McClure Tunnel, Santa Monica: End of One World, Beginning of Another

image: Susan Haskell

I recently came across Los Angeles area artist Susan Haskell's painting of the McClure Tunnel.

Beautiful work that captures the awe of coming out of the tunnel at the end of the Santa Monica Freeway and out onto the Pacific Coast Highway.

There are many stunning views in Los Angeles, but in terms of views that can only be experienced while driving, the view at the end of the McClure Tunnel ranks at the very top.

image: McClure Tunnel Santa Monica (photos.wikimapia.org)

The Santa Monica Freeway, which starts 2500 miles (4000 km) away in Jacksonville, Florida - ends at the tunnel, which curves and opens up of the Pacific Ocean. The tunnel was actually built in 1935 and is only 400 feet long. The curve, keeping the ocean from view until you emerge from it, is what makes it so unique.

I remember the first time coming through the tunnel at age 7, when my family moved from Chicago to Los Angeles. Seeing the Pacific Ocean and the Santa Monica Mountains for the first time was stunning then. And it's still stunning.

Sort of. I would NEVER recommend trying to take a photo coming out of the tunnel while trying to navigate a dark curving tunnel with traffic - very dangerous. Google street view is the next best thing.

What was once one of the most stunning views in Los Angeles is marred by Cal Trans decision to place a work yard, complete with large metal storage bins, right at the mouth of the tunnel. Really? Los Angeles is a huge place. They couldn't find another place for this?

Here's an ariel shot. Gives a better idea of what seems like an incredibly stupid decision. Like other major cities Los Angeles faces a list of challenging problems. I'm sure "marring the view coming out of the McClure Tunnel" is not on the top of the list. On the other hand, it's the hundreds of little things like this that can make living anywhere delightful or loathsome. Kind of like graffiti or trash along the road.

image: Susan Haskell 

Susan Haskell obviously knows a beautiful subject when she sees it. Here's the same shot, only a sunset. And here's hoping that the Cal Trans storage yard will find another home. And this one small part of experiencing Los Angeles will be restored to how it was originally envisioned. 

© 2015 www.experiencingla.com

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Experiencing L.A. at Sunset & the PCH

Two years ago I was driving along the Pacific Coast Highway (PCH) just south of Gladstones Restaurant at Sunset Blvd in Pacific Palisades around 10am on a Friday morning.

What caught my attention was how how incredibly crowded the surf spot was. I'd never seen it so packed.


I pulled over and took a few pictures. Here's a wide angle shot - the rock outcropping to the right is where Gladstones Restaurant (corner of Sunset Blvd & PCH) is located. For people out of the area, this is all within the city limits of Los Angeles.


A winter storm elsewhere in the Pacific made for some ideal surf conditions here in Southern California.

Surfing is perhaps the only sport I can think of where those involved don't necessarily want others to join them (especially at "their" spot).


Everyone was crowded in this one spot because this is where the waves were really breaking. A couple hundred yards away, the water was literally empty. And, of course, with temperatures (water temperatures) in the 50's, everyone was wearing a full wetsuit.


I love this shot. One photo. Twelve guys up on three (or is it four?) different waves. Wow.

And how many guys are waiting for the next set? Over fifty. It was a Friday morning. Don't people have jobs? Oh yeah, forgot: this is L.A.

View Sunset & the PCH, Pacific Palisades in a larger map

Here's a map to this "not so secret" surf spot, located a quarter mile south of the intersection of Sunset Blvd. and the PCH (Pacific Coast Highway) in Pacific Palisades.

photo credit: Don Bartletti, Los Angeles Times

Meanwhile, a storm somewhere in the Pacific this week (January 2, 2012) made for some great surf. This is from Los Angeles Times photographer Don Bartletti, with a link here to a series of outstanding photographs from the most recent swells.

© 2012 www.experiencingla.com - originally posted 1/17/2010

Sunset, North of Sunset

Sunset over the Pacific Ocean, one mile north of Sunset Blvd.
Los Angeles, California. November 4, 2009

Last Fall, I had a chance to hear a professor at Cal State Northridge speak on Christian stewardship of the environment. He made some convincing arguments, including a statement I had never thought of before: the ability to see and enjoy the creation helps point individuals to the Creator.

The New Testament states that "since the creation of the world God's invisible qualities - his eternal power divine nature - have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that men are without excuse" (Romans 1:20).

Air pollution, water pollution, toxic waste, acid rain ... the list goes on. They affect not only the quality of human life, but also humanity's ability to see and recognize their Creator. The complexity and beauty of creation point to a Creator. The inability to see and enjoy God's creation makes it harder to recognize Him.

Los Angeles has both wonderful climate, beaches, the ocean, mountains, palm tree lined boulevards .... as well as a sprawling and sometimes gritty urban environment. I appreciate the work of men and women a generation ago to vastly improve the air quality here in Los Angeles (traffic has replaced "smog" as a major problem) and those who are currently working to improve the water quality of the Santa Monica Bay. Helping improve not only the quality of life, but the ability to see and enjoy the Creator's handiwork.

Including a sunset.

(originally posted 11/7/09) © 2010 www.experiencingla.com

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