Go West! Point Lobos

Since we were in the area of the Central California coast, it was agreed that all would spend the morning and afternoon at Point Lobos Natural Preserve, just south of Carmel.  I have to say, this is one of my favored locations for beauty and serenity.  As one poet has observed, the "cypress trees are ghosts fleeing the wind".  The rocks are fractured granite with large feldspar phenocrysts, sculpted by the chisel of the pounding surf, or marvelous conglomerates of sand and cobbles of amazing colors.  Some photos to highlight what I am attempting to write, thus saving approximately 1,000 words for every picture I post.

Our large post-wedding party of 10 hiked some of the trails on the north end of the preserve.  China Cove, my favored spot, an intimate little notch of sugary white sands and turquoise waters wedged between cliffs draped in exotic succulent plants interspersed with orange, yellow and purple flowers was now inaccessible, as it had become a seal rookery.  The seals moved into the cove after the wooden stairs that allowed humans to descend the cliff to the beach were washed out by a storm.  And since the repairs did not come quickly, the seals quickly filled the void, and now, exercising their marine mammal privileges, people are kept out of China Cove and the seals have it all to their lonesome.

The marine air and light fog started us out pleasantly cool, but soon we had to peel off the sweat shirts as the day warmed.

The Sunesons
(sorry to say Grant did not make the trip to California from Missouri)

While all the others had to leave to catch a plane or attend to other obligations, we three Sunesons stayed around another adventure at Point Lobos.  From Whaler's Cove, I wanted to walk to "The Pit", a rocky, circular cove.  We hung around in the late afternoon haze to explore this surf below the stone cliff enclosure.

Trail to the Pit along sea cliff's brim

Sleeping seals 

Spanish Moss on the forest trail to The Pit

Multi-hued cobble conglomerate on the beach

Caught in late afternoon light, we began to stroll back to the car.  At the trailhead, there was a hand-lettered sign that said:

WARNING: Watchout for Hornets!

Yeah, OK.  I think they might as well post a sign, "Don't twist your ankle!" or "Watchout for thorns and stickers!"  We walked past the sign toward The Pit, no problem.  Sue was nursing a tender ankle from a couple weeks past, so on the way back I offered to go ahead and get the car and meet them at the Whaler's Cabin, saving her from walking another 400 yards.  Offer accepted.

While Sue and Inga were waiting at the trailhead, some hornets began to swarm around the two.  An English couple simultaneously asked Sue about the trail, she replied "It is about 3/4 of a - #%&@!!!"  She was now speaking some not-so-polite Anglo-Saxon terms.  The English couple must have started thinking to themselves, "Oh yes, must Turret's Syndrome", the sudden, unwarranted outburst of profanity my affected souls.  Then Sue continued, "Hornets! Damn Hornets, they got me!"  The English couple quickly departed as Inga called out the location of the attacking insect.  "He's behind you!  Now he's up by your left ear!"  She got two stings on her foot, just below her already tender ankle.  A bad ending.

Nothing to do now, but clear the battlefield, and take the ladies to dinner on the Monterey Wharf and buy her a good drink.  So we did get to the wharf for a seafood dinner, sitting next to the picture window overlooking the harbor where we could see a few seals gamboling below in the calm waters and kelp.