Sunsets at Pismo Beach . . .
We all sit out on our balconies
Watching the sunset
As if it’s a miracle
Or mystical experience
Maybe it is
a miracle we experience every day
California: bordering always on the Pacific and sometimes on the ridiculous. So, why do I live here? Because the sun goes down a block from my house.
— George Carlin (1937-2008) American comedian, actor, author, and social critic
It is quite a show—the sunset
And each day is different
Sometimes magnificent colors
Sometimes surprising, subtle hues
We watch how the rays of light shine through the clouds
We observe the reflections on the water
We glance away to see the water farther to our left slowly turn a deep, midnight blue
Maybe it is
a miracle we experience every day
Made more spectacular by the sky and ocean
Never waste any amount of time doing anything important
when there is a sunset outside that you should be sitting under.
— C. JoyBell C., writer, mentor, and inspirational figure
We sit out on our balconies
Watching the sunset
Some people bring chairs and sit on the beach
Often it is cold and windy
We wrap ourselves in a towel or blanket
Nothing deters us
From watching the sunset
Maybe it is
a miracle we experience every day
There is never one sunrise the same or one sunset the same.
— Carlos Santana (b. 1947) American guitarist
My Experience at Pismo Beach
One of our reasons in traveling to California was to simply sit and watch the sun set over the water in the evenings. I have read that the sunset is one of the most photographed natural events in the world. And, on the ocean, the nightfall is even more spectacular—worthy of many pictures!
Every evening, about an hour before sunset, we would go out to our balcony. Often, other people in our hotel would come out to their balcony and watch, too. We also saw couples and families bring chairs and sit on the beach to enjoy the day turn to evening.
One day in a conversation with a California local, we noted that in Alabama the sunset is often hidden by trees. There are not many places to see the sun actually sink below the horizon. Trees and mountains obscure the junction of the sky and earth. Maybe that is why seeing the sunset seemed so special to us.
Eight Sunsets, All Different
We saw eight sunsets and each was different. Every evening, we sat on our balcony watching as the sun sank lower and lower and the surrounding sky slowly changed colors. Finally, the sun would dip below the horizon. And, for quite a while, there was still some light in the sky and on the water.
Monday, April 15, 2024
This was our first sunset at Pismo Beach—the reason we drove all this way—to sit and watch the sun sink into the ocean. We went out on our balcony about 7:15.
The progression of the sunset did not disappoint. It was perfect with its yellow and orange hues. I took numerous pictures until about 8:23.
The sky broke like an egg into full sunset, and the water caught fire.
— Pamela Hansford Johnson (1912-1981) English novelist, playwright, poet, literary and social critic
Tuesday, April 16, 2024
The balconies are about 5’x10’ with glass partitions all the way around. This night we went out about 7:20 to watch and people next door came out on their balcony as well.
It is always cold and windy in the evening, so I wore a sweater and hat. Sunglasses were necessary most evenings because if there are no clouds there is a bright glare.
We saw surfers every night who came out and stayed until past sunset. Tonight, I took my last picture at 8:06.
Wednesday, April 17, 2024
We went out about 6:45 and I took my last picture at 8:01.
This particular night, it looked like the sunset would be very subdued and underwhelming. It started out that way, but we were in for a surprise.
People around us had already gone in because the sunset did not seem like it would be very colorful. After the sun sank below the horizon, the clouds turned various shades of cream to yellow to orange to red. Those colors were also reflected in the water below.
It was quite beautiful to see the slow unfolding of colors. The water to my left turned a gorgeous deep blue—a navy or midnight blue.
Thursday, April 18, 2024
That night was very cold and we could not see much because of the clouds. We talked to our neighbors who we found out were from the Bay area. They had been to Pismo Beach before, but not this hotel. We went out about 7:12 and I look my last picture at 7:53.
The sky was cloudy and the sunset slowly turned from a light blue into a deep, royal blue. The lights on the pier were reflected on the water below.
Friday, April 19, 2024
This was our fifth sunset. We went out about 6:57 and I took my last picture at 8:05.
We saw a pelican land on a concrete railing below. The pelican stayed for awhile and we watched, hoping to see him fly away.
Saturday, April 20, 2024
We went out about 7:20 and I took my last picture at 8:18.
Sunday, April 21, 2024
We went out about 7:18 and I took my last picture at 8:00.
Monday, April 22, 2024 (Earth Day)
This was our last sunset at Pismo Beach. We went out about 6:50 and I took my last picture at 7:45. It was Earth Day and someone had made a circular pattern of sand art on the beach.
We watched as the incoming waves gradually enveloped the artwork. It was cloudy and cold so I wrapped up in a beach towel. The colors in the sunset were subdued, but still lovely.
When your world moves too fast, and you lose yourself in the chaos,
introduce yourself to each color of the sunset.
— Christy Ann Martine (b.1972) Canadian poet and author
Watching the sunset
Watching the ocean
Watching the earth
Being observant
Experiencing a miracle
A miraculous, mystical experience
Made more spectacular with the ocean
Maybe it is
a miracle we experience every day
Watching the Horizon
Those eight days as we watched the horizon while the sun set, life felt particularly beautiful and precious. I had imagined before we went to Pismo Beach that as the sun set, I would think important, deep thoughts about life. Instead, as I watched the beauty and mystery of life unfold through the sunset, I realized that this is enough to ponder and to experience in the moment. THIS was the miraculous, mystical experience. And, the interesting thing is that we were not the only ones . . . everyone there treated this evening spectacle as special. Every day. Every time.
Sunsets are proof that no matter what happens, every day can end beautifully.
— Kristen Butler, author and the CEO of Power of Positivity
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