August 28, 2011: Black's Beach

I hiked down the Burro Trail, barefoot.  At the beach I hiked north just beyond Hully Gully, where I undressed.  I raised my flag and set up my bulletin board.  Then I set up my umbrella and arranged my camp for the day.

I went in the water a few times, but only to body board.  The waves were pretty good.  I saw a few surfers catching good rides.

There were a few people using the grill.  I shared some hamburgers.  I also saw sweet corn and hot dogs.

It was still sunny and hot when I left about 7pm.

August 21, 2011: Black's Beach

I hiked down the Burro Trail, barefoot and undressed at the trail head.  At the beach I hiked north just beyond Hully Gully.  I raised my flag and set up my bulletin board.  Then I set up my umbrella and arranged my camp for the day.

I swam to the reef twice.  I saw a few small crabs, dungeoness I think.

It was still sunny, but not so warm when I left about 5:30pm.

August 20, 2011: Black's Beach

I hiked down the Burro Trail, barefoot.  At the beach I hiked north just beyond Hully Gully and undressed there.  I raised my flag and set up my bulletin board.  Then I set up my umbrella and arranged my camp for the day.

I did one swim, to the sand dollars.  I was told dolphins swam past just after I came in, but I didn't see them.  I saw a seal in the surf later in the day.

A film crew from the Weather Channel came by for interviews.  We spoke earlier, so I was expecting them.  They interviewed me and three others for a program that will be called So Cal Lifeguards.

It was overcast and cool on shore, so I decided to leave early.  I packed and left about 5pm.

August 10, 2011: Black's Beach

I arranged my scuba gear into a backpack and hiked down the Burro Trail.  About half way down I spotted whale spouts, so I took of my pack and took a few video clips.  None of them came out.

At the beach I hiked north just beyond Hully Gully.  I set down my heavy pack, raised my flag and set up my bulletin board.  Then I set up my umbrella and assembled for my dive.

It was cold on shore.  I packed as fast as I could, and left about 5:30pm.  I saw whale spouts from the trail.

August 9, 2011: Black's Beach

I hiked down the Burro Trail, barefoot.  At the beach I undressed and hiked north just beyond Hully Gully.  raised my flag and set up my bulletin board.  Then I set up my umbrella and settled in.

I took a walk to Mussel Rocks and I went swimming once to the sand dollars.  I saw a lot of terns on the beach up north, and I spotted a small crab during my swim.

I dressed and left about 5pm.  It was cooling but still warm.

August 7, 2011: Black's Beach

I hiked down the Burro Trail, barefoot.  At the beach I undressed and set up my bulletin board, since I could see that Geoff had already raised his flag and had a bulletin board at our spot.  I turned right, north, and hiked just beyond Hully Gully.  I set up my umbrella and settled in.

People were cooking on the grill.  I made some hamburgers.  I also saw hot dogs and chicken.

There were a lot of volleyball games.  There were three games simultaneously.

I dressed and left about 6pm.  It was cooling but still warm.

July 31, 2011: Black's Beach

I hiked down the Burro Trail, barefoot.  At the beach I undressed, turned right, north, and hiked just beyond Hully Gully.  I set up my bulletin board and raised my flag.

People were cooking on the grill.  I made some hamburgers.  I also saw hot dogs, sweet corn, and chicken.

There were a lot of volleyball games.  There were three games simultaneously.

I dressed and left about 7pm.  It was cooling but still warm.

July 29, 2011: Black's Beach

I hiked down the Burro Trail, barefoot.  At the beach I undressed, set up my bulletin board, turned right, north, and hiked just beyond Valentine Slide.  I didn't raise my flag because I was only going to be there for a short time.

I went swimming once, to the reef.  My marker was gone, but the little foam cylinders I used to keep the line from dragging on the bottom were still there.

I dressed and left about 1:30pm.  It was still overcast.

July 24, 2011: Black's Beach

I hiked down the Burro Trail, barefoot.  At the beach I undressed, set up my bulletin board, turned right, north, and hiked just beyond Hully Gully.  I didn't raise my flag because Geoff had already raised his.

I set up an umbrella but never used it for shade.  I inflated a chair and made myself comfortable in the limited sunshine.

The grill was used often.  I shared hamburgers and sweet corn.  Others cooked shish kabobs, hot dogs, a vegetable medley, and chicken.

The volleyball courts were active today.  I saw three games being played simultaneously.

I saw, and avoided, sting rays in the surf today.  A few people didn't see them, and got stung.

I went swimming twice, both times to the reef, once with buddies.  I towed a marker, a pink bottle.  I found the northeast corner of the reef.  I could actually see it from the surface, but no details.  I swam down, found the lobster trap I was looking for and attached my marker.  It was still there when I did my second swim.

I dressed and left about 6:30pm.  It was still warm.  I stopped on the trail to watch whale spouts.

July 23, 2011: Black's Beach

I hiked down the Burro Trail, barefoot.  At the beach I undressed, turned right, north, and hiked just beyond Hully Gully.  I raised my flag and set up my bulletin board there.

I set up an umbrella but never used it for shade.

I went swimming five times, twice to the reef and three times to sand dollars, with buddies.

I dressed and left about 5:30pm.  It was still warm.

July 22, 2011: Black's Beach

I hiked down the Burro Trail, barefoot.  At the beach I undressed, turned right, north, and hiked just beyond Hully Gully.  I raised my flag and set up my bulletin board there.

I set up an umbrella but never used it for shade.  I fell asleep under the overcast sky.

I went swimming twice, both times to the reef, once with a buddy.

I dressed and left about 5:30pm.  It was still warm.

July 17, 2011: Black's Beach

I hiked down the Burro Trail, barefoot.  At the beach I undressed, turned right, north, and hiked just beyond Hully Gully.  I raised my flag and set up my bulletin board there.

I set up an umbrella but never used it for shade.  I fell asleep under the overcast sky.

I started the grill about 1pm and passed out a few hamburgers.

I went swimming twice, once to the reef and once to the sand dollars, with three buddies.

I dressed and left about 7pm.  It was still warm.  People were still playing volleyball.

July 16, 2011: Black's Beach

I hiked down the Burro Trail with all my scuba gear.  At the beach I undressed, turned right, north, and hiked just beyond Hully Gully.  I raised my flag and set up my bulletin board there.

I set up an umbrella and sat in the shade much of the day.

I assembled my scuba gear and started walking north about 1:15, telling my friends I would be back about 3:15.  I walked into the surf around Valentine Slide and started my surface swim.  At 2:02 I was at the reef, so I started the dive.  I saw all the usual wildlife, and a large halibut.  I found what was left of my marker, just the line laying on the bottom.  I recovered it for later use.  I was low on air, so I left the reef, swimming east along the bottom.  Later I started my ascent.  I continued swimming east while doing my safety stop.  I surfaced to find I was already much of the way to shore.  I finally came to shore, walked south to my stuff, and found it was 3:15, right on schedule.

I dressed and left about 6pm.  It was still warm for my struggle up the trail with all that gear.

July 15, 2011: Black's Beach

I hiked down the Burro Trail, barefoot.  At the beach I undressed, turned right, north, and hiked just beyond Hully Gully.  I raised my flag and set up my bulletin board there.

I set up an umbrella and sat in the shade much of the day.

There was a boat at the reef with a dive flag.  I swam out to see if it was anyone I knew.  They were gone before I could get there.  I went swimming twice, both times to the reef.  Both times I did a few dives to the reef.

I dressed and left about 7pm.  It was still warm.  I watched sunset from the cliff above.  The sunset faded to a pale green.

July 1, 2, 3, 4, 8, 9, 10, 2011: Black's Beach

I was in the process of changing domain hosts, so timely updates were not possible.  I've lost track of details, but I do recall generally how the days were.

I hiked down the Burro Trail, barefoot each time, but the sand was so hot I needed sandals on the beach.  There was on street parking left on weekdays and plenty on weekends.

At the beach I undressed, turned right, north, and hiked just beyond Hully Gully.  I raised my flag and set up my bulletin board there.

I set up an umbrella.  I used it for shade and to hang my food and other stuff.

I know of at least one person who was stung by a ray each day.  I saw a ray in knee deep water once, and avoided stepping on it.

Sunday the tide came up so high that I had to move to higher ground.  I still got wet when a big wave came in.

I dressed and left about 5pm each day.  It was still warm.

June 26, 2011: Black's Beach

I hiked down the Burro Trail, barefoot.  At the beach I undressed, turned right, north, and hiked just beyond Hully Gully.  I raised my flag and set up my bulletin board there.

I set up an umbrella.  I used it for shade and to hang my food and other stuff.

People were getting stung by rays in the surf.  Lifeguards were distributing buckets with hot water.  I know of six people in my immediate area who were stung.  I'm sure there were more further away.

I went swimming twice, both times to the reef, once with three buddies.  Each time I did two dives to the reef.

I dressed and left about 6pm.  It was still warm.

June 25, 2011: Black's Beach

I hiked down the Burro Trail, barefoot.  At the beach I undressed, turned right, north, and hiked just beyond Hully Gully.  I raised my flag and set up my bulletin board there.

I set up an umbrella, but only used it to hang my food and other stuff.  There was no need for shade.

I made one attempt to go swimming, but got stung by a ray on the way through the surf.  I aborted the swim and went straight for the hot sand.  It's never hot enough.  After about an hour the excruciating pain was finally subsiding.  I was able to walk around, so long as I made a quick return to the hot sand.

Later I played some volleyball.  I just needed to be walking around and distracted from the pain.

I left about 5:30pm.  It was still warm.

June 24, 2011: Black's Beach

I hiked down the Burro Trail, barefoot.  At the beach I undressed, turned right, north, and hiked just beyond Hully Gully.  I raised my flag and set up my bulletin board there.

I set up an umbrella, but only used it to hang my food and other stuff.  There was no need for shade.

I went swimming once, to the reef, with a buddy.  My marker buoy was gone.  I did two dives to the reef, finding plenty of life.

I had to leave early, 2pm.  It was still warm.

June 15, 2011: Black's Beach

The day looked hopelessly cool and cloudy.  I decided to just do a dive and hike out.  I didn't take my flag or bulletin board.  I hiked down the Burro Trail, with all my scuba gear.  At the beach I turned right, north, and hiked just beyond Hully Gully.  I undressed there and started assembling my gear.

I started my dive about 12pm.  I hiked north about a quarter of a mile, to get closer to the reef.  I swam out through the surf.  Lifeguards were passing in a boat, so I signaled that I was ok and they continued their patrol.  I found my marker where I expected it and went under just south of the marker.

Visibility was very good, and the water temperature was 61 at the reef.  I explored the reef, finding the usual life, an eel deep in a hole, and a sheep crab picking the meat off a skeleton.  I was down for 51 minutes with a maximum depth 47 feet.  I did find my marker, still attached to the lobster trap.  I was down to 1000psi, so it was time to surface.  I completed my safety stop swimming east.  I was back on shore 4 minutes ahead of schedule.

I cleaned up as much as I could on a sandy beach.  I quickly packed my stuff and hiked out about 3pm.

June 14, 2011: Black's Beach

I hiked down the Burro Trail, barefoot.  At the beach I undressed, turned right, north, and hiked just beyond Hully Gully.  I raised my flag and set up my bulletin board there.

I set up an umbrella, but only used it to hang my food and other stuff.  There was no need for shade.

I went swimming twice, once to the sand dollars and once to the reef.  I did two dives to the reef, finding plenty of life.  During my swim back a lifeguard approached on a Jetski.  I signaled that I was ok.  We talked a little bit and I finished my swim back to shore.

The sun never came out.  I eventually packed my stuff and hiked out about 4:30pm.

June 10, 2011: Black's Beach

I hiked down the Burro Trail, with all my scuba gear.  At the beach I turned right, north, and hiked just beyond Hully Gully.  I undressed there, raised my flag, and set up my bulletin board.

I set up an umbrella, but only used it to hang my food and other stuff.  There was no need for shade.

I went for a swim to the sand dollars.  That was to test the water temperature, waves and current.  I measured a water temperature of 59, had no trouble with the surf and found no current.

I started my dive about 12:30.  I hiked north about a quarter of a mile, to get closer to the reef.  I swam out through the surf, dragging my marker buoy, a one gallon bottle covered with bright yellow fabric.  I went under just east of the reef and swam west until I came to the reef.  I turned right and swam north, looking for a suitable object for attaching my marker.  I found an abandoned lobster trap at the northeast corner of the reef and attached it there.

Visibility was very poor, and the water temperature was 52.  It's a good thing I wore my 7mm suit and hood.  There was no point in trying to take pictures, unless my subject was very close.  I explored the reef, but found nothing spectacular.  I was down for 43 minutes with a maximum depth 47 feet.  I tried to find my marker, but missed it somehow, finding other lobster traps.  I was down to 1000psi, so it was time to surface.  I completed my safety stop swimming east.  Looking back, I could barely see my marker.  I was back on shore 4 minutes ahead of schedule.

I cleaned up as much as I could on a sandy beach.  I eventually packed my stuff and hiked out about 5:30pm.  The sun barely came out for 2 or 3 minutes the whole day.

June 5, 2011: Black's Beach

I hiked down the Burro Trail, barefoot.  On my way down I could see some red tide.  I could see that Geoff was already flying the flag and had a bulletin board up, so I set up mine at the trailhead.  I undressed there and headed north to Hully Gully.  I set up an umbrella, but only used it to hang my food and other stuff.

I went in the water three times.  The surf was big a messy, so it was difficult to get through it, and murky.  I did some body surfing instead.  The waves were pretty good.  I caught a few good rides.  I also saw a seal swim past while I was in the water.

It was still warm when I left about 6pm.

June 2, 2011: Black's Beach

I hiked down the Burro Trail, barefoot.  I headed north and stopped just beyond Hully Gully.  I set up my bulletin board there, and raised my flag.  I set up an umbrella, but only used it to hang my food and other stuff.

I went in the water three times.  The surf was big a messy, so it was difficult to get through it, and murky.  I did some body surfing instead.  The waves were pretty good.  I caught a few good rides.

It was still warm when I left about 4pm.

May 29, 2011: Black's Beach

I hiked down the Burro Trail, barefoot.  I headed north and stopped just beyond Hully Gully.  I set up my bulletin board there, and raised my flag.

I went in the water three times, once attempting to get through the surf with a buddy, once for some body boarding, and once out past the surf with some body surfing on the way back.

We set up the grill and shared some food.  I roasted some sweet corn.  Others shared hot dogs and chicken.

It was still warm when I left about 5pm.

May 28, 2011: Black's Beach

I hiked down the Burro Trail, with all my scuba gear.  I headed north and stopped just beyond Hully Gully.  I set up my bulletin board there, and raised my flag.

I made three attempts to swim to the reef and dive, but I couldn't get through the surf.  Each time I was carried south by a strong current, only to find I wasn't making any westward progress.  I'm sure I was quite a spectacle with all my scuba gear.

I finally left the beach, defeated, at about 5pm.  It was a sad and difficult hike up the trail with all my heavy gear.

May 20, 2011: Black's Beach

I hiked down the Burro Trail, with all my scuba gear.  I headed north and stopped just beyond Hully Gully.  I set up my bulletin board there, and raised my flag.

I advised lifeguards I was doing to dive the reef.  They tried to tell me not to try it.  I started the dive a half hour later than planned, 12:30.  The lifeguards were passing as I made my attempt.  It was a struggle getting through the surf.  I put my regulator in my mouth and went under the waves.  I kept trying to follow my compass west, but I kept getting turned around under the surf.  I finally surface and fought my was through the surf.  The lifeguards were still watching me as I drifted north.

I finally got through the surf, very out of breath.  I swam out to the right distance and sent down.  I went down twice without finding the reef, then I realized I had my markers backwards.  I swam north to the right spot and found the reef.  I did a thirty minute dive and headed back to shore.  As I left the reef behind there were dolphins at the surface.  I returned to shore five minutes ahead of schedule.

It was still warm when I left about 5pm.

May 19, 2011: Black's Beach

I hiked down the Burro Trail, barefoot, and undressed at the bottom.  I headed north and stopped just beyond Hully Gully.  I set up my bulletin board there, and raised my flag.

I went swimming once, to the sand dollars.  I saw dolphins but didn't get any good pictures.

It was still warm when I left about 5pm.

May 5, 2011: Black's Beach

I hiked down the Burro Trail, barefoot, and headed north.  I stopped just beyond Hully Gully.  I undressed, set up my bulletin board there, and raised my flag.

I went swimming twice, both times to the sand dollars.  I saw a big sea lion, while I was walking on shore.

I called in a cliff rescue.  Two people were stuck twenty feet from the top.  The lifeguards arrived in their truck.  Others took up positions up top.  News helicopters were circling.  The rescue was still in progress when I left.

I had a sudden change of plans and had to leave quickly.  It was still warm when I left about 4pm.

May 2, 2011: Black's Beach

I hiked down the Burro Trail, barefoot, and headed north.  I stopped just beyond Hully Gully.  I undressed, set up my bulletin board there, and raised my flag.  I sat up against the cliff for a while in an attempt to get out of the wind and the sand blasting.

I went swimming twice.  I saw dolphins pass twice, but I was on shore at the time.

I moved back out onto the sand hoping the wind had died down.  It hadn't.  The wind kept depositing sand on my sheet.  Some of my friends tried setting up a windbreak, but the sand kept getting around it.

It was still warm and windy when I left about 5pm.

April 30, 2011: Black's Beach

I hiked down the Burro Trail, barefoot, and headed north.  I stopped just beyond Hully Gully.  I undressed, set up my bulletin board there, and raised my flag.

I went swimming four times.  I saw dolphins during two swims, and I got a short video of dolphins surfing.  I also did a little body surfing.

It was still warm when I left about 6pm.  Black's Beach Diggers were hard at work 

April 27, 2011: Black's Beach

I hiked down the Burro Trail, barefoot, and headed north.  I stopped just beyond Hully Gully.  I undressed, set up my bulletin board there, and raised my flag.

I went swimming twice.  A seal surfaced near me, about five feet away, but it ducked under when I raised my camera.

It was still warm when I left about 6pm.  Black's Beach Diggers were hard at work 

April 15, 2011: Black's Beach

I hiked down the Burro Trail, barefoot, and headed north.  I stopped just beyond Hully Gully.  I undressed, set up my bulletin board there, and raised my flag.

I went swimming three times.  There were some birds out in the water that I didn't recognize.  They looked like coots until I got closer, but then I could tell they were something else.  A seal swam past me, but I was too slow with my camera.

It was still warm when I left about 6pm.

April 14, 2011: Black's Beach

I hiked down the Burro Trail, barefoot, and headed north.  I stopped just beyond Hully Gully.  I undressed, set up my bulletin board there, and raised my flag.

I went swimming three times.  There were some birds out in the water that I didn't recognize.  They looked like coots until I got closer, but then I could tell they were something else.

The wind was getting too cool, so I left about 5pm.

March 9, 2011: Black's Beach

I hiked down the Burro Trail, barefoot, and headed north.  I stopped just beyond Hully Gully.  I undressed, set up my bulletin board there, and raised my flag.

I didn't do much, just laid in the sun and got in the water three times.  The dolphins were breaching a lot.  They swam by while I was in the water, but didn't get very close.

It was still warm when I left about 5pm.

March 5, 2011: Black's Beach

I hiked down the Burro Trail, barefoot, and headed north.  I stopped just beyond Hully Gully.  I undressed, set up my bulletin board there, and raised my flag.

I didn't do much, just laid in the sun and got in the water three times.  The dolphins were breaching a lot.  They swam by while I was in the water, but didn't get very close.

It was still warm when I left about 4pm.

February 12, 2011: Black's Beach

I hiked down the Burro Trail, barefoot, and headed north.  I stopped just beyond Hully Gully.  I undressed, set up my bulletin board there, and raised my flag.

I didn't do much, just laid in the sun and got in the water twice.  The dolphins were breaching a lot.  They swam by while I was in the water, but didn't get very close.

It was still warm when I left about 4:30pm.

February 11, 2011: Black's Beach

I hiked down the Burro Trail, barefoot, and headed north.  I stopped just beyond Hully Gully.  I undressed, set up my bulletin board there, and raised my flag.

I didn't do much, just laid in the sun and got in the water once.  The dolphins were breaching a lot.  They swam by while I was in the water, but didn't get very close.

It was getting cold and I left about 3:30pm.

January 14, 2011: Black's Beach

I hiked down the Burro Trail, barefoot, and headed north.  I stopped just beyond Hully Gully.  I undressed, set up my bulletin board there, and raised my flag.

I didn't do much, just laid in the sun and got in the water once.

It was getting cold and I left about 4pm.