The Pier - December 30, 2009

It's cold and rainy today. =( The sky and the ocean look like one. You can't see were they meet. The unknown seems so vast today. People are still walking the pier, but not that many, although I do not sit on it. There are only two or three surfers and even they do not seem as enthusiastic as usual.

There is a strange feeling lingering in the air, maybe it's because of the New Year coming up, the rain is washing away the old year and bringing in the new with some clear weather.

The Pier - December 28, 2009

It's so nice and warm out today, the beaches are Full of people, the water is littered with surfers. The sun actually feels hot on my legs, so I don't blame any one of these people who are on vacation to be out here enjoying it. It is hard to believe it is the Holiday Season, this year went way too fast. I will have to get used to the warmer weather at this time of year.

I'm not sure I can accurately describe what I see today. There are waves crashing into each other with the tide. As the big waves come in, the previous waves are flowing out. The "crash" is creating water to spray up into the air in a way that looks like a wave is crashing into a wall. Not only is this amazing, the fact that this happens in a line blows my mind. You see, the line goes to the side, like a someone is drawing with water, until it crashed yet again, but this time into the other "line" coming at it. Then, another wave crashes and the process starts all over again. Astounding is the perfect word to describe what I witnessed.

How could Anyone say that the world happened by chance when things like happen, so miraculous!?!

The Pier - December 17, 2009

It's not quite eight thirty in the morning and it is close to seventy degrees. I think it will end up being warmer than the high being called for.

There are a lot of surfers out today, the waves are great. I've also noticed some boogie boarders.

I am sitting on the farthest bench on the pier, sitting directly over the water. It's a strange sensation knowing that the water is so deep this close to the shore. The color of the water here is gorgeous, a blue green that is, well the only word I can come up with is, pure.

As I watch the surfers, it amazes me how patient they are. They sit and wait, and wait, and wait, just for a good wave to ride in that will last only a few seconds. How strong they are too, to stay on their boards as the waves crash around them, to swim through a wave to get past the breaking point. Yet this is nothing compared to the strength it takes to get in front of a wave and stand on their board, to steer it along so not to be knocked off.

The Pier - December 16, 2009

It is beautifully warm out today. People are laying out on the sand while others are actually wading into the water. I have to check the date, it really is December 16, I will have to get used to this. As much as I love being in the water, I am wary, it must be really cold, it was cold in the beginning of September!

I can't get over how clean the beaches are here, and yet I've been told this one is not as clean as some a little more north of here.

The smell of the salt in the water is strong today, I wonder if it's because of the warmer weather. The waves are a little smaller today, but I am out here a little later than normal so I'm sure it has to do with the changing of the tide. The sound is so peaceful, the water rushing the shore...it could put me to sleep, it would be a very peaceful sleep I'm sure.

The Pier - December 15, 2009

Half past noon and the beach is full of towels, surfers are out enjoying the warmer weather today.

The waves have calmed down a bit but they are still large enough to be a challenge. The sun is strong and bright, the reflection off the water makes it difficult to see very far.

From slight personal experience, I know that surfing is difficult. The surfers out today make it look so easy. I guess if I were one of them, out there every day, it would be easy-er. There is so much to know to be able to be successful. You need to be aware when the tides come in high or low, the best places to go for the kind of the waves that you want. You need to know how the ocean "acts" in order to be safe.

There has been some clearing of the smog along the coast, Los Angeles is more visible, I can see the hills that line the shore. The houses along the shore here in Manhattan Beach vary so much. So many types, Modern, Victorian, Colonial, and so many more that I'm not sure what to categorize them as. I gather this from just one quick glance. As different as they are, they have some thing in common, large glass windows overseeing the ocean, and balconies from large to small, all used often.

The Pier - December 14, 2009

I believe the storms that have passed through are still having an effect on the current. The waves a very large, so magnificent and there are plenty of surfers out to enjoy them. I wonder if the storms have made the waters colder or warmer.

The ocean is so vast, it amazes me how it can be moving so much, yet still look like a mirror of the sky.

The pier is alive with people today, people of all colors, shapes, sizes and ages. A group of people exercising at the command of someone, sounds like boot camp. At least the sun is warm compared to the breeze.

It's lunch time on the pier, people are out and it's noisy. Pigeons, Seagulls, and kids all running and hopping around, squealing, screeching or yelling. There are signs on the beach that a lot of people were there recently, I guess there was a good turnout for the Holiday Fireworks display last night. It must have been so beautiful.

There is a very young couple out for a stroll along the water, although they aren't getting very far. They keep stopping for some kisses and to hold each other against the wind. So young and so in love. They get lost in each other's hold as they look into each other's eyes. The boy has a look of longing and the girl has a look of contentment.

Not far from the could, a brother and sister are running, picking up as many seashells as they can, although that is not many, I've never seen a beach so bare of shells. Come to think of it, I don't see too many birds either, ah, but that is because they are all out in the water...bobbing in the water like a bunch of black dots.

Another day "By" the pier - December 11, 2009

A storm came through last night, it rained tremendously. The sky is still gray, the ocean is churning from the storms effect. The streets are full of cars, I guess nobody wanted to walk on this dreary day.

Not much parking today, so I ended up having to walk about 15 blocks, but at least most of the walk was facing the ocean. The beach looked empty, but some die-hard surfers were enjoying the larger waves. (I think they are a little nuts, the water is scary today.)

I ate lunch inside today, too much wind whipping the slight rain into my face... Maybe on Monday I'll be able to go to the pier again, I don't think I'll ever get sick of the view.

The Surfer - December 10, 2009

The surfer is not out to prove herself to anyone, only out to enjoy the water, to improve her skill and strength against the challenge of the surf. The water is cold, thank goodness for wetsuits!

The spray stings her face as she passes through a crashing wave, another one crashes before she is able swim past the breaking point. It has been over five minutes since she got into the water, and unfortunately I do not have the time to watch her ride in and conquer today. I will try to be back tomorrow, I hope she will be here too...

The beach - December 10, 2009

I am sitting on the pier at Manhattan Beach in California, watching the waves, the surfers fighting against the current and trying to ride the waves in. The seagulls are screeching and flittering about. The sun is shining and the breeze is sweet and salty. The pier is beautifully decorated in lights for the holidays as the palms sway in the breeze.

The sound if the ocean is frightening yet so relaxing, white foam crashes into the sand washing away any sign of human life.

What a wonderful morning, I am fortunate to observe.

It occurs to me that the water is blue green, not brown, except where it mixes with the sand. The sand on the beach is fine, each grain blending in with the others around it, creating a smooth surface, it almost looks like a sheet of glass, dull and tan.

The locals seem to take advantage of the beautiful sights as they walk, run or bike ride. I am the intruder here, yet no one disturbs me as I watch. I man preparing for a bike ride in the cold air says hi to me as I write, complains of the cold but leaves me to myself.

What life must be like to live so close to the ocean, I will try to enjoy working close by as much as I can.