San Diego Coast Walk: Week 3: Carlsbad Poinsettia station to Encinitas

So we are starting to feel like veterans at this. We make it to the coaster station with ~ 15 minutes to spare in great spirits:

We Noticed a fairly heavy police presence around the station. After the train arrived the reason became apperent. It was a Dodgers vs Padres game. Apparently this is a bit of a rivalry and unfortunately not one that brings out the best in everybody. The platform was quite crowded as we bought our tickets with eager fans. The train had many beer cans and bottles left behind when we finally did take our seats.

It was just past high tide as we left. Passing the Penasquitos lagoon I noted its fullness.

I also noticed that the little pocket schedule you can get had the image of a ferris wheel. We couldn't figure out where that was until we realized they were referring to the del mar fairgrounds. In our travels we have been generally staring out the west side of the train and not noticed the inland scenery.

Here is Anita at Poinsettia Station, ready for our hike

The previous week there had been some confusion as to which platform we would be using, apparently the northbound train is on the left while the southbound on the right opposite of the roads.

The Secret passage revisited.

Old 101, We have crossed this highway many times now

Anita in the forrest

The gateway

Today was Fall equinox. We arrived on the beach ~ 20 minutes before true equinox when the days become shorter than the nights and the sun is directly over the equator. We had crystal clear day and could see forever.

Looking north

South

Colorful graffiti on the support for non existent staircase

The priestess prepares for ritual

Many things meet here at this hour and location. Equinox, border of land and Sea. End of summer

tower 24

On the South end of Carlsbad it got a bit gnarly. Pebbles of a certain size tend to really hurt the feet. This sort of terrain is relatively rare, but would prove difficult for barefoot wanderings.

Ouch!

Anita negotiates some rocks

old fire ring washing into the sea.

Tower 23

A very talkative bird

Tower 22

The outflow from Batiquitos lagoon marks the boundary between Carlsbad and Leucadia. No walking across this one, but we did break for a snack along the Jetty.

Here I am!

Looking inland, so clear!

Anita Contemplates the waves

More Charcoal art on the bridge

Another crossing.

where the outflow meets the waves.

Since most of our walks were during the falling tide we got to see a lot of strong rip currents. They say this makes for good surfing.

Tower 21

Tower 20

Leucadia boasts the highest seacliffs so far along our journey. It's also the highest density of privately owned staircase, and perhaps some of the most elaborately engineered retaining walls. These are true wonders of the world. The water stays shallow a long way out so I was able to get some great shots using the zoom feature.

I love how the wet sand shines and reflects

Leucadia lifeguard tower

That art one Grand staircase

Staircases as far as the eye can see

I wonder how much these cost?

Not getting up this one

nor this one!

A reflective bird

Anita's reflection in the sand

This wall probably costs more to build the the house that sits atop it. Anita for Scale.

zoomed out. Yes that is water on my lens.

The retaining walls gave way to actual Cliffs, brandishing vibrant yellows oranges and browns. Coastlines often boast some nice exposures of the geology. In this case tertiary marine sediments overlain by pleistocene unconsolidated material. Bits of algae mark the boundary between permeable and impermeable strata.

Love this shot of Anita!

Of course I was itching to spend more time swimming. The previous two weeks we had been cutting it a bit too close with the Coaster and didn't have time to play. Now with the time between trains increasing I could goof around a bit more.

Not too crowded.

This has to have been my favorite beach staircase, the art at the top seems like something out of dream. Indeed this was the place i felt most eager to revisit so far along our journey.

The reason for the retaining walls is that the cliffs are not holding together all that well. Here is some lovely mast wasting in action. Caution tape everywhere as if this might give way at any moment.

Already?

It was with some surprise that we arrived at moonlight nearly an hour our train was scheduled to depart. We still had some walking before we reached the station, but clearly time is more on our side now. Last time we were here was nighttime near high tide. A lot of what you see here would be below water then. I barely recognized it myself.

Anita At moonlight

Requisite Selfie at moonlight beach

Bliss

Yep it's moonlight!

This was the first time we got to enjoy the convenience of beach showers before boarding the train. I cannot understate how nice it is to wash the sand and salt from my sandal straps. We found a charming little trail up the creek that drains at Moonlight, making for a nice trip back inland, eventually catching some fro yo before catching the train.