Palos Verdes Hike (shipwreck trail... minus the shipwreck and the trail)

The Shipwreck trail! When I read about this hike I had this fanciful romantic notion of hiking a trail built into the side of the cliffs, danger at every turn, opening up to a secluded beach where we would find a perfectly preserved Spanish galleon, ripe for exploring and who knows, maybe even find some long lost treasure? Ok, maybe I wasn't that delusional.  But I at least expected there to be a ship....and at the very least, a trail!

 

Spoiler alert! We didn't make it to the "ship" and there was no "trail".  Still I don't mean to be a bummer.  I am thankful I got out for a hike at all considering Dallas Rains (local tool of a weatherman), was predicting rain all day.  In fact, as you can see, it was a perfect day.  The initial scenery was gorgeous and for those of you who haven't spent much time in the Palos Verdes area, I highly recommend you check it out.

My friends Nathan, Rachael, Laura and Joey started hiking along a rocky beach, thinking we would eventually come to the trail.  Bend after Bend, no trail appeared.  But it was still an enjoyable treck over the large pebbles....for a while.   One of my favorite aspects was the sound of the waves pulling the loose pebbles down the beach.  It made a very soothing rumbling, like a rain-stick or something.  There were also many interesting shells like this one Nathan found.

We walked and walked, the pebbles wearing us down.  Finally, most of the group couldn't take it anymore.  Nathan and I went ahead to try and glimpse some sign of this supposed shipwreck.  After 15 minutes we asked some people passing by about the shipwreck.  They said it was still quite a ways ahead and had collapsed on itself, making exploration impossible.  We walked back to the group a little discouraged.  But we relished in the fact that we got outside, discovered some beautiful shore line, and worked up an appetite.  Next time we are parking closer to the shipwreck.