Garrapata State Beach
Garrapata Beach and Garrapata State Park are the hidden jewels of the Big Sur coast. They’re almost literally hidden, marked by one single sign on Highway 1, a few miles south of Carmel and the northernmost state park in Big Sur. In winter months, follow the small creek that spills into the Pacific upstream just a few yards to find creekbanks covered in calla lilies. In the spring, wildflowers cover the cliffsides on the beach and the hills of the state park across Highway 1. Miles of isolated hiking trails + walking on the beach barefoot in the shadow of migrating whales = HEAVEN.
Found this great sign at the self-described “World Famous” Thistle Hut fruit stand in Moss Landing, California. Doesn’t it all sound positively idyllic???
Another version of the orchard shot, this one processed in Google Nik’s Color Efex Pro 4, with the bi-color gradient filter. I love it!
I was surprised to see these trees blossoming in the California Central Valley near Lost Hills. The area has been so dry I wasn’t sure they could survive. I’m not sure what they are…signs in the area advertise home-grown almonds and pistachios (and pie and fudge!). I’m still looking for the fudge trees.
obsessive hobbyist 