Tuesday, May 3, 2011

Beltane at the Beach

On Sunday, May 1st, which happened to be Beltane, I spent the afternoon at Luffenholtz Beach with my husband, our youngest son, Alex, and our little dachshund, Bruno. After a rather steep trek downhill on rickety steps (with no handrail!!), we descended onto a beautiful, rather remote, beach. Northern California is known for her rugged, rocky coastline and Luffenholtz did not disappoint. I have always been utterly enchanted by the amazing views from so many of our local beaches-----they are postcard perfect!







Luffenholtz Beach is located about 2 miles south of the small village of Trinidad, in Humboldt County. The entire area is a haven for surfers, hikers, and beachcombers alike. When the tide is out, Luffenholtz has some fantastic tidepools just right for the eager, hands-on explorer. At the time we were there, however, the tide was beginning to come in just a bit.







This particular day was absolutely perfect-----the sun was shining, the air was pleasantly warm, and there was just a hint of a breeze. Although there were several families enjoying the same beach, several men surf fishing, and children and dogs running through the sand and waves, there was still plenty of room to spread out and claim our spot to explore. We would've been able to walk a little further north had the tide been out, but it was lovely, nonetheless.











My husband and I have made a commitment to explore a different place in and around our local area each weekend with our son-----rivers, beaches, Redwood forest, fields and meadows-----someplace we haven't visited in a while or have never been before. The idea is to spend as much time outdoors, enjoying the sights and sounds, as we possibly can, and to allow time together as a family doing something in which we can be actively engaged with the natural world around us. We are so blessed to live in such a rich and diverse area of this country. Humboldt County has something for everyone and it would be a shame not to explore and become intimately familiar with this wonderland we call home.




I encourage you to make the same commitment with your family that we have made-----get outside each and every weekend that you are able and explore the area where you live, the place you call home. Do a little research about what your county has to offer; you might be surprised at how many places you've never visited or activities you didn't even know were available. Above all, have fun!














Each moment of the year has its own beauty . . . a picture
which was never before and shall never be seen again.
~~~Ralph Waldo Emerson