During the recent high tides, Rozann Grunig went to the Gualala Bluff Trail to photograph the big surf. She found this Great Blue Heron seemingly watching the surf. It took flight and Rozann got this photo.
She also got this dramatic photo of the King Tides washing over the sandbar of the Gualala River.
Thanks to Rozann for allowing me to share her photos with you here. To see more of Rozann's photography, here is her website: http://highway1designs.com/
Paul Kozal has trained his camera on high and low tides on the Mendonoma Coast. The contrast is amazing. The top photo shows a King Tide, a very high tide at Shell Beach on The Sea Ranch.
And the bottom photo shows the exact same place at low tide. Paul also photographed Iversen Cove's high and low tide. I will share them with you here tomorrow.
To see much more of Paul's photography, here is his website: http://paulkozal.com/
Yesterday, January 20th, there was a 7.2 high tide, a King Tide. King Tides are the highest of high tides. Watching the waves breaking over the sandbar of the Gualala River is exciting. And the Gualala Bluff Trail is the perfect place to be. When we first arrived there wasn't too much action but all of a sudden the waves were closer together. All at once the Pacific Ocean surged over the sandbar in multiple places. Wow!
The Gualala River is full because it is currently closed off from the ocean by the sandbar. It might take more storms to reopen it. Rain is in our forecast for next week. Here are some other photos of the event.
In the final photo, which is washed out from the sun, you can see all the Gulls who were suddenly disturbed by the surging water.
To get to the Gualala Bluff Trail, there are two public access points. Between the Sandbar Restaurant and the Breaker's Inn there is a staircase access. And there is an access down the parking area of the Surf Motel. It seems like there is always something to see from this popular trail.
Last week Alan Reinke photographed Black Point Beach, seemingly missing its beautiful beach. The king tides, super high tides, had washed over it.
The next day told a different story.
We continue to have sunny, calm weather. Gray Whales have been spotted often. I saw two pods this morning, heading south. A pod of eight Killer Whales was seen today, heading north. When the ocean is calm, she reveals many wonderful sightings. We apparently have another week before our rains begin again.
Thanks to Alan for allowing me to share his photos with you here.
King Tides, the biggest tides of the year, hit the Mendonoma coast yesterday. Ron LeValley was at MacKerricher State Park and got this magnificent photo.
The California King Tides Initiative invites photographers to post their photos of these extremely high tides. It is thought they will give us a look at our future with sea level rise happening in the years to come. Here's the link to post your photos or to learn more: http://www.californiakingtides.org/
And here's what Ron wrote about his experience yesterday: "King Tide! Today was the highest tide of the winter and some big waves were coming in. We went to the beach at MacKerricher State Park and watched the waves go over the beach and on to the road next to Lake Cleone. Eventually we had to leave because State Parks was worried that the road might have to be closed, and we were on the other side of the closure! We have to plan for these tides more in the future. This is a hint of what it is going to be like regularly in the future as ocean levels rise."
The next King Tides will occur on January 9 to the 11th, 2013
To see much more of Coast Photographer Ron LeValley's photos, here's the link to his web site: http://www.levalleyphoto.com/home/