breezy & cool

July 22, 2004
after noon
Manresa State Beach
Monterey Bay
overcast, breezy, cool



Waves provide a constant roaring backdrop, muscles out any other sounds



A cormorant flies low over the surf, earlier we saw several pelicans doing the same



We see a pod of dolphins breaching, jumping, just past the breaking waves. Walking along the wet sand we find several large jellies washed up, many we can even see the flower-like purple markings from above



The beach here drops off more dramatically than at Sunset Beach, just south, providing more dramatic waves for the surfers who congregate here.

Later
Sunset State Beach

The overcast day has a timeless quality with no real reference to movement of the sun. We arrive to find what seems to be at a distance a large seal carcass, confirmed by the smell as we approach downwind. Plenty of pelicans patrol and dive. Hard to tell at a distance id they're catching much.



Izone struggles to find a correct exposure

garden spider

sunny & breezy

July 11, 2004
midday
W. R. Hearst memorial Beach
warm, sunny, breezy


Seaweed growing off the pier - standing on the pier looking down - has an other worldly quality.


Looking back at the beach and hills of San Simeon from the pier. On the larger rock just off the beach, a black cormorant stands, holding his wings open to dry.


strolling down the beach, looking out at the point



2 p.m.
Gorda By The Sea
pull-out on the Pacific Coast Highway, stopped to eat our deli sandwiches for lunch, were joined by a silently begging seagull, who posed for pictures in exchange for pieces of roast beef.




3:20 p.m.
"Private Property no trespassing El Sur Ranch"
just north of Pt. Sur Naval Station
leaning into heavy steady wind coming up the slope

July 10, 04

July 10, 04
after breakfast
planter in the parking lot of Gayle's Cafe, Capitola



morning
Elkhorn Slough
high overcast, light breeze, cool

Lots of little swallow-types diving over the open field, look like they're catching insects on the wing.


Coastal Live Oak - not as large as our great valley oaks, a little more squatty and twisted, lovely in it's own way.

We hike around and down to the south marsh loop trail, only occasionally seeing other hikers. The feeling of a sanctuary is almost palpable here, no sounds of traffic or industry heard, no need to speak too loudly.


Old Elkhorn Dairy Barn now home to little singing birds whose voices echo in the rafters.



Walking down the path, I spy a clearing through the trees, then see a metal catwalk with a "keep out" sing draped on a low chain - over I go and find a view of Cattail Swale.

Suddenly, there's rustling and flapping of large wings - I had disturbed a black-crowned night heron roosting just above. Another then flies across the water. Back out on the trail and around the bend, another view of Cattail Swale opens.

Eucalyptus seedpods cover the ground, inches deep. A pair of great blue herons take off and then land again as we watch in awe. We can hear their huge wings beat in the quiet air.


Farther again down the trail we can look up and back to see great white egrets tending their young in nests at the tops of eucalyptus trees as the young squawk and beg quite loudly. Occasionally a black cormorant flies overhead.


Part of south marsh trail as it passes through a stand of coastal live oak - Scott first saw this photo as I was shooting the one above.



1:40 p.m.
driving down Hwy One south of Carmel - just north of Point Sur - wind howling over the cliff, overcast


lunch on a cliff: eating sandwiches from Gayle's in a pull out on Hwy One


2:50 p.m.
looking north at Big Creek Bridge (built ca. 1938) sunny and clear now with a light breeze, turkey vulture soaring off the hill above.


4:10 p.m.
Tour #4 at Hearst Castle, featuring gardens and grounds, the hidden terrace and guest house Casa del Mar.

Oak with east wing of Casa Grande


Palms surrounding bell tower of Casa Grande


Venus with cannas against the back of guest house Casa del Monte

Soquel Creek

July 9, 04
Capitola, CA
Clear, 70's, breeze
2:30ish
waliking along Soquel Creek

ducks expecting us to feed them mutter softly, occasionaly quack at each other.

Effie Yeaw

July 7, 2004
morning
Effie Yeaw Nature Center
warm but with a light breeze, very comfortable in the shade


Caught a glimpse of a stag - overexposed my print, then it got caught by the wind & covered in grass, but the neg should be fine.

Lots of birds and calls - the soft tap tap tap of a woodpecker nearby - a turkey vulture overhead - a little blue belly lizard doing push-ups on a fallen branch.


shaded trail


At the river's side, wind gusting. Stand on a big boulder for the shot, then forget where I am as I step away, twisting my ankle pretty well on the way down.


wild turkeys walking about, but not caught on film, woodpecker in a tree, oats blowing in the breeze -