Point Reyes Day Trippin' at Point Reyes National Seashore

Drake's Beach

Post-cross country drive, William is visiting with me . Mostly we just hang, but we decided as long as he is here, Point Reyes National Seashore required exploration.

At Point Reyes our first stop was the Visitor Center. William went in while I literally sat in the car, wishing to the saints above, to see 'interesting' wildlife. By 'interesting', I meant a little something more than the usual Mule Deer or squirrels. William returned & we set off. Just as the car moved maybe 100 feet from the Visitor Center, what did I spy sitting in the grass but a... kitty cat? The 'kitty' paid us no heed. It got up and ran by, in front of my car and here are the amazing - to us, at least - shots. Wow. Must say I've never before had a plea answered so rapidly or well.

Perhaps the bigger miracle is that my camera was - for once - at the ready. WHOO HOOOO! 

So after watching a wild Bobcat scarper along, believe me, the remainder of the day was gravy. We drove out to the Lighthouse. There were Mule Deer everywhere. I thought, Point Reyes obviously hasn't enough Mountain Lions on hand for deer population control.

One, two, three does headed for low meadows. The Pacific gleamed in the distance.







At the busy Lighthouse parking lot, William & his camera tromped up hill and down dale to the light house, while I stayed put & waited.

Bambi - I am your father!

The ladies lounging nearby

Just as we grew somewhat bored with Mulies, we discovered Dwarf, or Tule Elk, similarly in lounge mode. Having recently seen Rocky Mountain Elk, in Colorado, these bull elk did look small and pale to our jaded eyes. 

Sleepy Bull Tule Elk

I thought William would enjoy the local delicacy - hot buttered clam chowder in a sourdough bow. I took him to Drake's Beach, where I've enjoyed that particular treat in the past, and YIKES: I got two big surprises. We walked along the sidewalk that abuts the beach and William pointed out something I hadn't noticed in the least. At first glance I thought William was pointing at a rock or something in the ocean but the big rock... snored!

Pointing to the seemingly inanimate 'lump'

Big-arse bull Elephant Seal snoozing, just off the walkway

Notice all the 'battle chunks' missing from this bull's neck

Knowing these fat & lazy appearing critters can move with bat-outta-hell speed if you get on their last nerve, we kept a polite distance away from this beach master.

Tail end

I've seen Elephant Seals before, but this is absolutely the closest I've ever been to one. I told William he was having a bumper crop day of critter sightings.

Any further north, and he'd be snoozing on the cement walkway

As I said, that was the first surprise. The second? The Drakes Beach Visitor Center is pretty much, 'no more'. I was horrified. No Visitor Center. No Restaurant. All closed now because of National Park budget cuts. DO NOT get me started on the details of this! I am so pissed.

Change of subject.

We went to the parking lot where interesting birds can be found. We found some.

V. busy California Quail

Mr. and Mrs. Q

We headed off to get some photos in a picturesque spot which William read about. On the way there we were blocked a bit by Elk on the move... did I mention we saw elk?

The entire herd tromped off the hilltop and down over the road leading to Drake's Beach. They caused a Yellowstone style wildlife traffic block.

Elk Jam at crest of roadway hill

One by one, they daintily scuttled past

Rear guard crossing

Our last 'exotic' of the day was the one William knew off - a long driveway, lined with cypress - a popular photo spot. HOLY CRAP! IS THAT...!

Did T-Rex Suzy follow us all the way from Chicago?

We knew if we held stay really still... it wouldn't see us...

Whew! That was a close one.

Wish I'd nicked one of Will's shots of this driveway

So we had a lovely wildlife day at Point Reyes National Seashore. I was annoyed I didn't manage to find any of the local delicacies (bbq wild oysters, chowder in a bread bowl) for William to sample, but there shall be next time!

Grand Birds in the Grand Canyon & the Journey's End

We were seated and enjoying some lunch near the Grand Canyon Visitor Center when my nephew said there was a 'red bird over there'. I took no notice really, thinking he must have spotted a House Finch or some such bird I could see just as easily back home. But I decided to be respectful of William's birding so I looked up to see.... WTF...? It was a Red Crossbill, seated atop a pine.

I took a few zillion photos of the bird species I don't see as often as I see too often and told William what a fantastic score the 'red bird' was. Then I proceeded to (I hope) regail every poor soul within earshot about the wonders of Crossbills. Poor things... the people, not the birds.

I never photograph House Sparrows (I'm such a bigot) but I did so this once. 

Juniper Titmouse, so like the titmouses in my back yard, but a different species

William photographed this obliging Red-breasted Nuthatch

Do not believe I've ever seen a Dark-eyed Junco in this color palate before

Hoppy little White-breasted Nuthatch

Far off Clark's Nutcracker

Cassin's Finch

Shiny as heck Raven

On one of the park roads there was this 'watch out for Mountain Lions' signs. AS IF! I'd have wet myself - from over enthusiasm -  had we spotted a lion.

Here is the end of William and my wonderful cross country journey. We couldn't believe how fast two weeks shot past. We drove to Las Vegas tonight and holed up in the Luxor Hotel. William tried his hand at some gambling while his cranky Aunt stayed in and hit the sack. And tomorrow we drive home to my house in Fair Oaks, California. Wow. Twelve States, three National Parks, and umpteen events crossed off the bucket list. What a satisfying fortnight spree!

Grand Canyon: New and Again

South Rim Vista

Today held the fun of William's first view of the Grand Canyon, while for me it is a 2nd visit with a caveat. The caveat being that I visited was at the canyon in 2014 but on returning home my san disk card was MIA so no photos of that inspirational visit. So today was a photo opt free-for-all and even if I lose my photo card, chances are William isn't an absent minded klutz like his aunt.

Now - how about that scenery, eh?

We visited several rim scenic views which were each equally charming & rugged.

I birded as we toured, and I think that deserves a posting of its own. We stopped by my favorite bit of most parks, the visitor center. 

Grand as the Canyon, Visitor Center

Being a huge park, there are diverse Passbook stamps to collect - and I've got about half of them - yeah. I know. There's no prize for accumulating any of the things.

Stamps - th gold at the end of the park rainbow

Our last stop was the grand 'desert view'  tower. The Watchtower is famous for having been built for the sake of being built and for not actually existing for any reason other than for existing and looking cool. Works for me.

The Watchtower that has a sweeping 'desert view'

Visitors can hike up to the top, which, of course, I did not

The desert view

We spent part of the afternoon driving from one colorful scenic view to the next.

This shot of the Colorado River (?) was far off in the distance 

 Everywhere we went, ravens could be seen playing in the thermals, like mini-thunderbirds.

The Ravens flew everywhere

I spent a lot of my afternoon watching and photographing birds. And how about those birds!