Quotes

In this place there are many geese, and for this reason the soldiers named it the plain of 'Los Ansares'.

Monterey Bay, about 70 miles south of San Francisco, and Half Moon Bay, somewhat nearer, were excellent for clandestine operations because of the many landing places, proximity of good roads, and relatively sparse population.

There is something in the atmosphere of Spanishtown that breeds a spirit of independence. The people believe in themselves.

Half Moon Bay artichokes are known from San Francisco to New York and have made the name of Halfmoon Bay famous.

Here indeed is a bit of Old Spain—a little village that might have been transported from the land of the Dons, when the Spanish nation was at the height of its colonizing era in the new world.

…has the air of age and ante-American times about it, commonly called Spanishtown.

Without these fishermen you don't get your salmon and sushi. It's all part of an interconnected system. You can buy the fish right off the boat.

…on summery days that aren’t too windy, you can actually put on a bathing suit and go near — but not in — the water.

San Mateo County had a reputation for being a very wet county.

Nova Scotia might grow the biggest pumpkins, but who can get to Nova Scotia?

This is the self-styled "Pumpkin Capital of the World," where the fall landscape resembles a Seurat canvas of orange dots, where pumpkin ale and pumpkin sausages are ordinary fare, and where gigantic gourds are enough to set the heart aflutter.

Come October, however, the town transforms into a Midwest pumpkin patch - on the pacific.

But Mavericks was meaner, it was definitely a lot colder and I think that made a big difference. It's dark and it's just mean.

On that winter day in 1975, I caught five waves. After the first successful attempt, all I could think was, “I want another one of those!”

Mavericks is known throughout the world as one of the biggest surfable waves on the planet.

With light southerly winds a heavy swell sets in, and it is exposed to the full sweep of the southeasters; sailing vessels should be ready to go to sea on the approach of bad weather.

It is forty-six miles South of San Francisco, and is of little importance as a harbor.

Spanish Town is quite a thriving little business place, located at the landing on this Bay.

…by all old residents the town is still called Spanishtown.

Here the waters seem particularly blue, and the sand of an extraordinary whiteness.

Although the days of prosperity and power of the Spanish-Mexican families have long since departed, some of the first settlers and numerous descendants still cling to the beautiful valley, where their herds of cattle and bands of horses once roamed at will, and where the rodeos and gala-days brought the festive caballeros from far and near.

It's just amazing. Everyone comes together, to put this effort in to make everything work, and it's just a great time.

You’d hear a lot of diesels running from everywhere in the harbor, coming and going and staying tied up, and pumping water on their crab. You can almost hear it from the next town over.

You've got to get off the interstate to get to Half Moon Bay but it's well worth the drive. There is something there for everyone.

When I was growing up, my grandfather considered calamari as fish bait. It's interesting how species change from ‘not so important' to ‘can't get enough.'

People know we’re here and sometimes come knocking as early as 6 or 7 a.m.

I almost look forward to getting stressed out again so I will have an excuse to return.

Half Moon Bay beckons with far more than challenging swells.

It’s where locals go to eat, shop and socialize.

…Main Street promises to reveal the very soul of San Mateo County’s first town, Half Moon Bay.

For thirteen years, Brussels sprouts took a backseat to booze during one of the juiciest chapters of Coastside history.

Growing up, I was always involved with the farm stuff.

The place looks gorgeous this year.

We’re kind of a simple pumpkin patch, growing our own pumpkins here on the ranch, but we do have a train track, jumpy house, pony rides, and petting zoo.

Their's was a little bigger.

Everybody looks forward to this. It helps other people know about Half Moon Bay.

You come to Half Moon Bay for the pumpkins - it's like a holiday season.

Half Moon Bay's handful of farmers have become the calendar for a seasonless metropolis.

a short-lived explosion of hell and spitfire

Women surfing big waves has not peaked yet, and it's just going to get better and better and better.

And then ... all of a sudden you're going 30 miles an hour heading into oblivion.

Surfing Mavericks the first time was quite a shock.

It’s to showcase the surfers. The best big wave surfers in Northern California. Once you move from that, you’re missing the point of the whole thing.

I was able to put that boat in places that many thought were impossible because I know Mavericks like the back of my hand.

When people run from the ocean is when I am interested in going in it.

Start small and work your way up in wave size in a very calculated way. Just remember that one man’s ceiling is another man’s floor.