Jet Lag and How to Beat It

I’ve got the facts on jet lag and how to beat it. We found this in Forbes Traveler magazine.

• First, here are some of the symptoms of jet lag. It’s everything from dehydration to interrupted sleep, irritability, disorientation, lack of motivation and memory loss! Despite what you may have heard, the length of the flight has nothing to do with jet lag. It’s all about how many time zones you cross. That’s what throws off your body’s circadian rhythm, or internal clock because your circadian rhythm is what controls the release of the hormones that let you know when to eat, sleep and wake up.
• Chris Colwell is a psychiatry professor at UCLA Medical School and he says that rapid travel between time zones is the biggest culprit for jet lag because your body can only adjust gradually, a little each day. Like if you fly from New York to Madrid, you’re going through six time zones and if you travel from North America to Asia, it can take a couple of weeks to adjust!The worst is traveling East. Eastward travel is more difficult because it compresses days into shorter time periods. Westward travel is much easier to adjust to. To put it simply, it’s easier for us to delay our clock than to speed it up.
• So what can help? Exercise. If you want to delay sleep once you land, exercise. It’ll take a couple hours for your body temperature to drop to a level that makes you feel sleepy. Or exercise right after you wake up at a normal time in your new time zone. The sunlight and adrenaline from exercise will help you feel more alert.
• The worst things you can do? Drink on the plane. Alcohol dehydrates the body and increases symptoms of jet lag. If it’s daylight when you land, don’t hole yourself up in a dark hotel room and watch TV. Your body and brain will shut down. Do that, and it could take an entire week to adjust going from LA to New York.
• Also, do what NASA astronauts do to prepare for missions. They adjust their sleep schedule ahead of time. So a few days before you take off, edge your meals and bedtime closer to that of your destination.

SEACLIFF BEACH

After almost 3 months of being jammed in home, I was desperate to go out this weekend.

On Sunday, I pestered Ravi to take me for a drive. Somewhere!! Someplace!!

I just didn't want to be at home...so restless!!

Finally, after our weekly shopping, we headed on hwy 1.

Actually Ravi planned to drive around the place where the wildfires were happening months ago.

But later as we drove , our plans changed when we saw several sogn boards of beaches.

We finally took the exit that had SEACLIFF BEACH. We didn't have any idea of what this beach had for us.

But after our arrival, the scene was so spectacular and the beach was just awesome place to enjoy with family and friends.

ABOUT THE BEACH

• This long stretch of sand and bluffs has great accessible facilities including picnic areas, an interpretive center, and RV camping.
•  This beach is known for its fishing pier and fossils of extinct marine creatures in the bluffs.
•  The beach is also a popular swimming spot.
•  One of the most unusual attractions in the Santa Cruz area rests at the end of the fishing pier. The USS Palo Alto, one of only three cement ships built during World War I, has been a popular attraction for visitors since it was put in place in 1929. The plan was to turn the ship and the pier into an amusement and fishing ship. The Cal-Nevada Company quickly constructed a dance floor on the main deck, a cafe in the superstructure of the ship, a 4-foot heated swimming pool and a series of carnival type concessions on the aft-deck. Unfortunately, the Cal-Nevada Company went bankrupt after only two seasons. The ship was then stripped, leaving the pier and the ship to be used only for fishing.

Directions
From Hwy 1 take the State Park Drive exit into the neighborhood of Aptos.

Camping

RV camping only
26 sites:-$44 premium, $39 inland. Full Hook-up (Incl. 1-Disabled)
Reservations: 800-444-7275

Climate/Clothing
The weather ranges from cool and foggy to hot and sunny. Layered clothing is recommended.

Amenities

Restrooms
Showers
Picnic areas
Food, lodging and supplies nearby

Educational Activities

Docent-led educational programs 
Family programs
Exhibits

General Info/Trails

More Camping Information

JUVENILES (those under 18 years of age) not camping with a parent or legal guardian must have WRITTEN permission to camp in the park. Permission letters must include the name of the park, the name of the juvenile, the dates they may stay and the name, address, phone number and signature of the person's parent or legal guardian. The parent must be reachable at all times during the juvenile's visit. Children 14 years of age and under may not camp without a parent present during the stay.

After little exploring the beach we headed home , keeping in mind to return to this elegant beach with friends and family and have a picnic for a day!!