Long Island Woman: February 2006

Tuesday, February 28, 2006

Santa Cruz, California

Santa Cruz, California...Cliffs overlooking the ocean. How many surfers can you find in the photo? What else do you see?

For more information about the city, go to the official website....click here.

Santa Cruz, California...even the "city" has a quiet beauty. You can see the pier in the distance and on shore the boardwalk rides and attractions.

Sunday, February 26, 2006

Mission at San Luis Obispo

The mission courtyard in San Luis Obispo, California.

The mission is just one of the many in California, organized in the late 1700s.

For more historical information...click here.

Chris

the vineyards

taking photos for fun

get the shot...

For a photo of me taking photos...click here.

A stream in the redwood forest

Saturday, February 25, 2006

The Santa Lucia Mountains and the Big Sur River

Beautiful mountain range meeting the Pacific Ocean.

For more information, click here.

These beautiful trees, redwoods, have been here for a very long time.

Tall, very tall....

At the ranch in California

a creek in the redwood forest

Friday, February 24, 2006

Looking for Photos of Long Island?

I know you want more of photos Long Island and those photos will be coming soon.

Soon!

Sorry that I've been posting so many photos of my travels.

My husband and I went to Bonaire in January and California in February and... I took at least 200 photos a day.

I will be taking more photos of Long Island, as the weather becomes more pleasant.

So, stay tuned and come back often to visit.

Leave a message. Just click on "comments" below each photo.

I love to hear your comments, negative or positive!

In the meantime, you can see many of my Long Island photos on my PBase site:

http://www.pbase.com/alidasphotos/long_island

...and in various sets of my Flickr site, Long Island Living, Boating, Points of Interest...etc.:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/alidasphotos/sets/

Check it out!

Thanks for stopping by, Alida

Inside the Lodge at the Pebble Beach Golf Course...We were a little out of place since we don't play golf, but we went in, sat down and had one of those $9 drinks anyway.

Thursday, February 23, 2006

More of California

Hydrant at Pebble Beach...We went there after the big tournament, which was the best time to go....no crowds, but plenty of atmosphere. They were still taking down the bleachers and everything looked spectacular.

Weathered Cypress trees give texture to the landscape.

Marina Beach...a landmark for the first settlers landing in the area.

Spring-like weather in California has flowers in bloom.

Wednesday, February 22, 2006

Point Lobos, California

Did you know that Ansel Adams took photos in the Point Lobos State Reserve? Well he did and I wanted to try and capture his black & white effect....I guess I'm no Ansel! ;~)

Old Mission Courtyard

Mission courtyard in Carmel.

There were a series of missions built in California within one day's travel of each other.

The road to connect them was the El Camino Real.

They were settled in the late 1700s to convert the Native Americans to Christianity.

The beautiful old building still remain, mostly as museums.

The architecture and design is just beautiful, surrounded by the majestic mountains.

No Guard Rails...Highway One

No guard-rails to protect you...you're on your own!

There is a long stretch of highway with no guard rails to protect an out-of-control car.

I guess they don't want to spoil the view. There are miles of S curves and breath-taking scenery. There are areas like this to stop and take photos.

I wasn't worried but I did worry about the people who might have a beer or two and then try to make this trip. Not a good idea!

Highway 1, California

Highway 1, California...no guard-rails, just a beautiful view!

Miles of S curve turns and the mountains above and the Pacific below!

Tuesday, February 21, 2006

California Girl

California Girl...

Didn't the song say, "I wish they all could be California girls..."

Half Moon Bay

There was a stretch of road here, where everyone just strolled along to enjoy the sunset...including me with my camera!

Surfing, all day long...

Capitola, California...Surfers never stop...

The sun is setting and there are still a group of surfers in the water.

Capitola is very close to Santa Cruz, "the surfing capital of the world" I'm told.

All day, surfers are walking around, in their wet suits, and carrying a surfboards.

California Sunshine on the Soquel Creek

This is the Soquel Creek in the town of Capitola.

It is a spawning ground for steelhead and salmon. On this day the water level was low.

Monday, February 20, 2006

Whaler's Cove, Point Lobos, California

Gulls on the rampage

Gulls on the rampage...Someone was feeding these guys on the beach. The wind was very strong and they were flying in one spot as they hovered over the food. Interesting, don't you think?

Condor or Vulture?

This is either a California Condor or a turkey Vulture...I will soon find out and let you know. My Flickr group, Field Guide to Birds, will help. Go to http://www.flickr.com/photos/alidasphotos/ and then search for groups.

The Answer...a Turkey Vulture! I was hoping it was a condor...they are endangered.

Cat Silhouette

Silhouette of a cat as sunset approached the Pacific Coast.

Mountain meets the Pacific

Huge...where the mountains meet the Pacific Ocean.

Where's Chris???

Point Lobos, again...Too beautiful to ignore. Do you see my husband, Chris? He is there, walking way off to the right of center. There are actually three people walking but you have to enlarge the photo to see them. Just click on the photo to enlarge! The people give perspective to the photo and it makes you realize how huge the rocks are. See the little white "rocks" near the bottom shore? They are sea lions!

Sunday, February 19, 2006

Point Lobos and the Cypress

Point Lobos, California...Did you know that Ansel Adams took photos in this park...the Point Lobos State Preserve? If you saw how absolutely beautiful this park is, and this coastline, you wouldn't be surprised!

Monachs, clover and eucalyptus

Monachs and clover...We saw the colony of migrating monachs on the eucalyptus trees. These are dried eucalyptus leaves on the ground with the butterflies. The smell of eucalyptus was very strong as we drove through the countryside.