Sunset State Beach

Sunset State Beach is just south of Santa Cruz off Highway 1. The campsites are roomy and the sites well-kept. But here is the reason to camp there. On a night of the full moon, waves of white water come in from the west and waves of strawberry-protecting white plastic crest over the low hills to the east. That makes Sunset a thin island with scenery simultaneously in your face and behind your back.

Stage Road

Stage Road runs between San Gregorio and Pescadero, just inland from Highway 1. It used to haul freight between the ends of two rail lines. It's crooked, winding its way through native coyote bush and exotic pampas grass. Except for one straight stretch in a pleasant farming valley with a pleasing old farm house. Metal sculptures stand guard out in front of the house, two adultes terribles where you least expect them.

Half to Have It

Half to Have It is an antiques store on the corner of Kelly and Main in downtown Half Moon Bay. Outside, clear winds inspire assorted wind chimes. Inside, inspiration comes from Just Stuff piled in and then piled up. As you inspect the thousands of things, cut-outs of Elvis, Marilyn, and Humphrey inspect you. Ecstatic Maxfield Parrish women gaze longingly at the heavens (they are ready to go) while Buddhas big and small wear transparent smiles (they seem happy enough where they are). Mirrors are all over the place so you can ask them, Mirrors Mirrors among the Stuff, Tell Me True, Am I happy Enough?

John Carter Memorial Park

The John Carter Memorial Park in Half Moon Bay is down stairs in a ravine, where the statue of a big man holds a sizeable pumpkin. (The area is famous for its plumb pumpkins.) Behind him, over on the dark side of the park, almost out of sight, two teenagers express themselves against a tree. Close by their two bikes lie casually entangled.

Flying Fish Grill

The Flying Fish Grill is in Half Moon Bay, near the intersection of Highway 1 and Highway 92. The fish tacos and the mahi mahi tacos are good, as is the grilled shrimp. But the truly fascinating thing about the place is a trip to the two-gendered restroom. You go out the front door, around the northeast corner of the building, by a row of parked cars and exotic flowers, around the northwest corner, around the southwest corner by piled up debris, in the back door, past the cooks, who have to step out of the way, and around an interior corner to the door. Pray that it is unoccupied.

Allensworth State Park

Allensworth State Park is off Highway 43 in California's Great Valley, half way between Wasco and Corcoran. It is also not far off the tracks taking people and freight up and down the state. (This information is relevant only to those who spend the night in the spacious campground.) Colonel Allensworth, a naval officer and a Baptist minister, and founder of the town, was killed by a motorcycle as he stepped off of a bus. His town foundered for lack of water. Houses reconstructed from the town that was then are now separated by many flat spaces, as if distance made absent neighbors better.

Ruins

Time makes ruins ferment. An intoxicating dark drink for the eyes. Take the ruins at the junction of Highway 43 and Pond Road north of Wasco in California's Central Valley. Best to go on a day of hazy sun, when it is warm but not hot. Late October is a good bet, when the sun begins to slant, casting elongated shadows. Torn up rails run between ruins and road, while eucalyptus trees stand by the way. In the shade a Taco and Burrito Truck has food prepared for tongue.

East Side Cemetery

On the east side of Tehachapi is the East Side Cemetery. Beside its blue-arrowed sign is an empty heart with wings still attached. A second sign, beside the first, what was the sign of signification, is now full of empty sky.

Altar, Highway 58

Not far west of Mojave, on Highway 58 headed over Tehachapi Pass, is an altar for Oscar Munoz. Its concrete casing has been newly resurfaced. On the hills far away windmills make renewed energy out of the everlasting wind.