Around the World: Point Piedras Blancas

[reviews_and_ramblings]

California was a travel that I didn't expect. I probably was convinced to find beautiful cities, like San Francisco, and modern overview... I wasn't expecting to be enthralled by the Nature. I traveled from South to North along the Pacific Highway, even when it's recommended to do a little detour since the road is to high traffic and narrow. And I found all those little sea villages and the Nature and its natural inhabitants who live free. One day I was of the idea to visit the Hearst Castle, but when I arrived at the beginning of the path, I saw all those touristic buses, all those people, and I don't like crowded places, and so I left. I read in the guide that there was a colony of Elephant Seals near the beach; when I arrived to the starting point of the fenced path, I didn't see anything, I was a bit disappointed. Then my friend told me, "come, come here to the opposite side", and there they were, basking and sleeping in the sun, and some of them, fighting as young teenagers...

 
by Elisa, Point Piedras Blancas, California, 2008

Around the Wor...

By Elisa Rolle

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I took this picture with my old reflex camera, but I didn't use a zoom, the seals were really near to me, just on the other side of the fence that protect them from the visitors.

Piedras Blancas Lighthouse is a lighthouse in California, United States, on the northern entrance to San Simeon Bay, California. It is an active private aid to navigation, and is maintained by the United States Bureau of Land Management. Guided tours for visitors are available.

An elephant seal colony of about 7500 individuals is located near the lighthouse year-round. Fenced observation areas are available for visitors. (From Wikipedia)

Comments

[julesjones]

That coast road is a beautiful drive. We did it one year for the Fourth of July holiday weekend, and thought it was wonderful.

[bean-montag.livejournal.com]

Nice picture, Elisa. Sounds like you had an interesting trip. I've never spent any time down there, but there are sea lions here in San Francisco and they play like kids, pushing each other off the rafts and yelling. They're fun to watch^^