Day Two at Pacific Beach

By R.B. Moreno









Above: a Dungeness crab shell, a cloud of sandpipers, and a glass float found on Pacific Beach, Wash.

In a "tradition dating back to the early days of the automobile," according to the Long Beach Visitors Bureau, and for reasons that baffle this writer, Washington State law allows motor vehicles to transit Pacific and other public beaches during fall, winter, and spring months.

Under the law, until April 15, the shoreline is officially a state highway with a 25 mph speed limit. "Watch the tides!" and avoid "sugar sand," advises the Bureau. Still, motorists frequently test nature's patience. Below, a Kia Optimus braves the surf.