Channel Islands NP, Santa Cruz 2014

At the end of the year one of my best friends came over from Estonia to visit. He is the one who really introduced me to the outdoors and my first experiences of the large West, so each time we can get a chance to get on out is a time I treasure. This year, however, business interfered, so no backpacking was in the cards for us. However, right there off the coast are the Channel Islands!

We took the boat over to Scorpion, a side of the island that I had not been too before. It had rained just a few days ago so the air was nice and clear. It really was a quite beautiful part of the island. Nothing can really surpass being able to get in small mountain hikes revealing treed, rocky valley streams, the sweeping views of the coast, and even some old structures too. From the shore we got to see the gorgeous sea caves the water has carved out over the years, gorgeous coves that beg to be visited by water. While having lunch overlooking the channel, a grey whale swam on by, leaving wonderful spouts in the air.

The islands really are special places, unique in their own right but also small snowglobes capturing some of the best of California. I cannot wait to get back out to them again.

The Photographs

Picutres were from the a900 system with the 24-70 lens.

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