Tag Archives: California Dreaming

Pirate’s Tower

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VICTORIA BEACH – LAGUNA, CA

Activity: Beach Stroll, Tide Pools, Tanning, Body Surfing, Skim Boarding, Sight Seeing

Laguna Beach has a treasure trove of beaches, a Treasure Island, sands of gold, and coves that are hidden gems around every point, so it should be no surprise that Laguna Beach has a Pirate’s Tower. This spectacle is found South of Main Beach and North of Treasure Island Beach.

Victoria Beach is a long sandy beach adorned with rocks, and cliffs. It’s not easy to find and parking is very limited, but it is a really nice beach. As far as public beaches go it is a little more private mainly because the parking is hard to come by.

What sets Victoria Beach apart from other great OC Beaches is ‘La Tour’, French for tower. This 60’ spire known by locals as Pirate’s Tower is almost camouflaged due to it matching so well the sandstone cliff it practically adjoins. What is the story behind Laguna’s Mysterious Tower? The house at the top of the cliff along with La Tour were built in 1926 for Senator William Brown. The house is known as Norman House and both the house and the tower are heavily French inspired. The Browns had spent time in France at the end of WW1 and had a love for all things French. The Tower is actually a means for them to get to the beach from their Norman House perched on the cliff above. Near the tower is a mysterious pool made of rock now filled with sand and at high tide, sea water.

Adding to the “shiver me timbers” pirate mystique Senator Brown sold his home and thus the tower in 1940 to an Old Sea Captain, Harold Kendrick. Captain Kendrick had a love for “a Pirate’s Life” yo ho! He would dress the part on occasion and tell tales of the Jolly Roger and swashbuckling scallywags sailing the seven seas to the neighborhood children. The Old Capt sometimes would hide coins among the rocks of the tower for the kiddies.

Loot be first and de wimmen second, if ye have de first ye’ll have de second, but if ye have de second ye won’t have de first fer long. – Old Pirate Proverb

Ahoy me hearties and much oblige for setting sail with me on this voyage to Pirate’s Tower. One thing I have learned ‘Pursuing Balance Through Adventure’ is that not all the treasure is silver and gold, the greatest bounty is natures. Also it’s the voyage not the destination. So follow me along to the next port for more adventure on the high seas by doing a few simple tasks: FOLLOW, COMMENT, LIKE and SHARE. If the high seas is not your cup of rum, then perhaps the High Sierra, the dry desert, or the canyon deep? It’s all in the Cap’n Log (Menu above). If you need a pirate hat like mine walk the plank to SHOP APPAREL.

Cast‘n off ye‘ scurvy dogs-

Roger Jenkins

Pursuing Balance Through Adventure

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Huntington Sunset

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Activity: Beach’ it, Beach/Pier Stroll, Sunset Views

January 6, 2020

Huntington Beach and it’s iconic pier are synonymous with Southern California. Even the Los Angeles News Channel shows the HB Pier for their weather report, and Huntington Beach is in Orange County

Huntington Beach is 10 miles of California Dream’n. It is not Beverly Hills on the beach like Newport Beach, it doesn’t have rocky outcropping and flowers like Laguna Beach, it’s doesn’t have the celebrities like Malibu, it doesn’t have the muscle like Venice Beach, nor a Ferris Wheel like Santa Monica- what it does have is big, beautiful broad beaches, that accommodate large crowds and that is exactly what it has for the US Open of Surfing, the Airshow of the Pacific, and the 4th of July Fireworks, along with numerous other events. It seems like there is always something happening at the Huntington Beach Pier.

When I moved to Huntington Beach back in the 80’s I lived right on the sand in the condos next to the pier. What a place for a young man to live. I was blown away to see the best surfers, skim boarders, and skaters I had ever seen. BMX bikers that could make their bikes dance. I thought to myself doesn’t anyone have a job here? In that respect nothing much has changed, it is still a celebration of life and of Beach.

Surf City USA defines the surf culture for the World. Each year the US Open of Surfing has beach goers, and surfing enthusiasts flocking to Huntington’s golden sands to cheer on the best surfers on the planet. HB hosts the biggest surfing event in the world and it’s standing room only during the week long event Finals.

The US Open of Surfing draws about half a million to this the ultimate celebration of beach culture, and it seems every fit dude is there showing off rock hard abs to a host of bodacious beach babes that can really rock a bikini. During the seven day beach party there is a circus like atmosphere that goes hand in hand with the surfing event. There is plenty of action behind the scenes, basically a surf fair on the other side of the grandstands with food, drawings and give always at booths put on by many of the manufacturers of the beach lifestyle, and fun in the sun activities. The best skate boarders, and BMX Bikers are showing off their moves with an arena just for them. There are big screens on the pier and in the surf fair with Live TV feed of the surfing.

At times the event has had the top motorcycle stunt jumpers, major recording acts giving free concerts, and bikini contests. The event had become so big in the mid 80’s that it was impossible to control and things got out of hand resulting in a riot. So at that point they scaled it back.

Besides the surfing there seems like there is always something going on at the pier such as Pro Volleyball, World Championship of Paint Ball, concerts, it is always something.

  • Daughter Marina enjoying the California Dream
  • US Open of Surfing photo via Uglyhedgehog
  • US Open of Surfing
Blue Angeles Airshow of the Pacific, photo via LAYC
Daughter Marina, “Pursuing Balance Through Adventure” Baseball Cap Ad
“It’s a wonderful metaphor, catching a wave, for how you can look at other challenges in your life.” – Jeff Bridges

Thanks for joining Marina and myself as we brought you another episode of Orange County Beaches and in particular my beloved Huntington Beach. Take a moment and COMMENT, LIKE, SHARE, and FOLLOW so you can enjoy more OC Beaches. While you are at it, checkout the menu above and join me for “Pursuing Balance Through Adventure“ and explore with me how to unleash that inner hiking, backpacking, and adventure beast in you as we at the same time explore our inner being through profound experiences in nature. Each PBTA location is a separate website and each will need to be FOLLOWED independently. If you like the baseball caps that Marina and I are wearing you can have you own “Pursuing Balance Through Adventure“ hat sent and go to SHOP APPAREL for all your adventure wear needs.