Friday, April 15, 2016

Home Again

California did not disappoint.  We got to see lots of nature! There is a desert area in Palm Canyon with this tree that appears to be bowing in welcome.


This tree is in the midst of an oasis down in the canyon.


We hiked past the oasis and up the other side of the canyon where we found this guy hiding in the rocks. There were a few smaller lizards near the oasis, but I only saw this one larger one.


Turning from his little perch you get this view.


On another day trip we took the aerial tram up Mount San Jacinto.  8,400 feet up was more hiking than I wanted that day.  The highest I've ever done was Mount Marcy at about 5,400 feet which took me all day to get up and back.  You can hike San Jacinto one way and take the tram the other, though, which I might try sometime.




Of course, I built a cairn.  Two actually.


From hot desert and cool mountains, we moved on to the nice warm California coast to see sea lions on the beach in La Jolla,

Sea lions go for the family bed concept, too.
I love these guys!  They were so playful.



They are like the dogs of the ocean.  I don't know if they were playing, fighting, or mating actually, but those in the water were energetic, noisy, and seemed quite happy.


Some people were swimming with them. 


 Seals are the cats of the ocean--the vast majority were sleeping in the sun when we were there.




This guy posed for me, though.

Is that not the sweetest face?  Good thing they're so fat or people would be stealing they away to take home.


Birds! Lots of birds.  Nesting cormorants were all over the cliffs.


There were gulls, of course, and a few pelicans like this guy who was mid-stretch.  It was possibly a yoga stetch that I would guess might be called "open gullet and hope a fish drops in" pose.


Some birds were apparently tourists as well.  We wanted to go in this store, but it was crowded with these guys.

Kiefer said I should have waited to get a photo of them in their new shades.
Then the flowers.  Way too many to show, so just this one. 


I'll share some pics of the Los Angeles part soon.  You will not believe some of the stars on the Walk of Fame.

9 comments:

  1. Awesome photos!!! Looks like you've seen a lot, exercised and had a wonderful time. I've only ever seen one seal in the wild.

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  2. HAHA these pictures are awesome - thank you for posting my photograph for everyone to see, and to comment on my sweet face - it would appear I've put on a few pounds (few DOZEN pounds) but my sweet face makes up for it ;) That hungry yogi pelican is a hoot!

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