California Tour
The California Collection of Lamps is inspired by the area I grew up in. Paying homage to the heavy fog along the central coast, the colors of the eucalyptus groves, and the tenderness of the home. Here are a few specific places I’d like to share with you:
Montana De Oro:
View From the Dunes at Montana De Oro
I like the drive here. I can’t think of the exact sequence, but you drive through a small unassuming town, past a high school football field, you’ll see some marshy flatlands to your right. I can see the marsh now, it’s very wet and glistening and you can feel it’s squishiness just looking at it. It feels squishy and filled with little animals going about their daily activities.
You then drive up a windy road through a eucalyptus forest. There are cyclists and cars pulled over at different vista points. The ocean isn’t visible behind the large sand dunes, but the walk through them is quiet and serene. The sand moves like fabric under your feet. The ocean is intimidating, but some brave and handsome men are surfing in it. There are tide pools, things to pick up, stones to collect, and the colors along the coast are satisfying.
Montana De Oro State Park - Baywood Marshlands - Diablo Canyon Nuclear Facility - Coffee for the Drive
Morro Bay And Crills Salt Water Taffy
View of the Rock Driving into Morro Bay
From Montana de Oro you can see the giant rock at Morro Bay. It’s only about 15 miles north or so. Morro Bay is integrated with the ocean. The other towns along the highway sit comfortably along the coastline and observe, but Morro Bay seems to be woven into the water differently. Their high school has a surf team and I remember thinking that was about the coolest thing I’d heard when I was a kid. The seals and the sea otters mingle in the bay with the kayakers and scuba researchers. There are fishermen hanging out at the good bars. Some of tourist shops have been around for 70 years. Fish restaurants that haven’t changed in decades and a salt water taffy shop I’ve been going to since I was a child is still delicious.
Last time I was in Morro Bay I saw a group of about 15 sea otters resting together in the water. Some were holding hands so they didn’t float away. They remind me so much of my dog, who was with me, in a frenzy chasing the ground squirrels taunting him from under rocks.
Kayak Rental - Shell Shop - Crills Salt Water Taffy - Clam Chowder in Bread Bowl - Psychic - Bar
Hearst State Beach Eucalyptus Grove -
The Treacherous Walk Down into The Secluded Beach
Further north, maybe about 20 or 30 minutes, is the beach I visit the most. Growing up we’d have church bar-b-q's here and my grandpa would soak corn in the seawater before putting them over the fire. The water is calmer and children and families swim here, especially in the summer. The beach is small, and at the end is a small trail through a eucalyptus grove. The eucalyptus are fragrant and cool, and, for lack of a better word, magical. It is a fantasy walk. When I’m here I feel like I’m suspending my disbelief - from what? I don’t know.
At the end of the trail is a second hidden beach you can climb down into. There are tide pools here and holes the ocean has carved. The seclusion feels special; like truly you are special and perhaps even chosen by god himself to be at that beach, to feel this way, massaged by beauty and wonder.
Hearst State Beach - Hearst Castle
Templeton
Serene Ranch Vibe in Templeton
I grew up in Templeton, about 40 minutes inland from the coast. It’s a small town and growing up there it felt like the smallest town in California. The main street starts at the post office and ends at the high school. If you ditched school someone would drive along the main street, find you, and take you back to class. Recently it’s become a big part of a wine world I know almost nothing about. People come from all around to go wine tasting and ride bikes. I always thought that if my life bottomed out I’d end up just moving back home, but I don’t feel that way anymore.
It turns out I can’t actually articulate much about my hometown. I’m tounge-tied and stupefied. There are large oak trees and vineyards sprawling over hillsides. It looks a lot like Tuscany. When I was a kid, a lot of students at my school were in FFA or 4H. There was a ranch vibe which has morphed into a wine ranch vibe. I’m kinda mystified by Templeton, it’s beautiful and unassuming. For this collection I’ve had to think a lot about my home in terms of aesthetics, of feel, shape and intention. So… I’ve made a collection that is simple, well made, beautiful and unassuming. Details that provide a sense of place, an attachment, something specific and ineffable.
A good restaurant on main street - farmers market - Templeton Tennis Ranch - The winery next door