Day 54 Half Moon Bay - Pigeon Point lighthouse

14/1/14

Half Moon Bay on the California Coast is 40 mins drive from San Jose. It is known for its huge waves, making it ideal for Surfing. It is also popular for whale watching during the migration season (Jan-Mar). But since it was December, I did not see many people. It was cold most of the day and we ventured out in the afternoon. The days were really short and sun seemed to set even before you feel warm. The ocean and views around Half moon bay were breathtaking in spite of the not-so-great weather. We stayed to watch the sun go down. The sea was in its peak with waves crashing against the shoreline full of gigantic rocks. The sound of the waves kept getting bigger as the waves were getting higher. In spite of it not being ideal beach conditions I was all excited and I can only imagine the adrenaline rush people experience when they surf through these waves.

Driving along the cliff on California Coast

the views and beyond

Watching the sun go down

Pacific coast

We drove south along the coast and reached Pigeon point lighthouse, which is one of the most scenic spots on the Pacific Coast of State Highway 1. The light house built in 1871, is still used in navigation and guides ships coming along the West coast. There is a hostel nearby and I found very few people here maybe because it was chilly december evening but to my surprise there was a family playing in the cold ocean waters. It was past sunset when we went here. I managed to get a few pictures while there was still some light. It is popular with wild life enthusiasts for whale watching (around Jan-Apr) and with photographers as lighthouse makes a perfect setting for sunsets. It is a must see when in California.