A Few Good Terns

Rain last night and a sky full of spectacular clouds at 8 am today... the beach full of seagulls and sandpipers, but also a few royal terns...  So spiffy with their fluffy upturned black feathers behind their ears, like Jimmy Dean or some other '50s rock star.  The one on the right kept squawking at the guy in the center... he was imperturbable.  (Or was he squawking and she impertubable?)

Dogs Not Welcome

Dogs aren't allowed on the beaches of Santa Monica, Venice, Redondo Beach, etc.

People are working to get one beach set aside as pet-friendly. So far, no luck.

But today at dawn Stormy and I ventured out to Dockweiler Beach. We jogged on the bike path and made a brief photo stop near the breakers, but a lifeguard drove past and informed us that the fine for her outing would be $500 if he chose to ticket us.

No more beach trips for you, Stormy.

High above the beach...

Today Roz and I walked the dogs on Inspiration Loop in Will Rogers State Park, about a thousand feet above the Santa Monica beach.

Just as we began, there was lightning, thunder, and rain... but later a partial rainbow and dramatic sunset.

We so seldom get huge dramatic clouds here... enjoying the beauty.

Last photo: looking south toward buildings and beach of Santa Monica with Palos Verdes Peninsula off in the distance.

Laguna Beach

A walk on Laguna Beach with Sharon Billings, Karen Torjesen, and Jeanne Sales...

Cloudy and cool... but still beautiful.

Waves too big to surf

Stormy waves arrived from New Zealand... 10-12 ft. high.

For the first day or two, no one surfed.

Then the brave ones ventured out again.