Jalama

Jalama Beach, about 40 miles north of Santa Barbara, turned out to be the last in our recent trio of camping trips up the coast (El Capitan and Reyes being the first two).  It may have been the most unique.  Camping right on the beach, between the dunes, beautiful sunsets, windy nights, breakfast steps from the surf. 

We had to make peace with sand eventually being everywhere (impossible to keep out with the winds).  Waking up the last day we all had the same thought “F*@% all this sand!” but by the time french toast and bacon was done, and the sun had crawled up the sky, sand didn’t seem like such a big deal at all.  Heck, let’s roll around in it!

Heavy winds were never too far away on the days we were there though,which made the kite surfers happy, but the regular surf was too messy, especially for a rookie like myself.  The winds also made for some sweet huddling in the tents at night as they were knocked around by 45mph gusts.  Knocked but still standing strong, which is more than I can say for two different parties at neighboring sites who wound up with destroyed tents and sleeping in their cars.  If you plan on doing any worthwhile amount of camping spend the extra money and get a good tent.  Sooner or later the weather will make you pay for it if you don’t.
Personally I love some bad weather while huddled in the tent.  There’s just something about it that resonates, like a kid building a fort and huddling in it, sheltered from the wind and rain, but not so removed from the elements that you aren’t very aware of them.  Again, only recommended if your tent is worth a damn.

Jalama, which means “cove of the blowing sand” in the Cahuilla dialect of the Shoshonean tribe, is just south of Vandenberg Airforce Base, a launch site for military satellites, and an area off limits to the public, save for the Amtrack Surfliner heading up and down the west coast (very cool coastal train trip by the way).

We didn’t see any launches, but it’s supposed to be an amazing site from Jalama when one goes off so I would’ve loved to have lucked out on that front.  Imagine sitting around the campfire at night when suddenly in the northern sky you see a rocket streak up and out of sight. (photo credit Lockett Photography).  Maybe next time….  What we did see was shooting star after shooting star in a cloudless sky.  Approaching midnight the winds grew colder and chased us into the tents where the sounds of them blowing mixed with the sound of the surf made the night unlike any other camping experience we’ve had.

All sites face the ocean, it’s first come first serve, $30/night, and well worth the trip.  Hot showers are available and the Jalama camp store happens to have a grill that serves the World Famous Jalama Burger – of which we were highly dubious until we got a mouthful.  It promptly shut any doubters up.  A must if you go.

Thanks to J&P for coming along and braving the winds, sands, and campfire sparks with us!

Dinner and the sound of waves at sunset

Not a bad seat

Jamala Kite Surfers

Note:  It’s Pronounced “Halama” and I actually have no idea what it means. :-p