Morro Bay by Moonlight

"The ocean stirs the heart, inspires the imagination and brings eternal joy to the soul." Arthur C. Clarke

By Elizabeth Billups

After driving with two adults and three kids for about 20 hours from Colorado to California via the scenic route, it was no wonder we were positively giddy upon reaching our RV resort on the shores of the Pacific in Morro Bay, Calif.

After a seemingly endless drive through a parched desert, our excitement heightened as we meandered through the lush, green hills on our approach to Morro Bay. (Again, we took the scenic route through vineyards and farms, and it was well worth it.)

It was dusk as we pulled into our campsite, and we barely unhooked the pop-up before all three kids started clambering for a view of the sea. As I was equally impatient, all five of us abandoned the setting up of our campsite and instead began walking towards the deep, dune-filled beach.

As soon as we reached the sand, quickly leaving shoes and socks behind, the kids began running up and down the sand dunes, searching their way to the sea. It was almost completely dark now, yet we raced after the kids, clawing our way up the sand dunes ... laughing, filled with glee, triumphant.

After the monotony of driving, reaching our destination felt blissful. And as the kids jumped joyfully in the sand and shallow waves, we sat and stared at the moon over the sea, awestruck by its beauty and thankful we were there to see it.

P.S. Enjoy this image taken in Morro Bay by Jamie Jones if you'd like to get an idea of the beauty on which we were gazing.