To the Sea!!!

Teresa's Dad and Coura came for a quick visit this past week to escape the stifling summer heat.  The weather back in Bellefonte, PA was ninety-plus degrees, and combined with the humidity it was more like 114.  Although Bakersfield isn't much cooler, at least we aren't as humid and the forecast was mid to high nineties.  However, the forecast for the coast was high sixties to low seventies.

At age 14, Coura had never been to the ocean, not even as close as she lives to the East Coast.  We decided we'd go to Hearst Castle on Saturday and then Venice and Santa Monica on Sunday. Note: if you are spontaneous, like we are, be sure to buy your tickets for Hearst Castle ahead of time.  After driving two and a half hours we arrived to find out all tours were sold out.

We walked around the base area of Hearst Castle and then headed up the coast to the Elephant Seal Beach. I decided to use my Olympus 40mm - 150mm Telephoto lens to test the DOF on somewhat sunny days.

 

 

At first the seals blend in with the sand, but after a few seconds, you can see them breathe or throw more sand on themselves. Aside from the seals there really wasn't anything else interesting for a teenager to see, and she was cold, too.  So we headed back to Bakersfield after being on the coast for an hour.

 Sunday, I was able to talk my son, Drew, into going with us to Venice Beach and Santa Monica Pier.  We had some fun shooting some new FACEBOOK Profile Pics for him.  All shot with my Olympus PEN and available light.  

 
Coura enjoyed the beach as we walked along the shore much more than the Boardwalk at Venice.  We headed over to 3rd Street Promenade and then down to the pier.  It was a typical Sunday at the beach. Hundreds of people as far as the eye could see and although I've lived in Bakersfield for 16 years, I still miss L.A.

Here are some of Drew's Profile pictures.  Oh well, at least he let me take pictures of him.

 

It was an enjoyable 68 degree, "Family" day on the coast.  Did I learn anything? No, this was just a day to document our quality time.  As the I Love Beer Dude said, "Peace Out!!!"