Fearless Travel

Coal Oil Point is located in Goleta, which is west of Santa Barbara. It’s called that because of the naturally-occurring gas an oil leaks. This results in some cool effects to the water as well as tar on the beach and occasionally a stinky surf. Animals have adapted over the eons and even the Chumash Indians who once lives here used the tar to caulk their boats. In the late 19th century, this point was used by whalers watching for their prey and now is home to a few, mostly non-operational oil platforms. Here are some pics:

Here’s a cool thing: Legendary “Doors” frontman Jim Morrison wrote “Crystal Ship” while laying on the beach at Coal Oil Point and looking out at platform Holly (he was also partaking of certain recreational pharmaceuticals at the time).

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