I had a choice this weekend, stay comfortably at home, or go somewhere. I had three days off but no particular location in mind. The forecast called for light winds and sunny skies. I told myself there had to be some clear water somewhere along the coast. I’ve never driven past Big Creek in Big Sur, so I thought I’d take a road trip down the 1 and visit a friend at UC Santa Barbara. There was still a moderate NW wind from Monterey to Bixby Bridge, but around the bend at Partington Cove, only a very mellow breeze. I could see the boulders and kelp through the emerald blue green waters.

The drive didn’t feel lengthy at all, partly because I was stopping at almost every turnout and checking out the view. Some of the notable stops were Sand Dollar Beach, Elephant Seal Vista Point, and Morro Rock. I made it to Goleta right in time for sunset, stopping at the Vista Point off the highway. Driving down the coast made me realize how much of my own backyard I haven’t even explored yet.