Pacifica

We lived in Pacifica for ten years and visited for a week. We left eight years ago and now found the city remains much the same: comfortable, alive, home.

Public spaces have continued to expand and improve, the more run-down housing is slowly being improved and more new upscale housing is available. The demographics are both similar and different: the average age is about the same (a good range from young to older, established) while the diversity is slowly increasing. Businesses are much the same with some nice additions, like a fish market a couple blocks from where we had been living. The Devil's Slide Tunnel bypass is open, as is the Devil's Slide Trail. Both are upgrades but I do miss the moments of white knuckle adrenalin from driving along the old Devil's Slide 800 foot plunge to the ocean (when we first moved to Pacifica, people regularly drove off the Slide to their deaths, sometimes with apparent intention, but stronger barriers stopped that around 2002).

We found our two favorite Japanese restaurants: the ageless Mitsu was unchanged and felt like coming home; Kamameshi House had moved, further hiding itself in the most unlikely of spots but was as good as ever and Cyndi finally got her long anticipated and desired Hawaiian roll.

The biggest change was the fog: it disappeared. While our one week of observation is too small a sample for a conclusion, locals confirm that the fog has decreased in the last several years. So for those of you in the Bay Area, your last excuse for not visiting or living in Pacifica is gone.

And the friends were the highlight of the visit. Great to see them and the hugs were big, warm and plentiful. As time goes on, the hugs get bigger and increasingly satisfying,

The only problem with the visit is that now we want to move back.

Pacifica, with the fishing pier and Pedro Point visible. It wasn't foggy but, as expected, it was cloudy most of the time.

From the same spot looking northward. The point of land ends in Mussel Rock and is where the San Andreas Fault plunges into the sea. The 1906 San Francisco earthquake epicenter was 2 miles to the left of this photo. Mt Tam in the distance.

Cyndi on the Sharp Park seawall. I have probably walked along this more than 5,000 times. This is approximately where the witch disappeared.

The crows gathered to greet us.

One of many reasons Cyndi loves Pacifica: Death Lillies.

We lived in the townhouses just to the south of the pier (middle of the photo). This was taken at dawn and you can see the missing fog. 

When we moved to Pacifica, there were four houses along here. We almost bought one. Beautiful view and a really cute little beach side cottage. But it fell into the ocean before we could make an offer. Our common sense might be limited but something is looking out for us.

Here is a rarity: affordable housing in the Bay Area. Great views, too.

Well, you get what you pay for. A coat of paint, a couple nails and you'll be good to go.

In fact, you may go further than you expected.

But I'm sure these rocks will prevent further erosion.
Of course, that is what the people with the house that fell into the ocean said, too.

Hwy 1 used to run along Devil's Slide before it was diverted to a tunnel a mile inland. This is now a pleasant talking trail.

I had to include another pic of Devil's Slide with traces of the old rail line. 

And I couldn't resist including a picture of rocks. Folded rocks on the north end of Devil's Slide. You can imagine that rocks this tortured will crumbled and therefore "Slide".

And I had to include another picture of pretty flowers.

And the last two inanimate objects: Cyndi and myself in front of our RV.