While visiting Pismo Beach on the Central Coast of California recently, we observed a huge area of sand dunes in the distance and decided to try and explore this area. It proved to be the Rancho Guadalupe Dunes Preserve which covers 500 acres along the coast. There is one road into the Preserve, which is a mixture of green hills, estuaries and small lakes, and endless dunes. Conditions were not ideal, with high winds. blowing sand, and fog starting to encroach. Seeking a little shelter behind one of the massive dunes produced the opportunity for this image, showing a deceptively calm scene.