Monday, March 30, 2015

Point Reyes National Seashore

Bark Bark Bark!

March 29, 2015



Pongo and I spent the afternoon at Point Reyes on Sunday.  The weather was incredible.  It was warm, not hot, with a light ocean breeze.  There were a few clouds over the ocean to keep photos in that direction interesting.  Of course, there were cows to be seen and even a few elk in an area I'd never seen them before.

Point Reyes National Seashore, CA
California Poppy
It's wildflower season in California.  In good years entire hillsides can turn purple or blue or vibrant yellow.  That's not happening so much this year.  It's the drought, I'm sure.  Still, there are nice little patches of color scattered about.  California poppies dot the grasslands.  I try not to take this time of year for granted, even if the showings aren't as overwhelming as I've seen in previous seasons.

Point Reyes National Seashore, CA
The story of this trip wasn't the flowers, though, it was Pongo and the cows.  Pongo loves cows.  He's become good at spotting them while we drive.  He usually knows cows are in the vicinity before I do.  He smells them.  Once he's caught their scent he'll scan the hillsides or whatever it is we're passing to spot them.  It used to be that he'd rarely see them.  He finds them better on his own and has even learned to follow mu finger when I point to them.  He'll hop from the front seat to the back to watch them as we pass by.

Pongo & the Cows -- Point Reyes National Seashore, CA
He sometimes gets a little nervous when we stop to look and the animals are close.  On this trip we stopped about six feet away from a cow near a fence.  Pongo was fascinated, as usual, and as often happens the cow was interested in Pongo as well.  Pongo and the cow looked at each other for a few minutes, and eventually Pongo couldn't take it anymore.  He barked three times at the cow then dove down below the window and refused to look back.  What a chicken.

Holstein Cow -- Point Reyes National Seashore, CA
After visiting the holsteins, we drove down to South Beach.  Dogs are allowed on the beach if they're on a leash.  So, obviously we took a little walk on the beach.  The surf looked pretty angry.  It was definitely not a good scene for swimming or surfing.  We walked close to the water but I was a little nervous about the angry waters so I didn't let Pongo out to anything above his knees.

South Beach, Point Reyes National Seashore, CA
South Beach, Point Reyes National Seashore, CA
Sail Jellyfish
The sand was covered in areas with little sail jellyfish that had been blown ashore.  They're not really jellyfish, I guess.  I've read sometimes they can cover a beach pretty thoroughly and they smell as they decay.  This wasn't anything like that.  I read that they normally float on the surface and are blown by the wind.  normally the winds blow them out to sea, but on certain years the winds shift and they get blown ashore instead.  I guess that's what kind of year they're having this year.

South Beach, Point Reyes National Seashore, CA
Finally, was we were heading out I spotted some tule elk on a hill between the North and South beaches.  I've never seen elk in this area before?  Are they commonly seen here?  My impression was that the elk were only out on the reserve at Tomales Point.  I guess not.  I know the local dairy farmers aren't too crazy about the elk.  Well, I like 'em.  Pongo does too, although these guys were a bit too far for Pongo to spot.

Tule Elk -- Point Reyes National Seashore, CA


2 comments:

  1. Haven't been to Pt Reyes in a very long time. Pongo is a handsome dog, even if afraid of cows.

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    1. Thanks, Gaelyn. I feel a little spoiled living so close to so many great places. It's not like spending half the year on the rim of the Grand Canyon, of course. :-)

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