 |
| 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!
