alainaflute
Greg
Jody
E.G.D.Travel Theme: Glass
Posted by Jody on January 14, 2013
A visit to Glass Beach is on many a beachcomber’s bucket list. The “sand” here is mixed with rainbow colored eye-candy! Being that this stretch of Northern California’s rocky coastline was (once upon a time) a municipal trash dump, the shoreline is now a colorful mosaic of wave polished ceramic bits and sea tumbled glass.
“Old” Glass Beach Treasures
Many years ago, when Greg and I first visited Glass Beach, the evidence of the citizens of Fort Bragg, California, and the surrounding area dumping household garbage straight into the ocean was stunning. Old cars (and their parts), ceramics, housewares, appliances and glass poked out of the bluffs and littered the beach. By the early sixties, attempts were made to control what was dumped, and the dumping of toxic materials was prohibited. Finally in 1967 plans were begun for a new dump away from the ocean.
“New” Glass Beach Sand
Today, the old dump has been cleaned up and what you’ll now find is beautiful, sparkling, sea glass-speckled shoreline “sand.”
Would you like to know more about Glass Beach in Fort Bragg (Mendocino County), California? Here are a couple helpful links: Glass Beach: Where Trash Turns to Treasure, “Top Ten” Mile Coast Trail
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Also: Fort Bragg, California
Getting There: From Highway 1, turn west on Elm Street (Denny’s is on the corner) and drive a few blocks to Glass Beach Drive. Park at the intersection and walk down to the beach.
Wingclipped said
My kids would have a field day there – we’d have to pay excess baggage charges for the flight back home!
Jody said
Yep! Kids of all ages would have a hard time deciding what stays and what goes! Fort Bragg has a few “Glass Beaches.” On some, you can collect. On others, it’s a no-no.
Scott Marshall said
I have read about this beach – it may even have been your blog I wonder – quiet unbelievable though
Jody said
It’s quite different than it was in the old days!
Enchanted Seashells said
It’s now on my list to stop at and find treasures!
Jody said
That will be fun! There’s an awesome hike that runs along the coast just north of Fort Bragg, too! (Ten Mile Haul Road)
Enchanted Seashells said
showing this to hubs now. Now if he’d only be able to stay home long enough to go!
Jody said
I know what you mean!
nutsfortreasure said
OH how I wish this was what my beach looked like 🙂 minus the GARBAGE 🙂 I love making Sea Glass Jewelry and trinkets 🙂
Jody said
It’s really beautiful at sunrise! All sparkly and colorful.
nutsfortreasure said
I was drooling over your photo 🙂
The Retiring Sort said
Fascinating and beautiful!
Jody said
Thank you!
Rolling Harbour said
Lovely… any orange bits of glass?
Jody said
Not too many. Plenty of red from old tail lights and lots of white milk glass (tea cups, etc.), light green jade glass and blues from old glass bottles. The most fun was when you’d find some lettering on the sea glass and know that it came from an old Clorox bottle or such.
wildsherkin said
Oh to live closer to that beach! The children and I love to collect sea glass and make little things to dangle off light fittings in the cottage. I can’t really call them ornaments or jewellery – just sea glass, wire and a little creativity!
Jody said
Wow! We’d love to see those! Care to do a guest post?
wildsherkin said
That would be a great honour, thank you. I’m not sure the pieces are up to standard though! It may take me a while but I will email some pictures and you can decide. 🙂
Jody said
Please do! We’d love to have you share with us! You can take a look at our guest post tab if you’d like. Thanks so much!
adinparadise said
So very pretty, and some really fascinating pieces. 🙂
Jody said
Thank you. The little bits and pieces of pottery and ceramic are always such fun to find. I do wonder what they were and whose kitchen they may have come from. 🙂
Marianne said
Jody, this is STUNNING! It’s like stumbling upon a treasure of jewels, I would be collecting bags and bags too heavy to carry. That’s makes me sound awfully gluttonous, doesn’t it? But truly these are such beauties. And I think of all the lovely things that can be made with them.
Thank you for sharing this post. May you have a glorious 2013 – prosperous in every area of your life, and filled with joy abundant.
Blessings,
Marianne xo
Jody said
Marianne, thanks so much! Other fun things about Fort Bragg are the antique stores! What you’ll find there are old cups & saucers, dishes and platters of the same design found on the beaches in bits.
So, of course, we brought home a few of those, too! Makes for very heavy luggage! 🙂 Best wishes to you!
kiwiskan said
Sea-polished glass is so beautiful
Jody said
I agree! It’s so much fun to look at. I sometimes wonder if I’ll ever do anything creative with my bits and pieces.
kiwiskan said
Maybe not. But that doesn’t take away from the beauty
Jody said
Agreed!
ideflex said
Further up the coast on Vancouver Island there is very little sea glass to be found anymore, even the agates are hiding… this beach will be on my to-visit list!
Jody said
Wonderful! Thanks so much for stopping by!
lynnwyvill said
I’ve never heard of this beach, and it’s a good thing I don’t live close to it! I’d be there all the time.
Jody said
You bet! I feel the same way.
raastha said
Hey Jody,
After reading this article, it is yet another proof of the magic mother nature. God creation never go waste and every such waste is later proved useful and beautiful. This reminds me of cow dung. In India, from ancient days cowdung is dried on the walls of villages and used in household for cooking. The resulting ash is used for various purposes and considered sacred too. This sacred ash “viboothi” is used to heal migrane.
Across South India viboothi is distributed in small quantity for devotees to apply on their forehead similar to a bhindi.
Jody said
I love it. What a wonderful tale! Thank you so much for sharing!
Dana Caffrey said
I’ve always been a fan of sea glass jewelries. My sea glass collection were made into jewelries and I always get good compliments when I wear it.
Jody said
How wonderful! Maybe you could share some photos with us – Or, even write a guest post! We love to share! https://beachtreasuresandtreasurebeaches.com/submissions/