Thursday, September 17, 2009

Afternoon at Hendry's

September should really petition to be part of summer. The days are still warm, the Pacific Ocean has finally reached a tolerable temperature and the tourist crowds have thinned out. It's my favorite month to spend time at the beach.

Today after school we loaded the boogie boards and the kids and headed down to Hendry's in Santa Barbara. Barely more than a cove, you can't even see the sand as you drive by on Cliff Drive. But the sun always shines warmly here and with a beach side cafe, showers and passable bathrooms, it's a great place to spend the afternoon. Officially known as Arroyo Burro Beach, Hendry's is owned by Santa Barbara County. So unlike state beaches, you don't have to pay to park and Ah-nuld can't threaten to close it down.

I don't know about you, but I can never be depressed or angry when I'm at the beach. There's something about the sound of the waves pounding the shore that calms my soul. I always feel like I'm on vacation, even if it's just for a few hours. I love to see my kids ride the waves, smell the salt in the air, watch the swells as they break into whitewater.

The sun moves faster when it reaches the horizon. Watching it slip beneath the waves, feeling the chill as it pulls the warmth with it, reminds us that summer is on it's way out. An afternoon of playing in the waves makes for two tired but happy children and two relaxed and happy parents.

The best things in life really are free.

17 comments:

MeganRebekah said...

I spent last weekend at the beach (Gulf of Mexico, FL side) and it was great because there was almost no one there. September really is still part of summer! I loved it!

storyqueen said...

Can you spell Jealous? I live by the beach,but it has been weeks since we went.....and yes, there is something magically calming about it. Maybe I can get there this weekend.

Hendry's sounds perfect.

Shelley

Kelly Polark said...

How wonderful you have that beach so close to your home! The beauty of nature is the best (and free!).
Our September weather in the midwest has been better than all summer this year. So we are enjoying it, but it is getting cooler by the day...

Michelle D. Argyle said...

Your family is absolutely adorable! And I'm insanely jealous, by the way. What I wouldn't give to live close to the ocean! One day I will visit you. :)

Kristen Torres-Toro said...

I'd love to live close enough to a beach to go during the day. Lucky you! Sounds like a perfect day!

Susan R. Mills said...

I haven't been to a beach in years. Unless you count the one at the lake (not the same). I do love it, though.

The pale observer said...

Looks lovely! Hopefully enough to make you forget about a crashed computer...

Enjoy the rays!! I've always been convinced that beaches are somehow magical :)

Sherrie Petersen said...

Megan Rebekah: Gulf of Mexico is nice, especially when it's not crowded!

Shelley: Time to hit the beach! You deserve it :)

Kelly: Our September is warmer than it has been all summer, too!

Glam: Looking forward to that visit!

Kristen: It was a lovely afternoon.

Susan: Lake beaches are nice too. Any big body of water is calming for me :)

Holli: I think beaches are magical,too.

lisa and laura said...

Oh my gosh, your family is beautiful! I'm jealous of your trips to the beach. We have Lake Erie, but it's just not the same. Contrary to popular belief it never caught on fire (um..that was technically the Cuyahoga River), but I'm still scared we'll all catch some crazy disease if we swim in it.

C.R. Evers said...

I love the beach too. I go every chance that I get. I really think the ocean is magic. Well, if there were such a thing as magic, the ocean would definitely have it. Love boogie boarding too. We started teaching my 3 y.o. the basics this summer. so fun! :0)

Tamara Hart Heiner said...

you know, that sounds so, so lovely. usually I'd agree about September and summer...but this year, August seemed to think it was part of fall. We've had 60 and 70 degree, rainy weather for six weeks. Wow.

Beth Kephart said...

I don't get depressed or angry there. I get reflective, though. Some people say reflective is boring....

Sherrie Petersen said...

LiLa: Yeah, not sure I would risk going in that lake either!

Christy: Isn't it fun watching them learn? The ocean is magic :)

Tamara: We had rain on Monday which was lovely and then it heated right back up again!

Beth: I get very reflective at the beach, too, but neither of us is boring :)

Kelly H-Y said...

What FUN!!!!! And such a great picture! The beach is so relaxing to me ... I just love it! And, I agree ... September's my favorite too!

Rena Jones said...

Sounds like a great day! We used to camp at the beach a lot in September. It was still warm and the crowds were gone. I hope you can make a few more trips out there. Jalama is where we liked to camp, as well as Gaviota.

Elana Johnson said...

This is so true. I live landlocked, but my favorite place on the earth is the beach. You are so lucky to live so close. It is really soothing.

Yat-Yee said...

I love being at the beach, I especially love the sound and the rhythm of the ocean waves. I am glad to hear your family can enjoy it.

Love the beach, but mountains are good too. But why can't I have both?

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