Hanging by a Moment Here With You

"Giant Kelp Splashed by Incoming Tide, Cabrillo National Monument, California"



I took this photo after leaving the Tijuana Slough NWR, California, which I wrote about two posts ago. As I pulled into the parking lot for the Cabrillo NM, I was surprised to see the tide pool parking lot nearly filled. Having never been there before, I thought Cabrillo might be some obscure regional park but it turns out that Cabrillo is one of San Diego's biggest scenic tourist attractions. Who knew? I've been to San Diego many times in my life but hadn't heard of the national monument until Friday when I saw it on a map.

This photo was taken while approximately at -0.8 feet tide. There were no mussels on the beach from what I saw, but many anemones, barnacles, hermit crabs, and several large clumps of kelp. I saw this single strand of kelp on a rock near the tide line and liked how it resembled a rope knot. I took two pictures before a wave washed ashore at this moment as I was clicking the shutter. This was the last shot of the kelp I got as the kelp was swept away back into the Pacific Ocean. The photo captures a glimpse of a brief moment in time, but one that has repeated itself for millions of years throughout the history of the planet. The ocean gave us life all the while reclaiming life in the process.