Plan B
August 15, 2015
August can be a good time for whale watching in California, so that was my plan for Saturday. I drove down to Monterey to see if I could get onto a late afternoon excursion. If not, I'd still be able to hang out down there and possibly see some whales from the shore.
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| Monterey, CA |
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| Fish Jumping |
All of the afternoon whale excursions were cancelled on Saturday due to high winds. I decided I'd drive up around Point Pinos and then maybe head down South. It was very hot and I thought about going for a swim before heading out, but I thought better of it after thinking how I'd feel in wet shorts for the rest of the afternoon.
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| Harbor Seal -- Monterey, CA |
I'd parked on the pier at Fisherman's Wharf. A lot of folks were out fishing and they were having a field day hauling in mackerel. There were a couple of seals below the pier who were acting lively. I thought they were just having fun with all the good fishing. Unfortunately, that wasn't the case. They had both been hooked by fishing lines. Pretty sad sight. I didn't actually know this until I got home and looked at the photos. It's obvious in the pictures what's happening, but they were moving so much I didn't get a good look at what was going on. I'm sure the fisherman just consider them pests and were probably annoyed that the seals fouled up their lines. It's not an uncommon sight to see seals and sea lions with lines or wires stuck around their necks. I suspect this isn't too uncommon of an injury as well. It's unfortunate that so many interactions between men and wildlife end with death or injury for the animals, especially senseless stuff like this.
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| Harbor Seal -- Monterey, CA |
A sea lion a little way out from the pier was having a better time of it. He/she was leaping around, often with a fish in mouth. The sea lion seemed to be doing as well as the fishermen on the pier. It was a pretty good day for everyone without a hook in their mouth.
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| Sea Lion -- Monterey, CA |
I headed to Pacific Grove next to see if I could spot any whales or dolphins from the shore. I wasn't expecting to see anything, but I have been lucky on occasion.
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| Pacific Grove, CA |
I did end up getting lucky with the whales. I spotted two not too far from shore.
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| Humpback Whale -- Pacific Grove, CA |
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| Humpback Whale -- Pacific Grove, CA |
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| Humpback Whale -- Pacific Grove, CA |
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| Humpback Whale -- Pacific Grove, CA |
Point Pinos can usually be counted on for a few good shots. Between the rocks and the ocean and the lighthouse there's usually something worth shooting.
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| Point Pinos Lighthouse, Pacific Grove, CA |
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| Point Pinos Lighthouse |
These pictures are all a bit hazy. It was like this all over yesterday, in San Francisco and San Jose and even in Pacific Grove and places South. The speculation I heard is that it was smoke from wildfires. Could be, it's definitely not the normal fog for the area. It looked more like smog, but we don't get a whole lot of smog. All of the Bay Area's foul air blows into the Central Valley where folks in places like Modesto get to choke on it. I'm sure it works similarly for the Monterey area.
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| Garrapata State Park, CA |
I decided to drive South and look for good spots for pictures until I ran out of light. My first stop was Garrapata, where I hiked a short distance out to the edge of the cliffs.
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| Garrapata State Park, CA |
A woman asked me where she could find find a good spot to watch the sunset. I told her just drive until you find a spot you like, there's something amazing around every turn of this highway. I don't think I was exaggerating. Plus, I'm not a big sunset guy, so I'm not really sure what constitutes a good place to watch a sunset. I've got sunset pictures coming up from this trip, mind you, but I'm opportunistic in that regard. I enjoy a good sunset if it smacks me in the face.
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| Rocky Point, CA |
I made it as far South as the Rocky Point Restaurant, which is about ten miles South of Carmel. The views are amazing, and it was a warm night so I decided to have a beer and watch the sunset from their porch. I guess I could have sent the ladies here, it turned out to be a nice location with comfortable seats facing the ocean.
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| Rocky Point, CA |
That's pretty much it. I drank my beer, took some pictures and headed home. Not bad for a Plan B kind of day.
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| Garrapata State Park, CA |
I'd parked on the pier at Fisherman's Wharf. A lot of folks were out fishing and they were having a field day hauling in mackerel. There were a couple of seals below the pier who were acting lively. I thought they were just having fun with all the good fishing. Unfortunately, that wasn't the case. They had both been hooked by fishing lines. Pretty sad sight. I didn't actually know this until I got home and looked at the photos. It's obvious in the pictures what's happening, but they were moving so much I didn't get a good look at what was going on. I'm sure the fisherman just consider them pests and were probably annoyed that the seals fouled up their lines. It's not an uncommon sight to see seals and sea lions with lines or wires stuck around their necks. I suspect this isn't too uncommon of an injury as well. It's unfortunate that so many interactions between men and wildlife end with death or injury for the animals, especially senseless stuff like this.
A sea lion a little way out from the pier was having a better time of it. He/she was leaping around, often with a fish in mouth. The sea lion seemed to be doing as well as the fishermen on the pier. It was a pretty good day for everyone without a hook in their mouth.
So sad to see the ocean life suffering from our stupidity. But glad you got to see whales, and a nice sunset.
ReplyDeleteI often wonder if we're getting any better at things. Bald eagles are back. Condors are back. Wolves have returned to California. Then I see this stuff and it all seems so tenuous.
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