Vol. MMVIIEditor: Lloyd JohnsonIssue:April

The Beach in General:

The first half of March was mostly cloudy and cold, while the second half was mostly warm and sunny, sometimes with periods of fog. The water temperature has risen from 59 to 63. There's plenty of sand on the beach. People have been numbering in the hundreds, even on weekdays.

Future Events:

The time of year when Black’s Beach Bares sponsors events is approaching. We will host picnics Memorial Day weekend, Independence Day, Labor Day and Sunday picnics July through September. They will all be contingent on good weather. We avoid scheduling events in June, due to June gloom.

May 5 / World Naked Gardening
May 27 / Sunday Picnic
May 28 / Memorial Day Picnic
July 1 / Sunday Picnic
July 4 / Independence Day Picnic
July 8 / Sunday Picnic
July 9-15 / Nude Recreation Week
July 15 / Sunday Picnic
July 22 / Sunday Picnic
July 26-29 / Western Naturist Gathering
Lupin Lodge
July 29 / Sunday Picnic
Aug 5 / Sunday Picnic
Aug 12 / Sunday Picnic
Aug 19 / Sunday Picnic
Aug 26 / Sunday Picnic
Sept 2 / Sunday Picnic
Sept 3 / Labor Day Picnic
Sept 9 / Sunday Picnic
Sept 16 / Sunday Picnic
Sept 23 / Sunday Picnic
Sept 30 / Sunday Picnic

World Naked Gardening Day:

This is a new idea from Seattle's Body Freedom Collaborative. The idea is simply to try gardening nude, indoor, outdoor, private or public, according to what your community will bear. You can plant, rake or pull weeds. If you will be at Black's that day, I suggest removing exotic (non-native) plants. One example I know of is the tumbleweeds. I know I would like to step on their thorns less often.

Spring Tide:

Spring tide is a condition of very high and very low tides in the same 24 hours. The highest tides typically occur at about 9am and 9pm. This month the evening high tides are higher. As a result, we get a wide beach during the busy day and it gets narrower late in the afternoon. Keep in mind that the tides a few days before and after are comparably high, but a little earlier. Don’t be caught off guard when it reaches your spot. Keys are very hard to find in the surf and towels are heavy when soaked by seawater.

moon / low / high
Apr / 2 / full / 0.2 / 5.5 9:35pm
Apr / 17 / new / -1.2 / 6.9 9:48pm
May / 2 / full / -0.4 / 6.0 9:36pm
May / 16 / new / -1.6 / 7.3 9:21pm

Trail and Cliffs:

The trail suffered some damage due to heavy traffic in early March. Black's Beach Diggers have made some improvements, but one rough area at the bottom remains.

Valentine Slide continues to be unstable. Big rocks continue to fall from high up, but never reach the beach. That may not be the case for the area north of Valentine Slide. Sitting too close to the cliff in that area might be risky.

Access and Parking:

The north lot will likely be closed a few times in April and May, for the glider runway. This forces people who use the north lot to share the south lots.

The parking lot is often locked promptly at 8pm. Newcomers should know how to get out if they find it locked before they leave. Left of that gate and a ways across the gravel lot is another exit. Look to the right.

The La Jolla Half Marathon is April 22nd this year. North Torrey Pines Road is part of the course, and access will be limited while runners are passing. Try to be patient, or try to time your arrival better.

The 13-mile race begins 7:30am at the Del Mar Fairgrounds and people finish at La Jolla Cove 1-4pm. They should be in the vicinity of Torrey Pines Scenic Drive, mile 9, starting about 10am until noon.

Tar on the Beach:

The currents sometimes wash tar up onto our beach this time of year. Some of us try to pick it up, but more keeps washing up. Watch your step and watch where you spread your towel. It’s very hard to get it off. To remove it, use any oil-based product. Some people carry baby oil, or suntan oil just for that purpose. Even lip balm will work in a pinch. Because some people pick it up, it’s less likely other people will step in it or ruin a towel. If you’re going to pick it up, consider using a kelp leaf.

Flies:

We are also in the time of year when the flies can become a bother. When there is a lot of seaweed and no wind, they don’t leave us alone. On those days you will find seaweed covered with flies that swarm every time anybody comes near. The remedy is to move the seaweed far from yourself, and out of the path of by passers. It’s also a good idea to use some kind of repellent.

Salk Expansion:

Exactly what their plan is seems to change often. The point is that they plan to expand. Their expansion will displace wildlife, including the endangered gnatcatcher. It will put more weight on the unstable cliffs. The expansion plan includes a parking structure, but there will be less parking and more traffic during construction.

I believe we should join environmental groups and oppose the expansion. That can be done by contacting Friends of Salk Canyon through friendsofsalkcanyon.com.

Avoiding Sunburn:

Now that the sun is on our side of the equator, days are longer and the sun is higher in the sky, making the rays more intense. Visitors to Black’s Beach often want to get that all over tan in the first day they are here. Often what they get is an all over sunburn.

If you get fried the first day, then you won't be able to return for another day. It would even make it difficult to enjoy the rest of your vacation, including indoor recreation.

Using sun block is a good idea, even if it's overcast. Ultraviolet light still gets through to give you a sunburn, even if you don't feel warm.

Subscriptions:

Newsletters from the bulletin board and website are free. Please consider making a donation, since there are expenses for printing newsletters and operating the website.

The trail is built entirely by volunteers. Materials are bought with donations, or paid out-of-pocket.

Subscriptions are $10/year. I ask a $2 donation for email subscriptions. You decide if the newsletter, the website or the trail have made your visit better, and donate accordingly.