Hello, California!

Today was lovely. After skipping security lines and getting promoted to seat 1A because of my Alaska Airlines MVP status, I was served an arugula-apple-gorgonzola salad. First class! I was first off the plane, and met Kat at the airport, no trouble. I was introduced to my new room and the house, and then we walked to and along New Brighton beach, which is very close by, across some train tracks.

The beach was more populated than I had imagined plausible, but it was nevertheless lovely. In fact, I liked it so much that I went back later, after getting fresh California produce, by myself- a walk which inspired not-my-best-idea-ever. I reached the train tracks, then turned right and walked along them until the way opened up again to the sides (the tracks are rather path-like and secluded), at which point I turned down a road to the water, discovering Capitola beach. The end of the beach, back towards New Brighton, was a rocky cliff, but I peered around it and judged that I could make it to the sandbar around the corner. This done, I continued along the strip of sand which edged between the cliff and the water, climbing increasingly large boulders and rounding point after point. Finally, one of the corners was a large cliff which did not show sand at the ebb of a wave. But it didn't look deep. It wasn't, even. Not until I took too long crossing, soaking the entirety of my floor-length skirt, splashing until I gave up and waded. That was the worst of it, though; just around the corner was a sand strip clear to New Brighton. It was fun. A word to the wise, though: if you happen to be hiking in an ocean, don't carry your cell phone in your pocket.