Cayucos

Cayucos is a funky little fishing village about 20 miles north of San Luis Obispo. I discovered it several years ago while on a Califorina-beach-cities-photographic-walk-about that extended down to San Diego. This time I was driving to my sister's for Christmas and instead of jamming down I-5 in 5 hours, I took the scenic route. Cayucos was my first stop.

The forecast for Monday was partly cloudy skies with little chance of rain, but by late afternoon, it was pouring. I didn't mind. I was glad to be out of the house, on the road, and near the ocean.

Overnight the skies cleared and I awoke to a beautiful, sunny Tuesday. I was glad to walk around town again, this time with a blue sky in the background.I stayed at the Shoreline Inn, which was perfect for me; right on the beach and only a block from the pier. My room was the last one on the far right of the photo. It had a sliding glass door that opened to the beach. I fell asleep listening to the waves crash.

All small beach towns have a wooden pier. It's a mandatory part of their charm. The one in Cayucos is long and straight and extends out well past the breakers.

The many signs along the pier that prohibit climbing on or jumping off the pier are routinely ignored by the surfers. Most of them run the length of the pier and they are up and over the rail before one can even raise one's camera. But this surfer was in no hurry. He calmly walked out past the breakers...

climbed over the railing...

waited for a swell to roll in under him...

and jumped.

I took many photos of the pier on Monday afternoon, but Tuesday's more favorable conditions of a morning sun and a beautiful blue sky, forced me to return and take more.

The bright blue sky also meant blue reflective water.