It was 90 degrees and perfect day for the beach. Its been a long week with Torrey Conference, having some very powerful and emotional messages on suffering. After 8 sessions, a much needed mental and psychical break was needed. I needed to get away from lots and really clear my head and enjoy myself. I needed one of those days that come unexpectedly where you just get that chance to step away from everything, hang with your closest friends, and relax. Today was that day.
The beach is probably one of the greatest places to go. I usually go to the public beaches as in Huntington or Newport, but today I was able to go to the wonderful beach 1000 Steps, which is in the beautiful Laguna Beach/Hills area. A beach I have never been too, which I was excited to see. The name is kind of deceiving, since there is no way I would be walking down 1000 freakin' steps to go to the beach, when we can just drive back down the road, walk across a street and be in the sand. After pondering about the "1000 steps" me and 5 of boys piled in the car, and one in the trunk, and drove.
It was a tough place to find because there was just a small entrance to the beach which happened to be a stair case...I looked down the stair case and thought, good God. There sure wasn't 1000 steps down but it seemed like it, 224 steps to be exact and yes we counted.
We walked down the stairs and finally arrived on this beach that was tucked away in a cove.
It felt liked we owned the beach. It felt like we owned this part of the ocean. We made it our private beach, with beautiful houses placed on top of the cliffs around us, ones that we all dream to own one day but for now can only admire. The water was clearer then the beaches I've been to before, there wasn't a cloud in the sky, the sun was right above the ocean reflecting rays off, and the sound was so peaceful with just the waves crashing on shore.
Set up our spot quickly so we can jump into the salty water. The waves were perfect, just crashing off shore and prefect for skim boarding and body surfing. Having really no experience with a skim board I stick to my most extreme sport of body surfing. I go hard in this sport. We were all hitting waves left and right, then the waves got bigger. We were getting flipped, tumbled, and just strait getting our butts whooped by these waves, but it was so much fun. The shorts I was wearing were not the tightest on me and accidently got ripped off once, good thing I have the reflexes of a mongoose and was able to snatch them before they floated off into the deep blue sea.
After tearing up the waves, or better off getting tore up by the waves, there was a huge cave at the end of the cove. All being high classified explorers we were off to the cave.
Now I hate being in the water and have things wrap around my feet or knowing something could swim by me that I don't approve of. I also hate experiencing sea life unexpectedly. Aaron also has these same fears. This cave brought both things to us.
We walked on some sketchy rough rocks for a little and finally got to the mouth of the cave. Our lead eagle scout was Travis. He doesn't mess around and just goes for it. Things got interesting trying to get into the water which we had to do before entering the cave. Eagle Scout Travis scouted the landing zone in the 5 ft deep rock filled water and his jump was successful not hitting any rocks. Next was me. I figured there are rocks around me, a sketchy small area where I would have to land in order to not get raped by a rocks, and I needed a better idea. Then it hit me...Bellyflop. If I belly flopped I would be on top of the water being able to just stay above everything and putting me feet safely on the sand beneath me. I jumped and my planned worked.
Eagle Scout and I were first in the cave and others were right behind us. Aaron is right behind me and we are both tripping pretty hard cause we could only imagine the weird things in this cave. Of course the first rock I step up on and put my hand on there was a terrifying crab, followed by the rest of its family of 100. I screamed out CRAB like a little girl and Aaron about hopped out of the water, screaming WHERE?! WHERE IS IT?! They were those terrifying crabs... you know... big pinchers... dangling out eyes... probably could rip a finger off...
We all laughed so hard. From then on whenever we saw a crab we yelled out CRAB and of course Aaron and I would scream and flip out. Not that we were even scared anymore, but just the fact we all laughed every time. I dont think any of us stopped laughing the entire time through the cave just because we were like little kids who got to explore the world around them and we were all so anxious to see what's next.
We made our way through this cave and came out on the other side to climb up some more rocks that lead to a hidden salt water pool with an abandoned house above it tucked in the hill. The waves would crash up on the rocks and fill the pool more and I was just so relaxing, so peaceful, so cool. 
We then climbed up the surround rocks around us and were able to just sit and look out into the ocean. I was able to spend a good 10 minutes by myself and just relax, think about things, and just really admire the beauty. It was that 10 minutes by myself up on this hill with the ocean around me, waves crashing, and sun on my face that I enjoyed so much. I just was able to really put things into perspective since a lot is going on in life and I was finally able to relax and breathe.
Aaron then joined me and we sat on top of a littler hill, and the other three walked over to the bigger hill. Aaron and I had a small brother to brother conversation about women and life. Typical guy talk I know, but it was very chill and just reminded me of how blessed I am to have met some of the greatest people down here and some of the greatest friends which is our tight group of guys.
The three others found a another smaller cove on the other side of the rocks which was throwing up some huge waves. We walked over there... passing the no trespassing sign with no reaction cause we are "Bad Asses" and we all joined together up there and just sat up above the ocean and looked over this massive body of water that seemed to never end. We probably sat there for a good 20 minutes and had one of those quiet bonding times that you never know is happening, but does. We eventually all walked back and started to leave. One things though, those 224 steps we came down, we also had to climb up. Talk about a work out and a half, which my legs are still burning from, to end our day.
This day was just a great day. I figured Id write about it because I love to share great days like this. Nothing better then a relaxing, sunny, chill, hilarious day with close friends. Its days like this that I live for.
