I'm Baaaack!
TOOK MY OWN ADVICE
"Where have you been, Potstirrer?" you ask. Well, you will recall, on December 26, 2010 (HERE) I gave you a heads-up for a wonderful experience viewing Northern Elephant Seals on our glorious Central California Coast. Last weekend I took my own advice, convinced my lovely and patient wife to join me and visited that rookery, which is in Prime Time again. And, as an added bonus, it's a wonderful way to flush local politics out of your mind for a few days - reason enough to make the trip!
A GREAT EXPERIENCE!
As you can see from the photos included, there are thousands of seals on the beach, including hundreds of pups (at least) born within the past few days.
A GREAT TIME GUARANTEED
If you take a weekend and make a run up to this site - about 4 miles above Hearst Castle and approximately 280 miles from Costa Mesa - I guarantee you'll have the experience of a lifetime!
You'll see females nursing their new pups or just snoozing in the sun...
You'll see males fighting for dominance of his harem - anywhere from 10 to 50 females...
You'll see seagulls cleaning up the beach - they go after the placenta...
You'll see pups in jeopardy of being crushed by amorous males...
You'll see "amore'" on the beach...
And you'll see the dominant males staying ever-alert for interlopers.
INEXPENSIVE FUN
All this costs you is a couple tankfuls of gas and a weekend. If you combine it with a trip to Hearst Castle, it will be an even more memorable weekend. Any time between the middle of December through the first couple weeks of March is great for viewing these magnificent critters, but I always tell folks that Valentine's weekend is a good time because it's so inspirational - there's a whole lot of lovin' going on down on the beach then.
ACCOMMODATIONS ABOUND
There are plenty of rooms available in Cambria and San Simeon and lots of great restaurants and shops, too. Beach-side rooms, romantic walks on the beach, great food....
PICK A DATE AND DRIVE!
So, target a weekend between now and the end of February because that's when the "action" is at it's best, with birthing, fighting and mating going on simultaneously. This colony of elephant seals is the fasted growing such group in the world and, by far, the most accessible... you can step out of your car and take 10 steps to view them.
FOR MORE INFORMATION...
For more in-depth information visit the web site for this location at www.elephantseal.org.
Have fun!
"Where have you been, Potstirrer?" you ask. Well, you will recall, on December 26, 2010 (HERE) I gave you a heads-up for a wonderful experience viewing Northern Elephant Seals on our glorious Central California Coast. Last weekend I took my own advice, convinced my lovely and patient wife to join me and visited that rookery, which is in Prime Time again. And, as an added bonus, it's a wonderful way to flush local politics out of your mind for a few days - reason enough to make the trip!
A GREAT EXPERIENCE!
As you can see from the photos included, there are thousands of seals on the beach, including hundreds of pups (at least) born within the past few days.
A GREAT TIME GUARANTEED
If you take a weekend and make a run up to this site - about 4 miles above Hearst Castle and approximately 280 miles from Costa Mesa - I guarantee you'll have the experience of a lifetime!
You'll see females nursing their new pups or just snoozing in the sun...
You'll see males fighting for dominance of his harem - anywhere from 10 to 50 females...
You'll see seagulls cleaning up the beach - they go after the placenta...
You'll see pups in jeopardy of being crushed by amorous males...
You'll see "amore'" on the beach...
And you'll see the dominant males staying ever-alert for interlopers.
INEXPENSIVE FUN
All this costs you is a couple tankfuls of gas and a weekend. If you combine it with a trip to Hearst Castle, it will be an even more memorable weekend. Any time between the middle of December through the first couple weeks of March is great for viewing these magnificent critters, but I always tell folks that Valentine's weekend is a good time because it's so inspirational - there's a whole lot of lovin' going on down on the beach then.ACCOMMODATIONS ABOUND
There are plenty of rooms available in Cambria and San Simeon and lots of great restaurants and shops, too. Beach-side rooms, romantic walks on the beach, great food....
PICK A DATE AND DRIVE!
So, target a weekend between now and the end of February because that's when the "action" is at it's best, with birthing, fighting and mating going on simultaneously. This colony of elephant seals is the fasted growing such group in the world and, by far, the most accessible... you can step out of your car and take 10 steps to view them.
FOR MORE INFORMATION...
For more in-depth information visit the web site for this location at www.elephantseal.org.
Have fun!
Labels: elephant seal
posted by The Pot Stirrer at 1/24/2011 02:05:00 PM
2 Comments:
Great call, Geoff!
If I may, the Olalaberry Inn in Cambria is a wondeful B & B, The Sow's Ear, one of the top restaurants in town, and tour #-2 is a great choice when visiting the Hearst.
Honeyman, you're correct... the Olailaberry Inn is in the East Village. Any place along Moonstone Drive is a great choice. Perhaps the best deal in town is the Bluebird, midway between the east and west villages. Spotless rooms and affordable. Linn's is still a good choice for meals. I agree about the Sow's Ear and the Old Stone Station in the West Village. Lots of choices and a perfect place this time of the year.
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