Morro Bay, Mission San Antonio de Padua and Elephant Seals

As we posted last week in the thread about the Far Western Tavern in Guadalupe, since we cannot head south right now, we headed north for a few days.

http://forums.bajanomad.com/viewthread.php?tid=50268

We were inspired to head north to see the elephant seals we have not seen for a few years by Ken Bondy's report.

http://forums.bajanomad.com/viewthread.php?tid=50184

Sparing you the details of the all day journey to Guadalupe and the first night in San Luis Obispo, I will just say it included Malibu, Lompoc, a couple of so named scenic routes and a quick look at John's childhood home in Oxnard---took some personal pix for his mom.

Next morning we headed to Morro Bay and the Natural History Museum to see Ken Bondy's exhibit---VERY WELL WORTH SEEING.

The museum is not large, but very nice with very nice people there



And yes, Ken's exhibit is still there---we really enjoyed it.



Great views from where the Museum sits. Even on a very sunny day. The weather man said it would be cloudy---better photo weather, but he was wrong!





So off to see the magnificent elephant seals----so beautiful, so interesting, so loud but the sun was so bright that we threw all the photos away except one.

To try an keep cool, these creatures try to cover themselves with sand and on that very warm day, they were really throwing the sand.

Sand even in the eye!



At the time, we did not know that in two days, we would be back---never know where we are going.

We left with the intention of taking the Nacimento Road from Highway 1 through Fort Hunter Liggett over to Highway 101---had not taken that road for a number of years and it passes through some of the most beautiful pristine Oak country around. Did not know where we were headed, but opps, started to turn on the road to find a sign---Bridge Out.

Now where---we decided to head towards the Pinnacles where we had not been hiking for years. So it was off to Holister where there had been one of there constant earthquakes the night before, and we were not disappointed as there were two strong aftershocks that night.

On the way to Holister, we sidetracked through San Juan Bautista, a town we have always liked and where these guys are everywhere on the streets!





.

The next morning we headed down the San Andreas fault, AKA Highway 25 for the Pinnacles National Monument. But we discovered that dogs are not allowed on any of the trails, so we did not stay long and only one pix



---not all our last minute plans work-out---well, then again, they do. On our way there we noticed a dirt road that headed over the hills back to Gonzales on Highway 101. So we decided to check it out and it was a good choice---nice ride



Good dirt road---rather steep as it drops into the Salinas Valley. Had to decide where to go next. We decided to head down to the Fort Hunter Liggett road again and see how far we could travel it. So, before Gonzales we took a back road into Soledad and then another one into King City---we just enjoy wandering around the farm country and through the foothills.





But we did end up at Fort Hunter Liggett and on the base is the Mission San Antonio de Padua---not as often visited as it is off the main path. While we are not fans of what the mission system represents, we did enjoy the restoration, the small museum, the people and the setting. A few pics of the mission.













And the mission cat



We very much recommend this road to anyone who loves this kind of back country. The bridge is supposed to be open again this week. It is also a good place to see elk, bobcats, and too many rattlesnakes.

So now where? We started heading south on County roads---thought we knew where we might be going---kept getting G13, G14 and G19 mixed up--oh well we were not sure where we were going, and it did not matter as we would end up somewhere.

Suddenly, we realized we were headed back to 101---so we decided that from there, we would take the beautiful Highway 46 back to Highway 1 and the Elephant Seals ---maybe the weather would cooperate and if not, oh well, they are worth seeing over and over so off to San Simeon which is real empty this time of year. Don't go there during the spring or summer without a reservation and all the hotels are booked!

We were up early the next day and off to the Elephant Seals---as soon as the sun came up and the seals were active, it was BRIGHT, BRIGHT and BRIGHT---but we got a some pix that we thought were OK and show some of the behavior.

Just a few of them



Hi, I am coming to take over the girls!



OH no you are not!



Here he comes



Go away!



No way he is going away!





He lets her know he means business!



He looks like he is smiling---but not her!



Hi Mom



See how cute I am



I want my mom!



Can we talk?



Happy Dreams



He is an old boy who is still active!



Away from the crowd---maybe next year they can join the group



He is waving good-bye to us.



The fog was not far away



We ended the day with a not too long hike up the mountains---dang those trails start off steep and they are very overgrown this time of the year.





Really thick growth around here--



And just one of natures framing of a small plant



Tommy Dog says thanks for coming along for the ride.



Edited to put Gonzalez back on Highway 101, no Highway 1 and to move that bridge north of Fort Hunter Liggett where it belongs.



[Edited on 1-19-2011 by DianaT]

Beautiful pictures Diana!! I don't know which one is mt fav but those roosters are gorgeous!I also love the pic of the 'weeping trees". All lovely.Thanks! Well actually the last one is pretty darn cute and a great way to put a FINI on your pic/story!

Quote:

Originally posted by Sallysouth Beautiful pictures Diana!! I don't know which one is mt fav but those roosters are gorgeous!I also love the pic of the 'weeping trees". All lovely.Thanks! Well actually the last one is pretty darn cute and a great way to put a FINI on your pic/story!

Thanks! I love the colors of roosters ---beautiful and of course, I do think that is a very cute dog---not that I am biased or anything.

Ken,
I hope we do meet! After the last day with the Elephant seals, we spent one more night in San Simeon and headed home---directly home because of some obligations--not the way we like to travel.

Thanks maestro for the kind comments---I am also rather fond of the How Cute Am I. I think about that one when I read that about 50% of them do not make it the first year. They do have a tough life. It is easy to just watch and listen to them for hours and it is amazing that we get to do so.

Oh, I forgot this one---little guy had his home along the trail and I love the way they freeze when you surprise them.



[Edited on 1-19-2011 by DianaT]

Beautiful images - all of 'em, Diane.

I especially like the ones of the mission. Interesting how similar in architecture are various missions. Mission San Antonio de Padua and Mission San Carlos Borroméo del río Carmelo (also known as the Carmel Mission in CA) look almost exactly the same except for the landscaping.

Seems like lots of spirits still inhabit these sites. Sometimes when visiting I 'hear' the bells chime, 'see' the Indios learning to tat, 'watch' the children walking in lines between classroom and catedral. My romantic vision of how it was.

nena

Nena,
You would like this mission---outside they have quiet bells in the background and in the chapel there are recorded nice chants being played. It is a working mission, but it is also a place anyone can go for a spiritual retreat---do not need to be Catholic---just a retreat--no phone, computer, etc., And it is a beautiful setting! But about that romantic historical vision of yours---- Oh, when the docent told us this was the third mission built in the California Mission system, we reminded her about the ones in Baja, but she assured us that was different---we smiled and said no more.

Rts----gracias amigo. Maybe see you soon.

Sunman---that road that comes out at Willow Creek begins where? We have been over those mountains a few different ways, but that one does not sound familiar----dang, if it is one we have missed, that means we just have to go back and drive it. That pristine back country is wonderful. Thanks for the nice comment

Russ
We seem to see more wild turkeys today than in the more recent past, but those little monsters just won't stop to have their photos taken. On this trip we did see a couple of flocks and they are beautiful. Thanks

Absolutely beautiful, Diana. I totally agree with Russ that your work has improved immensely. Time to turn pro.

And you "almost" avoided capturing the PG&E stacks in your Morro Bay pix.

We have family scattered throughout the area you traversed. Your photos have given me a renewed interest in visiting them. As for the Hollister experience, I had to visit Hollister the day after the Loma Prieta earthquake as a disaster coordinator. You think you had aftershocks? I selpt with my shoes on.

Quote:

Originally posted by Bajahowodd Absolutely beautiful, Diana. I totally agree with Russ that your work has improved immensely. Time to turn pro. And you "almost" avoided capturing the PG&E stacks in your Morro Bay pix. We have family scattered throughout the area you traversed. Your photos have given me a renewed interest in visiting them. As for the Hollister experience, I had to visit Hollister the day after the Loma Prieta earthquake as a disaster coordinator. You think you had aftershocks? I selpt with my shoes on.

OK, we could photoshop those smoke stacks out, but they are such a part of Morro Bay and would be missed if they were gone. Hollister is the place to be for earthquakes! But then again, we have been in many earthquakes---never get really get used to them.