January 1, 2009

Number of people: 12. Number of dogs: 3. Walking or running: 3. Playing in surf: 2. Playing in sand: 2. Photography: 12. Surfing: 3. Windsurfing: 3. A rain drenched diaper appeared against the rail of the parking lot when I was photographing the "Celestial Rendezvous." (Dec 3 & 4) I debated what to do, and decided against being a co-dependent for litterers. To teach em to fish instead, I decided to put a reward sticker on the diaper for whoever disposed of it. They haven't claimed it, but I hope for the start up of a widely successful "Trash Cash" program. It is actually amazingly remarkable how little debris in a area with so much use and zero provisions for waste (no trash receptacle, no toilet, no doggie poop bags ... I have been day-dreaming of a "green" version of that)I have never seen any debris on the beach that I believed to be left by a beach trekker. All of the debris I have seen can be accounted to two sources: 1) what washes in from the sea, and 2) what blows off the parking lot (a dog dish, a paper cup, a cigarette filter end)Every time I drive by, nearly daily, I count vehicles and am always so very pleased that so many people are taking time to enjoy such a beautiful place in so many ways. The best of this season was on Labor Day when the north half of the parking lot was parked solid with windsurfer rigs and the south half was parked solid with photographers. 24 vehicles at a time.Most of the time it is 7. The cold storms have reduced the number of times in a week that there are 7 there now, though, more like 2 or 4 at a time now. Even in the rain.

Lozza gulls, especially during the storms

Seaweeds and seagrass, Animal casings (e.g., crab, shrimp molt), Ocean-based debris (from fishing boats, ship trash, etc.), Shells, Small rocks, Styrofoam, Wood pieces.

Bluff Erosion continues as usual