feel your longing and understand it completely. One day you, sister, and i will have an art retreat together. we both look forward to it v. much. xo
I live vicariously through you. Your descriptions are so thought out , sound wonderful. What pray tell are you reading. Wandering minds must know.
just finished A HISTORY OF LOVE – unbelievably good.
now reading Food Junkies, In the Garden of My Dreams – the art of Nathalie Lete, Leave me Alone with the Recipes, Cipe Pineles, and The Golden Age of Travel 1880-1939 plus various local papers…
You will find that Humboldt County rocks in many ways. No street light probs, housing less exp here than counties closer to Bay Area, Eureka has been for many years rated as one of the best art towns in the country, the natural beauty is incomparable, there are more artists per capita than any other county in the US, it’s challenging to get here so we’re not overrun with tourists like, say, Mendocino, there’s a state univ here and tons of cultural events. And the list goes on. You’ll see. xx
Oh Connie Rose I’m so excited to get there! I am already excited about the street light situation…Is there an airport you can fly out of? Say for example I need to get to Paris. ha ha ha ha ha!!!! Or if peeps come visit me who don’t want to, or can’t make that trek. I’ll be staying in Ferndale. I know you’re in Fortuna right? Looking forward to meeting you for some coffee talk.
How do you do with all the rain/grey?
Wow. I need to see that glass beach! Totally agree on the streetlight issue 😉
howdy faith! Are you in France or stateside for the holidays…let me go check your blog…
Rain! I kind of remember that stuff… xox
oh yes i will send some south for you. we need it badly down there to put out that damned Thomas Fire. are you heading north after x-mas? if not, i’ll see you soon. heading north again from LA on the 26th
MAM! If you’re heading home via 101 and are inclined to stop in Healdsburg for a food/bathroom/stretch your legs sort of break, give me a call, it’d be lovely to meet in person after all of these years. Diane (dphock of the FB helper days) — you can email me now at dianeperin at comcast dot net. So glad you are enjoying gorgeous Northern California!
Diane! How are you? I’d love to stop if only I didn’t have to hightail it back to LA in one fell swoop. I love your northern cali!