Bowling Ball Beach

Don Smith from California, United States

Good morning all,

Thanks to all of you (Siam - I'll need a translator) for your nice comments! I'm happy your are back Marie!

28 Jul 2008 1:56pm

Don Smith from California, United States

Hi Manuela and Rick,

Thanks for checking in! Rick, it's a little tricky trying to find this beach. There is a pullout along Highway 1 near a creek (don't have my notes in front of me but it is near where the highway crosses over a creek 3 miles south of Pt. Arena - sounds as if you got that far). You go past the "Trail Closed" sign (learned this from Sunset Magazine!) and you'll come to the bluffs. The stairway has been washed out (thus the closed sign) but it is still in tact so you use it like a rope ladder. Once down the bluff and on to the beach, you will spot a little hut made out of driftwood - walk north about a quarter mile up the beach and you'll spot the rocks (it is not sign posted). The rocks will only appear at low tide. You'll know you are there as there is another driftwood hut just at the north end of the rocks. I talked with a local pro who had a very stunning image of the rocks that was shot at negative low tide near sunset. I checked the tide charts for the area and found that negative low tides during the summer occur in the morning hours (the first of two low tides per day). The higher of the low tides (the plus tides) occur later in the day. The best time to try this shot is at sunset to get the warm glow on the rocks and the bluffs - this image was shot 20 minutes prior to sunset, but at a low tide of +2.1 feet. It is very slipperey and I almost fell in! As it was I was barefoot with my pants rolled up over my knees - I still got wet! According to the tide charts, the two low tides will reverse starting around the middle of October with the negative low tide coming later in the day (nearer to sunset). This is a very isolated beach and unfortunately a rowdy whiskey-drinking group of young adults suddenly appeared. They seemed kind of harmless but nevertheless they were making my wife and I somewhat nervous (especially since I had about $15,000 worth of equipment in my backpack and they were pretty wasted)! Nontheless I shot for about a half-hour and then decided to depart. This was one of the last images I made right at posted low tide time 20 minutes before sunset. Hope you are doing well - nice to hear from you!

28 Jul 2008 4:40pm

Don Smith from California, United States

Hi Pascale,

Thanks for your kind words!

29 Jul 2008 2:26pm

Don Smith from California, United States

Hi Martine,
Thanks for checking in. Let me know if I can be of any help with your trip.

30 Jul 2008 2:09pm