We’re parked outside Arcata, CA, just a few miles from Robyn’s father.

This area is called the California North Coast. We spent time here last winter, and really enjoyed discovering its special places.

Only 14 miles up the coast is the small village of Trinidad, with a bay we just love. Sandy beach with plenty of large rocks to give the water something to work on. Constant rumble of waves. Many nooks and crannies to explore at low tide, plenty of crashing and spray at high tide.

And wildlife. On this day, there were several Black Oystercatchers pursuing nutrition. We’ve seen them before, but only from a great distance. This day, they were surprisingly tolerant of the many people playing on the shore.

They remind me of painted ladies…right down to their toenails.