[Journal entry for December 22, 2014; Coastal Dairies State Park, near Santa Cruz, California]. After leaving Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park, I drove back to Santa Cruz and then took Route 1 north along the coast. I stopped along the highway to view the little gorge through which Majors Creek flows. The land along the coast consists mostly of rolling grassy hills, but it is scored by deep river valleys, full of trees and bushes and rimmed by impressive cliffs.

I continued north, parking at a pull-out on the west side of the highway, opposite Fambrini’s Fresh Produce vegetable stand. I walked a short distance to a headland that juts out into the Pacific Ocean and which afford a fantastic view of the sea cliffs and beaches to the immediate south.

I spent about a half hour standing at the headland, as the sun slowly set, watching great waves crash into the sea cliff and the rocks scattered in the sea before them, throwing up great sprays of water, in places fifty feet high. The low sun angle accentuated the rollers and the red color of sunset lent an orange hue to both spray and cliffs.

Though the sky was clear, a strong mist hung offshore, especially to the west. The sun gradually sank into this layer, lighting it and the waves up yellow.

A little after sunset, I walked back to my car and drove back to Santa Cruz. I stopped at Tam’s Chinese Restaurant on Route 1 for a dinner of hot and sour soup, sesame chicken and tea. I then drove back across the hills of the coast range to the Motel 6 in Belmont, where I had reservations for the night.

About an hour.