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This image was created during a major storm -- six inches of rain had fallen in the preceding 24 hours, and the coastal highway was officially closed. But we noticed that the locals were ignoring the signs and driving through anyway, so we did too. There were a lot of rocks on the road, and mud flows were actually moving down over the pavement, but we got through with no problem. Though equipped for camping, we decided to spend the night in comfort, and checked into the Ragged Point Inn. The next morning we hiked down a steep trail to the bottom of the 300 foot cliffs, for a vew of Blackswift Falls.

The humidity was 100 percent, the temperature over 60 degrees — it felt more like the mountains of Hawaii than Northern California. Mist was rising from the water, the cliffs, and the stream, and big waves were booming on the beach just below. Because of the road closure, and the weather, there was hardly anyone about.

Under normal conditions Blackswift Falls is just a trickle.

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Next: San Carpoforo Creek