Picnic Walk at Carmel Meadows Shore

With a small tasty snack (sliced pineapple, cheese, chocolate) and some water, we went south to Carmel River State Beach to walk.  There is an unnamed trail on State Park land that you can access by car, or by bike if you ride down there.  Look for a little red schoolhouse called Bay School -- a Montessori school -- that serves as a landmark about two miles south of Rio Rd along Highway 1.  It lies just north of Monastery Beach along the coast.  It's a sharp right turn.  You don't slow down, you end up in the sandbox upside down at the school.  So, easy does it.  

Park along the little road, lock up your car, and start walking west through a simple opening in the fence you'll see there.  Says dogs must be on leash and no forest fires and no camping and no to a couple of other things, too.  But, it's good, free, very pretty.  The trail is impossible to miss and mostly flat.  Generally, I would say the area is called Carmel Meadows Trails, named after a housing area that flanks it on the east side. 

You walk along on the gently curving trail through stretches of local chaparral like coyote brush, wild radish, alyssum gone wild and fragrant as honey perfume, sage, and California poppies.  Almost immediately, you get big stunning panoramic views of Monastery Beach, the Hudson Ranch and Pt Lobos to the south and west.  And the ocean of course. 

The storm surf that has been so heavy lately is still pounding the shore, roaring and rumbling.  As we walked along the trail heading north along the bluffs to Carmel River State Beach, the surf was tremendously distracting and beautiful in the winter light.  The stretch of trail has been punctuated through the years by thoughtful placement of viewing benches that face west.  At sunset, I'm sure all the benches are occupied as besotted happy people gaze at the hammered gold and amber art painted across the sky. 

It's very pleasant to find a spot on the wild shore to stretch out a towel, set up some beach chairs and enjoy a picnic.  Most areas are secluded with easy access and eye-popping beauty in every direction.  Today when we were on our walk, we saw a few groups setting up spots for the afternoon, steadying chairs and spreading blankets, easing themselves down with happy sighs of delight.   

When we'd reached our destination -- the Carmel River outflow -- we sat on a few boulders below the bluffs and watched the confluence of the river and sea.  Some waves were monsters and washed way up the river, around our rocks.  I felt as though we could have been set loose on the current and carried out to sea to sail away.  It was a fine day, an invigorating walk and spectacular waves.  Got a few good pictures, too.