Monday, we had some errands to run, but took the time to drive to Point Vicente via Del Cerro Park on the Palos Verdes peninsula. The scenic views from both places on this exceptional day were breathtaking! After enjoying nearly unlimited visibility and vistas of Santa Catalina and Santa Barbara Islands from the park, we stopped on Crest Road and looked out over the city. We could see the Hollywood Hills and the San Gabriel Mountains across the L.A. Basin. Verna took this image looking directly north from Crest Road.
Next, we drove to the Point Vicente Interpretive Center. From the west pathway, you can always enjoy overlooking the ocean, but seldom see the Malibu Mountains as clearly. The swells were in pretty good shape as well, sending foam into the air as wave after wave crashed into the rocks along the coastline.
As always, Verna takes lots of pictures. Many of the shots she took yesterday were of the Point Vicente Lighthouse. This day, however, the Image of Catalina Island can be seen crisply in the background. A weak marine haze is still there, but at very low density. The lighthouse is managed by the U.S. Coast Guard. On station with the lighthouse, there is a foghorn; it was funny that they were sounding it when the visibility was over fifty miles. Every minute or so, the horn would sound a two or three second blast.
Standing on the pathway near the lighthouse, you can look back toward the visitor center where whale watchers look out to see the Pacific Grey Whales as they migrate; the whales range between Baja California in Mexico all the way north to the subarctic seas near Alaska. The whales only have two natural enemies: Orca (Killer Whales) and men.
You can click on any of the images above to see full-sized in the image viewer.
We enjoyed the beautiful scenery on a nice, balmy winter day on the peninsula. But, as always, Verna warns that before the viewers of these beautiful images decide to head to California, they should keep this in mind – we’re long, long overdue for the next major seismic event.
