found some of these alongside the road
Sunday, March 15, 2009
Sunday, March 08, 2009
Carrizo Plain (28)
It was another cloudy day on Carrizo Plain, on Saturday (3/7/09). Here, a nice patch of Phacelia, Fiddleneck and Coreopsis is blooming. Too bad the sun was behind the clouds.
Alfred Harrell Hwy - BIrd's Eye Gilia
Lots of Bird's Eye Gilia is blooming near the Kern River Golf Course.
Alfred Harrell Hwy
Blue Dicks and Poppies are blooming alongside Alfred Harrell Highway, right past the Ming Lake entrance.
Alfred Harrell Hwy - Bird's Eye Gilia
There are a few patches of these little flowers near the Kern River Golf Course and Ming Lake.
Carrizo Plain - March 7, 2009
The hills on the Hwy 58 side of Carrizo Plain are just starting to bloom.
Carrizo Plain - Baby Blue Eyes
A few Baby Blue Eyes are popping up near the Soda Lake Overlook. Hopefully, this is a sign of things to come.
Carrizo Plain
Carrizo Plain - March 7, 2009 - Goldfields are a'blooming, as far as the eye can see :)
Monday, March 02, 2009
Carrizo Plain - Feb 27, 2009
I took a drive up to Carrizo Plain National Monument on Saturday, Feb 27th. The highway 166 side is starting to bloom. The hillsides are turning a nice shade of lavender from the Filaree that has begun to bloom. I also found some Phacelia, Red Maids and some Fiddleneck. Several patches of Goldfields can also be seen on the Plain too. The Highway 58 side has not yet begun to bloom, but going down the grade to Buttonwillow, the hillsides and fields are turning gold from all of the Fiddleneck that is blooming. I posted pics below.
Ferruginous Hawk
I spotted this guy sitting atop a post. He took off shortly after this pic was taken.
Pronghorn
There was a small herd of Pronghorn antelope grazing on the plain. They were quite far away....even a telephoto lens couldn't help - lol. But they are there.
Carrizo Plain
The sun was covered by clouds on Saturday, so the lighting was not great, but you can still see that the bloom has begun on the Plain.
Goldfields
The Goldfields are blooming. There are several sunny, yellow patches on the Plain. I imagine the bloom will be great this year.
Filaree
Lots of Filaree is blooming on the Hwy 166 side of Carrizo Plain. I also spotted a few Red Maids in the mix as well. The hillsides are turning a lovely shade of lavender :)
Saturday, February 07, 2009
I was published yet again :)
This time it is for a Boston travel guide. You can see it by clicking
HERE.
HERE.
Sunday, February 01, 2009
Point Lobos State Reserve
Point Lobos gets its name from from the offshore rocks at Punta de los Lobos Marinos, Point of the Sea Wolves. This park has often been called the crown jewel of the State Park system. It offers scenic trails, lovely beaches, Scuba Diving, photo ops, and wildlife viewing, to name a few.
Point Lobos State Reserve is part of the State Park system. The entry fee for vehicles is $10. But be sure to get there early. The park allows only a specific amount of vehicles in the park at any time.
Point Lobos is located just south of Carmel, CA, along Highway 1.
Point Lobos State Reserve - Mule Deer
I spotted some deer in the park. They didn't seem to mind me taking their photo. Maybe a little curious, but they didn't run away.
Point Lobos State Reserve - Whaler's Cove
This lovely spot can be seen by climbing some stairs to the top of a lookout point. There were more steps leading to a higher point, but the wind was so chilly that I had to turn back. I had left my coat in the car - lol.
17 Mile Drive - Point Joe
Point Joe is #7 on 17 Mile Drive's points of interest map. Early sailors often crashed on these rocks, thinking they had entered Monterey Bay.
17 Mile Drive is located in the town of Carmel. It costs $9.25 to enter. But it is $9.25 well spent.
To view an interactive map, click HERE.
17 Mile Drive - Bird Rock
This landmark along 17 Mile Drive is called Bird Rock, but it looks more like Sea Lion Rock to me.
17 Mile Drive - Cypress Point Lookout - Harbor Seals (2)
Harbor seals sun themselves at Cypress Point Lookout.
17 Mile Drive - Lone Cypress
The Lone Cypress is the official symbol of Pebble Beach. The Monterey Cypress is a species endemic to the central coast of California. There are 2 small forests in Monterey and Carmel, and some of the trees from these forests are as old as 2000 years.
17 Mile Drive - Pescadero Point
Pescadero Point is #18 on the 17 Mile Drive points of interest map. A lot of white-washed trees can be seen here.
Big Sur Coastline
Big Sur has no specific boundaries, although some sources define it as the area between Carmel, CA and Ragged Point, which is a short distance north of San Simeon, CA. It is, indeed, a beautiful drive. There are many stopping points along the drive to let tourists, like me, take photos like this.
Bixby Bridge
The Bixby Bridge, completed in 1932, is 714 feet long and over 280 feet high. It is one of the most photographed places along the west coast, and has been frequently used in car commercials. It is located on Highway 1, about 13 miles south of Carmel, CA.
Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park - McWay Waterfall
The McWay waterfall is fed from springs from McWay Creek, and it flows year round. The fall drops 80 feet to a little cove in Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park, located on Highway 1 about 37 miles south of Carmel. The beach is not accessible to hikers, but there is a 1/4 mile easy trail to the overlook where you can view the waterfall. The park is open year-round and costs $10 to park. When I went yesterday, there was limited parking, as one of the lots was closed, most likely due to last year's wildfire. There is parking along the highway though. It is definitely a little gem along Highway 1, and one not to be missed.
Click HERE to visit the park's website
Tuesday, January 27, 2009
Weekend Day Trip Planning
I can't decide if I want to go to San Francisco or Big Sur this weekend. I did order a new tent today for spring and summertime camping :)
Friday, January 23, 2009
I was published again :)
This time, it was a photo from an earlier trip to Pacific Grove that was published in the Schmap Guide to Monterey and Carmel.
You can see it by clicking
HERE
You can see it by clicking
HERE
Tuesday, January 20, 2009
Harbor Seal
There is plenty of wildlife in the bay, such as this harbor seal who was hanging around a fishing boat, waiting for scraps.
Morro Rock
Morro Rock is a landmark in Morro Bay. Morro Rock is a volcanic plug that stands 176 meters high. Although it was quarried in the past, it is now protected, as it is home to the endangered peregrine falcon.
Spooner's Cove
Spooner's Cove, in Montana de Oro State Park, in Los Osos, CA, as seen from The Bluffs Trail. Morro Rock can be seen far off in the background.
Link: http://www.californiacoastaltrail.info/cms/archives/hike_fav.php?aid=166
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