Marin
County has some of the most beautiful coastline in
California. The North Pacific Ocean pounds and cuts into
continental plates everywhere along the coast, but Southern Marin
showcases the sea with unparalleled vistas. This stretch
of shoreline is almost entirely park lands. The
Marin Headlands in the Golden Gate National Recreation Area is
foremost among the ocean parks: it is the first one encountered
heading out of San Francisco across the Golden Gate.
Tennessee
Valley Beach is unique in it's simple charm and is accessible by
hiking 1.7 miles of gently sloping trail. Biking is allowed,
and horseback riding too.
Traveling
to the sea in the morning hours between breakfast and lunch are the assorted mothers pushing cross-country strollers, joggers
listening to their headphones, hikers, and seniors walking their moss
off. And, meandering alongside the trail, a small creek also
makes its way to the sea while irrigating flora and watering the
wilderness, such as
white feather flowers in radial bunches with white petals more radiant than nursery greenhouse flowers
Bridging
civilization and wilderness Tamalpais Valley is linked to the Marin
County Headlands and the Pacific Ocean.
Giant
Eucalyptus trees in small clusters tower over the path perfuming the air with menthol, rustling in
the wind, and whispering secret songs. Pristine meadows make perfect homes for
coastal wildlife.
Deer
make their beds in the woods along the creek and in the valley. On a lucky day Coyotes and Bobcats may be seen sneaking off, glancing
furtively; Red-tail Hawks soaring overhead
Wild
turkey toms sometimes saunter past, strolling; occasionally
one struts his stuff impressing his hen while last year's brood looks
on disinterestedly like bored teenagers watching their parents carry
on... Still, Tom shows off, puffing up and ruffling feathers
into beautiful larger-than-life displays.
Crows frequently stake their territory; now and then a sentinel may
be seen surveying his domain as he mounts guard on rocky outcrops.
When the marine fog burns off mid morning it lifts in a swirl of white,
revealing bluffs and foliage glistening moist.
Rounded hills lining up the valley roll up steeply, though gently,
and some mornings the moon may be seen sliding past the undulating
horizon as it returns to sleep on the West. Springtime
brings out the California Buttercup; insignificant alone, together inundating entire fields in brilliant yellow.
Two miles from the parking lot is the beach. Not a white-sand
beach resplendent in perennial sun, rather a rugged red-pebble beach usually drenched in fog and mist.
Despite being relatively unknown, quite a few people use this beach. Those in the know and within easy access make full use of it: some
even commemorating lost love with gestures like
casting a rose to the sea.
The
path reaches the beach to the Southwest transitioning from
fertile valley to a crescent saline sand adjacent the
surf.
Arriving at the beach, the creek is by this time more like a fresh
water stream emptying itself first into a small lagoon some
two hundred yards inland, then into the sea. A micro ecosystem
thrives in these brackish waters and Great Blue Herons are a great attraction when seen flying off with a belly full of crab.
The
rounded hills on the North march right into the water, shedding their
soil at the shore, naked, revealing a
massive solid core. Incessant surf has barely brought down the
stony intruder; yet together with rain and wind, the ocean is carving
out the rock's weakness, highlighting it's strengths.
The rock outcropping extending into the sea is a weather-worn wonder, a water-etched sculpture
changing color with time, going from dull mat red in the morning to
shiny onyx black in the evening mist. And it had an eye. Some
improbable natural process carved a large elliptical opening smack in
the upper middle of the giant boulder through to the sky beyond and
when the sun set before the fog rolled in, the oculus channeled sun rays into a long beam, casting it on the darkening sand like
a wayward lighthouse beacon.
The
coastline is moody and myriad scenarios play out year round. No
two days are alike; neither sand nor surf remain the same. Nor, the rocks themselves. The light and the temperature
shifts. Sounds range from a deafening roar to soothing rhythms with waves dancing in response to howling winds or whispering breezes
and forlorn seagull cries.
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Evening
Sun-rays - Alabaster Bridal Lace
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Evening
sun-rays shine on the horizon as waves crash and surf spreads white
foam on black sand like alabaster bridal lace on the obsidian altar
of the Divine.
Sunrise,
mid-day, or sunset
on the Pacific is a reason to enjoy the freedom of the
eternal now, forever present.
Today,
a testament to the ever changing world around us, the beach endures.
Different, diminished, yet on clear winter days gentle waves roll into white surf, beautiful nevertheless....
