We went to Annie's Canyon in Solana Beach (a mythical place, apparently). We started out later than usual (9:30), as we were meeting up with a friend who lives nearby.
It was a beautiful sunny morning after a few weeks of cold weather (for us). The lagoon was on our left,
the hillside on our right, as we walked eastward. The clouds were dramatic and the Torrey pine towered over us, giving a bit of an eerie feel to our hike.
Soon we arrived at the signboard, and turned southward.
We immediately came to this steep step created by a fallen tree. It visually implied what the sign had said "No strollers, no dogs, no messing about."
The narrow path led between steep sandstone bluffs.
If you are claustrophobic, avoid this trail.
A few places, no doubt the scene of grisly accidents, were marked and blocked with chains.
It's a one-way trail heading UP.
Our friend Martin is quite thin, and he still had to turn sideways to get through. No backpacks, please.
In a few places steel ladders had been installed to improve the chances of making it to the top.
I barely made it up the top stretch because one hand was holding my big camera. I needed both hands to pull myself up, but finally by using my elbows on the walls I managed to get past the steepest bit. Here's a look down. (My wife, ever vigilant, had found a paper cup left behind by a littering visitor, and is packing it out)
A magnificent view from the top! Ocean on the left, Interstate Highway 5 on the right.
The way back down is very steep, but it's wide and has steps and guard wires. This is the route taken by those accompanied by babies or dogs, or afraid to be squashed by falling rocks.
For a kilometer or so we had a nature walk, birds (can you see it?), flowers, etc.
Lizards were seemingly everywhere, sunning themselves as the heat was increasing.
I'm sorry to say that of the 90 walks we have taken in the past few months, this was by far the most heavily traveled. Go early is my advice! With great relief we got back to our car as it was really getting warm.
Just a few blocks down the road we came to a jewelry store, where we spotted fellow WPS watch lover and collector, TimJ.
Since they happened to be open, we went inside (as one does).
The mailman was dropping off a parcel just as we parked. It appeared to be from Russia!
The proprietor opend the box and handed the watch to me -- Saint Petersburg? Huh?
Nice. Very interesting!
TimJ agreed to model for us, so I could take a potentially pretentious pocket photo.
I don't know any more details about the watch, sorry. We had to get on our way home.
Cheers,
Cazalea
