Map below shows Schooner Gulch State Beach about 20 minutes north of Sea Ranch.  We arrived early and the sun was not yet shining as the fog and clouds kept it hidden.  Many folks were already on the beach walking their dogs.  Walking on sand gives a very nice cushion to walk on which made for pleasant hiking for senior citizens.  If you walk close to the ocean’s edge, the sand is wet and compacted, making it an even easier hike.  We arrived to find the tide out which meant we could walk to the next beach north, Bowling Ball Beach.

The first photo below is Schooner Beach.  From Schooner Beach we hiked up on the ridge on a path through the grass, not very well traveled as the grass was up to our knees.  We wondered if there was a way down to the beach to the north when we came upon a well-traveled trail and two couples.  When we asked where they were going, they replied “Bowling Ball Beach” so we followed them and the trail took us to steps down to the north beach.  The bottom four photos below are taken at Bowling Ball Beach; lucky for us the tide was out, enabling us to walk the entire beach and see the bowling balls.

Crazy interesting rock formations.

The rocks behind me in the ocean are the bowling balls, rows of round rocks and a few on the beach like the one I am pointing to.

Notice below the band from the cliffs extends across the sand past where Bill stands and out into the ocean beyond where I am.  If you are a geologist, you would be in heaven; as it is, we enjoyed the wonder of it all; tide was out so could see all the sea urchins

Bluff Trail barely visible through the tall grass.  Photo below shows beach stretching for several miles, or it felt like several miles after we hiked the entire length.

Beautiful sweet peas growing wild, vistas on the trail.

 

Why can’t my garden at home be so beautiful?  All growing wild with no care or help or fertilizer or water; just lucious.  Do you see the bumble bee working the flower?

Climbing up to the trailhead past redwoods lush greenery.  Bill is standing on the highway by the trailhead, hike over, sun just starting to peek through the clouds, redwood behind Bill.

Lunch at Trinks, above.  Sun out in all its glory.  And  finally, my treasures for the day. I had to be so careful to not bring   Home too   Many treasures so I carefully chose these five, some pieces of abalone, a round rock with a perfect hole [maybe for a tiny flower] and a little white rock with a blue center.  From the coast, Happy Hiking.

FROM THE CALIFORNIA COAST, HOPE YOU ENJOYED THIS HIKE.