Uncommon Places

We left Hana early, planning to hike the Pipiwai Trail. On the way to the Seven Sacred Pools, we encountered dramatic waves on Koki Beach.

Then, pretty waterfalls:

We passed a crazy banyan tree:

Then over a bridge and into a bamboo forest. Very “Crouching Tiger”!

Finally, at the top of the trail, we found ourselves dwarfed by the beautiful 400-ft Waimoku Falls.

To get to Hana, we started at Mama’s Fish House:

OK, so we got a little distracted by their delicious menu, which explains exactly who caught each fish, and where:

Then we headed for Hana, taking the winding coastal road. Lots of one-lane bridges!

Hana itself is serene and lovely. No cell phone coverage, no noise. Just the sound of waves striking the black sand, the black pebbles.

On the tortuous road to Hana, a small sign marks the Ke’Anea Arboretum. You can easily miss it or drive on by. But if you’re lucky enough to find the spot, you’ll see fallen blossoms:

…the peeling bark of Indonesian eucalyptus…

…and the twisty roots of ancient trees.

Some images of the California coastline, captured during our autumn visit.

First up, the obligatory photo of the Golden Gate Bridge. (I certainly couldn’t leave that out.)

Next stop, the lighthouse at Point Reyes National Seashore, where we could hear the barking of sea lions on the rocks.

“Do you really want to do this?” Prominent signs posted at the top of the lighthouse stairs warned tourists that the return hike was equivalent to climbing a 30-story building. But we did alright with the stairs, having been well-fortified at lunchtime with the local specialty: barbecued oysters from nearby Drake’s Bay.

The perfect time to explore the coastal highways? Sunset.

Below, the gorgeous Devil’s Slide.

Half Moon Bay is a quaint and lovely town, but its views of the ocean are anything but quaint. More like sublime and breathtaking!

We arrived on the tail end of the town’s annual Pumpkin Festival, which meant that forklifts carrying 1600 lb pumpkins dominated the main street as we made our way to our charming bed and breakfast.

Pumpkins also dominated the local menus, with a sugar pumpkin creme brulee at nearby Cetrella and a tasty pumpkin croissant at the Moonside Bakery. On the way out of town, we found even more pumpkins, including pale white “Luna” varieties. I wouldn’t have minded taking a few home.