On Saturday evening, September 12, we returned to Laguna Beach from our short stay in Las Vegas. After unloading our Sienna minivan, Inna and I ate dinner in downtown Laguna Beach.
At first, we decided to try Wild Taco on Ocean Avenue. We found a cozy table outside and looked at the menu. Since no one came around to take our order (and after looking at a few unfavorable reviews on Yelp.com), we decided to abandon Wild Taco and head to Carmelita's Kitchen de Mexico nearby.
After a few hours of resting, we returned to our car and drove to Whole Foods to pick up a few groceries before eating lunch.
For lunch, Inna made an omelet with turkey, and I made fresh coffee in the French Press.
Later in the day, after Alex finished his homework, we decided to have another surf session at Rockpile Beach. Finding parking on Sunday evening was more complex, and I found a spot a few blocks from the surf spot.
Initially, we were the only surfers out there, and I caught my first long ride! Alex caught a few waves, too, and more local surfers showed up. The local surfers were much better riders than either of us. They saw all of the waves and had spectacular rides.
After returning home, I made fresh coffee in the French Press, and everyone enjoyed the fresh pastries!
With the surf forecast relatively poor and the air quality suspect, we decided to skip surfing.
Wednesday, September 16, 2020
At noon, during my work lunch break, I walked from my rental home to Rockpile Beach to exercise and look at the waves. Surprisingly, the waves were taller than I expected, and I decided to return later in the day to surf there. Many of the advanced surfers were having a fantastic time.
After eating my lunch (usually a sandwich with cheese and turkey), I resumed my everyday work.
However, at 5:00 p.m., when Alex and I finished school and work, we drove to Rockpile Beach for what turned out to be one of my best surfing sessions in Orange County!
The waves were huge, from 3-5 feet high, and I caught and rode 12 waves! I had a fantastic surfing session, and so did Alex!
With large waves forecasted for Thursday, we also decided to wake up early the next day.
At first, we were told to wait 30 minutes for a dinner table outside, but a new table opened up, and we were seated in 10 minutes.
We were immediately served with water, freshly baked chips, and salsa as we examined the menu. I decided to try the Chicken Fajitas while Inna settled on an Enchilada. While starting our dinner, we called Alex, who was busy finishing his homework at home. He came down for dinner. We ordered him some delicious guacamole, which he munched on with his chips. We really liked our Mexican food there and will be sure to be back again.
Sunday, September 13, 2020
In the morning, at 6:30 a.m., I woke up and dressed. Alex and I decided to try surfing at Rockpile Beach in Laguna Beach, which is 5 minutes away by car.
We drove up and parked in the Heisler Park parking lot. The meters there do not start until 8:00 a.m., so we had an hour of surfing for free. I waxed my 8' Wavestorm while Alex took out his Kym Thompson 6'6" shortboard. After waxing, we walked barefoot into the water. Outside, the temperature was 60 F, but the water was much warmer (64-68 Fahrenheit).
We paddled out to the rock pile, and Alex and I tried to catch a few waves. I wasn't very successful, but Alex did very well, catching many waves.
At about 8:15 a.m., we returned to the Sienna Minivan and drove back home. We took showers and decided to eat breakfast at Tippy's Cafe. I ordered a chocolate Mocha, Inna selected a London Fog, and Alex chose a Tippy's Milk latte. We also ordered a bunch of muffins. I liked the blueberry muffin, and it was pretty delicious. Inna's bran muffin wasn't to her liking.
After breakfast, we walked home and decided to try spending time at Victoria Beach. After a short drive, we parked a bit far away, on the Pacific Coast Highway, and walked toward McAulay Street, where we turned downhill and followed Victoria Beach down to the beach. Victoria Beach was hidden and not very busy.
We saw several beachgoers swimming and a few taking photos of the beautiful Pirate Tower and the North end of the beach. We strolled along the beach and noticed a few beginner surfers learning to surf the beach break.
For lunch, Inna made an omelet with turkey, and I made fresh coffee in the French Press.
Later in the day, after Alex finished his homework, we decided to have another surf session at Rockpile Beach. Finding parking on Sunday evening was more complex, and I found a spot a few blocks from the surf spot.
Initially, we were the only surfers out there, and I caught my first long ride! Alex caught a few waves, too, and more local surfers showed up. The local surfers were much better riders than either of us. They saw all of the waves and had spectacular rides.
We ordered two pizzas (one Four Seasons pie and one Margherita pie) from the Alessa restaurant for dinner. There was minimal seating outdoors, and we did not want to wait. The small, personal-sized pizzas were respectable (but not as delicious as the ones we enjoyed in Las Vegas).
Monday, September 14, 2020
Alex and I woke up early - around 6:00 a.m. - hoping to surf at Rockpile Beach. At 6:00 a.m., it was still quite dark, so we waited until 6:30 a.m. to drive to Rockpile Beach.
The waves were relatively small when we arrived there, so we decided not to surf and returned home (a bit disappointed).
During lunchtime, Inna and I walked along Laguna Beach. We saw many surfers on Thalia Street and some successful surfing. We really enjoyed our long, one-hour walk on the sandy beach.
In the late afternoon, at around 4:00 p.m., we returned to Rockpile Beach, but the low tide and the small waves made it less than desirable. We drove to Thalia Street to see if the waves were better. After a 5-minute drive, I parked on Thalia Street, put on my O'Neill shorty, and took out my 8' Wavestorm longboard.
Alex and I tried surfing at Thalia Street, but the waves were relatively small, and I could not catch any waves to surf. Alex was slightly disappointed - after surfing for 90 minutes, we did not ride anything.
We returned home and rested. Alex was disappointed with the lackluster surf session and vowed never to surf there again.
Tuesday, September 15, 2020
In the morning, Inna and I walked along Laguna Beach. The beach was practically empty, and the ocean was as flat as a lake. We really enjoyed our long, one-hour walk on the sandy beach. After our walk, we stopped by Moulin to purchase a few pastries, including:
Monday, September 14, 2020
Alex and I woke up early - around 6:00 a.m. - hoping to surf at Rockpile Beach. At 6:00 a.m., it was still quite dark, so we waited until 6:30 a.m. to drive to Rockpile Beach.
The waves were relatively small when we arrived there, so we decided not to surf and returned home (a bit disappointed).
During lunchtime, Inna and I walked along Laguna Beach. We saw many surfers on Thalia Street and some successful surfing. We really enjoyed our long, one-hour walk on the sandy beach.
In the late afternoon, at around 4:00 p.m., we returned to Rockpile Beach, but the low tide and the small waves made it less than desirable. We drove to Thalia Street to see if the waves were better. After a 5-minute drive, I parked on Thalia Street, put on my O'Neill shorty, and took out my 8' Wavestorm longboard.
Alex and I tried surfing at Thalia Street, but the waves were relatively small, and I could not catch any waves to surf. Alex was slightly disappointed - after surfing for 90 minutes, we did not ride anything.
We returned home and rested. Alex was disappointed with the lackluster surf session and vowed never to surf there again.
Tuesday, September 15, 2020
In the morning, Inna and I walked along Laguna Beach. The beach was practically empty, and the ocean was as flat as a lake. We really enjoyed our long, one-hour walk on the sandy beach. After our walk, we stopped by Moulin to purchase a few pastries, including:
- Almond Croissant
- Pain Au Chocolat
- Pain Aux Raisins
- Apple Turnover
With the surf forecast relatively poor and the air quality suspect, we decided to skip surfing.
In the evening, Inna and I enjoyed a walk along the beautiful main beach of Laguna Beach. We watched the sunset and marveled at the calm ocean water.
Wednesday, September 16, 2020
At noon, during my work lunch break, I walked from my rental home to Rockpile Beach to exercise and look at the waves. Surprisingly, the waves were taller than I expected, and I decided to return later in the day to surf there. Many of the advanced surfers were having a fantastic time.
After eating my lunch (usually a sandwich with cheese and turkey), I resumed my everyday work.
However, at 5:00 p.m., when Alex and I finished school and work, we drove to Rockpile Beach for what turned out to be one of my best surfing sessions in Orange County!
The waves were huge, from 3-5 feet high, and I caught and rode 12 waves! I had a fantastic surfing session, and so did Alex!
With large waves forecasted for Thursday, we also decided to wake up early the next day.
Alex and I woke up at 6:30 a.m. and decided to drive to Rockpile Beach. We quickly parked, put on our wetsuits, and waxed our boards. I was on my usual 8' Wavestorm, and Alex used his Firewire Tomo v4 6'. We had a fantastic early morning surfing session, and I caught and rode 3 waves. Alex did much better than me.
In the evening (5:00 - 7:00 p.m.), Alex and I managed to have a 2nd surfing session of the day! This time, I was a bit more tired and caught fewer waves. Inna came around for a walk to Heisler Park and took a few photos of Alex and me with her Nikon P900 ultrazoom camera.
Here is a photo of one of my failed surfing attempts.
However, Alex continued to catch and ride multiple waves (though they were smaller than during the morning session). Here is a photo of Alex riding one of the many waves he caught.
I had a fantastic day of surfing. I hope I get more days like this!
Friday, September 18, 2020 - Rosh Hashana
Shana Tova! Happy New Year!
Shana Tova! Happy New Year!
I had a hectic work schedule, though Inna and I managed to sneak out for a nice walk along the main beach of Laguna Beach.
Since Alex finished his schoolwork early, I recommended that he surf by himself while I had to attend other meetings. I dropped him off at Rockpile Beach at 3:30 p.m. (though parking was difficult) and then returned home for my next meeting. Waves were about 3 feet tall (smaller than on Thursday) and not crowded. Alex used his Firewire Tomo v4 6' board.
I returned to pick him up at 5:30 p.m. He was tired but excited and recollected some of his surfing exploits. He said that he surfed very well and caught all the waves.
In the evening, being Rosh Hashanah, we decided to eat in a nice restaurant. Inna made reservations at 9:00 p.m. at Oak Laguna Beach Restaurant. On the drive there, I almost ran into a skateboarder in the dark I didn't see. Luckily, Inna warned me in time. After being seated outside (indoors was extremely noisy), we ordered drinks and entrees.
Inna ordered the Lagunarita cocktail (a twist on the Margarita cocktail), while Alex tried the lemonade (which was average). Inna ordered the Heirloom Tomato soup and Jumbo Dungeness Crab Cake. She thought the soup was the best tomato soup she's ever tried anywhere. She really liked the cheese in it and vowed to order another bowl (if we ever returned)
Alex ordered the Oak Burger, medium-rare, and he really liked it. He said it was much better than his favorite burger in SuperDuper in Los Gatos. He did not care much for the standard premixed version of the lemonade (we prefer the freshly prepared kind).
I wasn't starving, so I ordered the Cajun Shrimp Tacos. They were small but delicious!
For dessert, we shared a Pistachio Lemon Zest bar. It was not the most appetizing dessert. We really enjoyed our time at Oak Laguna Beach and hope to return again,
Saturday, September 19, 2020
At about 7:30 a.m., I woke up, showered, and stopped by the nearby local Farmer's Market to purchase groceries. Since our local Whole Foods has horrible bread, I bought a large loaf of sourdough and pistachio croissants. I also found some local, organic blueberries (3-pack).
Alex quickly zipped up his wetsuit and surfed into the lineup. Many surfers were everywhere, but Alex managed to find space for himself. I took multiple photos of him surfing (using the Nikon P900 superzoom). Watching Alex perform his best moves at his favorite surfing destination was fun.
Here is a short video I recorded of Alex's surfing. The flappy bird was on the loose again!
After taking photos for about 30 minutes, Inna and I decided to explore the town of San Clemente, a few miles away. We drove to San Clemente Pier and eventually found parking nearby. I was excited by all the surfers near the pier and decided to surf for an hour while Inna explored nearby.
At San Clemente Pier, waves were enormous, from 3-4 feet high, breaking quickly near the shore. I paddled through the surf, and it took me a few tries to get through the break.
I managed to find a comfortable place to launch and caught a few waves. I had one, a very nice long ride, which put a smile on my face.
After an hour of surfing, I returned to my Sienna minivan and met up with Inna. She took some photos of other surfers and told me about the exciting restaurants in the area. We walked back to San Clemente Pier, where I observed other surfers closely and took a few photos.
At about 1:30 p.m., we returned to our Sienna Minivan, drove to the Trestles parking lot, and picked up Alex. At about 1:50m, we found Alex, all exhausted, carrying his surfboard. After a long surf session, he was all spent. We drove back to San Clemente for lunch. Finding parking required a lot of patience, but we eventually found a parking spot.
We returned to the San Clemente Pier and sat at Pierside Cafe at 2:30 p.m. However, the kitchen in the cafe was closed from 2:30–3:30 p.m., so we moved over to La Galette Creperie next door. Alex and I ordered the Classic Burger with Lemonade, while Inna ordered a Chicken Wrap with Lemonade while enjoying the sounds of a steel-drum singer. It felt like being on a Caribbean tropical island. We saw many golf cars driving around; they seemed very popular in San Clemente and Laguna Beach.
We returned to the San Clemente Pier and sat at Pierside Cafe at 2:30 p.m. However, the kitchen in the cafe was closed from 2:30–3:30 p.m., so we moved over to La Galette Creperie next door. Alex and I ordered the Classic Burger with Lemonade, while Inna ordered a Chicken Wrap with Lemonade while enjoying the sounds of a steel-drum singer. It felt like being on a Caribbean tropical island. We saw many golf cars driving around; they seemed very popular in San Clemente and Laguna Beach.
After lunch, we enjoyed fresh ice cream at Caterina's Sandwich and Gelato shop. On a wafer cone, my hazelnut and vanilla/cherry combination was delicious. After enjoying the San Clemente Pier, we returned to our Sienna Minivan and drove home. After resting a bit, Inna and I went to Crystal Beach, a beautiful beach in Newport. The sand was soft and exquisite. It was Inna's new favorite beach!
With darkness approaching, we returned to our rental home and stopped by La Sirena for inexpensive Mexican fare. I ordered a chicken fajita, while Alex and Inna selected burritos. They were delicious, expensive, and better than the ones in Chipotle.
Sunday, September 20, 2020
Sunday, September 20, 2020
Being tired from adventures the day before, Inna and I woke up relatively late, around 8:30 a.m. I made some fresh French-Press coffee (the last of the Allegro Coffee pre-ground coffee beans) and ate some yogurt with blueberries.
We decided to explore Newport Beach, as we had never been there before, and Inna and I were curious about this town. I knew about the Newport Jazz Festival and expensive homes but not much else. The drive from Laguna Beach took us over 35 minutes due to a horrible accident on Highway 1. We drove around the accident and eventually found parking near the Crab Cooker Annex. The parking meters there were only allowed for 1 hour, so I had to return a couple of times to add time to the parking meter.
When we arrived at Newport Beach Pier, we were amazed by the crowds of people (it seemed that COVID-19 was a thing of the past), with a busy farmer's market, music, and a lively restaurant scene all going on. It was a much bigger and more dynamic place than Laguna Beach.
Seeing many waves and surfers, I decided to surf for an hour while Inna enjoyed the beautiful sandy beach. I returned to the car, put on my O'Neill shortie, and took out my 8' Wavestorm surfboard. It didn't need any wax, but I put on some sunscreen as it was nearing noontime and relatively sunny and hot.
I carried the beach umbrella and the surfboard to the beach, where Inna and I had beach chairs set up. After setting up the beach umbrella, I went out surfing. I caught a few waves rather quickly, but a coast guard vessel sailed by, announcing that all surfers must return to shore. I was annoyed by this announcement and ignored it for a while. Eventually, I surfed to shore and discussed it with Inna. She thought it was silly to ban all surfers, so I decided to return to surfing, but I was interrupted by a lifeguard who told me that I could surf on the other side of the pier.
For the first time, I used Surfline's Sessions to record my surfing session using my Apple Watch. Surfline manages multiple video cams at popular surf spots and recorded two of my surfing rides (though the video quality is quite grainy).
I walked under the pier to the Southside and surfed there. There mainly were boogie boarders, but I caught a few small waves. At about 1:15 p.m., I stopped surfing, and Inna and I returned to the minivan. It turned out that I forgot to lock my key box; luckily, no one stole my van!
After changing into dry clothes and paying the parking meter, we ate lunch in one of the highly-rated eateries on the Newport Beach boardwalk. Dory Deli was rated highly in Yelp reviews, so Inna and I stopped there.
I ordered a local special chicken and waffle while Inna enjoyed a poke bowl. I liked my fried chicken, but the portion was small. We also called them iced mochas, which were delicious but slightly different from our iced mochas.
After lunch, we walked along the boardwalk and marveled at the length of the beach and the number of pedestrians heading back and forth. Many beach apartments were on the boardwalk (summer beach rentals), but the noise and lack of privacy would make this location less than ideal.
After enjoying the walk, we returned to our Sienna Minivan and drove to the Sherman Library and Gardens. Since we arrived at 3:15 p.m. and the gardens closed at 4:00 p.m., we were offered free admission, which we gladly accepted.
It took us about 35 minutes to walk around the beautifully manicured gardens, enjoying all the gorgeous flowers.
We returned home to rest and find Alex studying for his Calculus BC class. He spent the whole day researching and recovering from the previous surfing session at Trestles.
At around 6:00 p.m., we walked to Rockpile Beach to observe another gorgeous sunset. We noticed the tide was low, and many people explored the tide pools. The surf was minimal, and only a few surfers were out, trying to catch what little remained of the south swell.
We purchased pre-cooked whole chicken from Whole Foods with a garnish of basmati rice cooked in our rice cooker for dinner.
For entertainment, we decided to watch Back to School with Rodney Dangerfield using Amazon Prime streaming to the Apple TV.
Back to Laguna Beach Trip Report
Highlights
- Walking on Crystal Beach in Newport Beach
- Surfing at Rockpile Beach
- Surfing at Trestles
- Dinner at Oak Laguna Beach
- Freshly baked pastries from Moulin
- Newly-made gelato from Dolce Gelato
Lowlights
- Long drive from Las Vegas to Laguna Beach (4 hours) in bad air
- Crazy Southern California drivers
- No freshly baked bread in Whole Foods (unlike San Jose)
- Days with bad air quality
0 comments:
Post a Comment