that's me on the edge of the bluffs at wilder ranch. i was lying around while jg was biking up the hills on the east side of the park.
perfectly flat
at the pay booth we were given an undersized park map. it must have been the seventy first generation photocopy because the trail names were barely legible. all i know is that i took the trail that bordered the water.
looking south
the black speck you see in the upper right corner is a couple. it's about where i was lying down to take the picture at the top of this post.
looking east
looking north
dried kelp and flowers
nesting cormorants
about a mile into the trail, the wind picked up so i turned around. i still had the visitor center to see.
entrance to interpretive center and park store
as soon as i got through the door, jg called. he had already finished his nine mile ride so i had to go meet him. i really wanted to see the weaving demonstration but it wasn't going to happen until 4 pm, some two hours later. i had overhead that there would also be a sheep shearing. wish i could have stayed.
overall, i have mixed feelings about wilder ranch. i loved the views and the wild flowers but the hike stroll was not my thing. jg really enjoyed the biking trails he took. may be i'll like the park better once i've explored the hikes on the east side.
that's where we stopped for a late lunch. it's right on highway 1 so we could see the ocean from our table. only if the food was as good as the views.
on the drive back, jg decided to check out ano nuevo state reserve.
ano nuevo visitor center
that's jg getting "permission" from the ranger to see the elephant seals. we were surprised that there was no fee required.
remnant of the sunken point arena schooner
trail turned from hard packed clay to sand. it was only a mile and a half to the seals but for some reason, the trail seemed to go on forever.
first seal sighting
(white barn in the distance is the visitor center)
schmee climbed a windy dune
finally, elephant seals
i still don't know why i did this hike. i have no fondness for these animals. they look like giant slugs and they stink like a mutha. i did find their snorting amusing. it sounded like super loud farting.
abalone shells, seal skulls+bones, and shark hides
(jg in the distance)
the sandy trudge back
is it three miles or is it forever?
and that was pretty much our entire saturday. jg is now trying to talk me into going back to wilder ranch and bike the flat trails on the bluffs. i think it's a great idea. as soon as he finds me a helmet with a camera mount.
