Carlsbad Art and Culture

Hello Summer 2009 part 5 of 11

Growing up somewhere other than Carlsbad is unimaginable. The canyon trails were our highways and the many groves were our jungle gyms. A drip castle on the beach with a stranger became an early friendship and we learned to swim in the ocean. Our mothers scrubbed ice plant stains from our shorts and adventurous lagoon explorations brought clumps of stinky mud home. Daring jumps off local bridges and barefoot strolls to 711 were long beach day intermissions and skateboarding was not a crime. From the hills of Calavera to the waves of the ocean, Carlsbad is the gift that keeps on giving!

The Chestnut Jumps roll through soft sand and dry Eucalyptus leaves pile along worn paths. Sun creeps through the dense canopy overhead and splatters the ground like a gestural Pollock painting. Houses overlook and cars speed on the encroaching Royal Road. These jumps and hips have been ridden by local kids and professional athletes for over a decade. The surrounding area has developed; houses have sprouted, but this rolling path has been unchanged. Void from trespassing fines and as free as an ocean dip, a Carlsbad Summertime day eventually rolls down Chestnut and up and over these ageless jumps… better hit them before it’s too late!

What local spots do you hope stay forever?

music by matt and jonny gose