I saw some pictures at work a coworker had taken a few weeks ago of the Elephant Seal rookery by San Simeon. I thought it would be a good weekend trip for my family and by camping in the tent trailer I would make my second month of my new year’s resolution of camping out once a month.
Friday morning we got up and drove to Morro Bay, we set up camp then drove into town for lunch at the harbor after lunch we drove over to Morro Rock to check out the surf. I was looking back in to the harbor and saw a Sea Otter our first of many wild life encounters for the weekend.
We drove up hwy 1 past San Simeon it wasn't hard to find the Elephant seals breeding grounds there is a large parking lot and a board walk set up with docents answering questions. We went to the north end of the parking lot because it looked less crowded. There was one docent, a dirt path and lots of seals.
Wow what a great experience, you are so close to these incredible animals. I loved my wife Laura's quote “I feel like David Attenborough" all of the activity was amazing. It is a total struggle for survival. The bulls fight for dominance and a Harem or as Sir Attenborough say's "Hareeem" The females fight for place in the harem, the more dominate females stay in the center of the harem and are left alone, and the females on the outside are harassed by the bachelors. The pups are squawking for food "more more more" The weaners that is what they call the pups who have been weaned and the mothers have left the beach move to the sand dunes and try and save their energy for late March or early April when the adults leave the beach and they teach themselves how to swim in the tide pools.
I would say that seeing these magnificent animals was as cool as seeing the grey whales in Baja. (I can't wait to get back to Baja for the whales and I can't wait to get back and see these seals) for more info check out this website http://www.elephantseal.org/
we drove back to Morro Bay and walked through the estuary. We did some bird watching for the great backyard bird count, dinner, campfire and star gazing.
Saturday we drove up hwy 1 to Carmel Valley stopping for another hour or so with the seals. On the drive we saw a pod of Dolphins working a bait ball a solo male Grey Whale heading back up the coast and lots of birds
Sunday was more bird counting this birding thing is pretty cool (I must be getting old) then home to Santa Barbara on hwy 101
Some thing I would do different.
1, Bring the Kayaks. The area is perfect for exploring from a Kayak. Morro Bay, San Simeon beach etc. Those of you who live in the central coast already know this and must be keeping is secret
2, Bring the bicycles. See above
3, Bring the surfboard See above
4, Stay longer and camp at San Simeon, Kirk Creek or Plaskett Creek
Things I did right.
1, Got out of the house!
2, Brought a football. It's a good way to get the kids out of the car while stopping for gas play some catch loosen up etc. and at $60 a stop its cheap bounding...
Well that's all until next month. I'm planning on attending the Central Coast meet and greet March 2nd
Cheers,
Matty
Friday morning we got up and drove to Morro Bay, we set up camp then drove into town for lunch at the harbor after lunch we drove over to Morro Rock to check out the surf. I was looking back in to the harbor and saw a Sea Otter our first of many wild life encounters for the weekend.
We drove up hwy 1 past San Simeon it wasn't hard to find the Elephant seals breeding grounds there is a large parking lot and a board walk set up with docents answering questions. We went to the north end of the parking lot because it looked less crowded. There was one docent, a dirt path and lots of seals.
Wow what a great experience, you are so close to these incredible animals. I loved my wife Laura's quote “I feel like David Attenborough" all of the activity was amazing. It is a total struggle for survival. The bulls fight for dominance and a Harem or as Sir Attenborough say's "Hareeem" The females fight for place in the harem, the more dominate females stay in the center of the harem and are left alone, and the females on the outside are harassed by the bachelors. The pups are squawking for food "more more more" The weaners that is what they call the pups who have been weaned and the mothers have left the beach move to the sand dunes and try and save their energy for late March or early April when the adults leave the beach and they teach themselves how to swim in the tide pools.
I would say that seeing these magnificent animals was as cool as seeing the grey whales in Baja. (I can't wait to get back to Baja for the whales and I can't wait to get back and see these seals) for more info check out this website http://www.elephantseal.org/
we drove back to Morro Bay and walked through the estuary. We did some bird watching for the great backyard bird count, dinner, campfire and star gazing.
Saturday we drove up hwy 1 to Carmel Valley stopping for another hour or so with the seals. On the drive we saw a pod of Dolphins working a bait ball a solo male Grey Whale heading back up the coast and lots of birds
Sunday was more bird counting this birding thing is pretty cool (I must be getting old) then home to Santa Barbara on hwy 101
Some thing I would do different.
1, Bring the Kayaks. The area is perfect for exploring from a Kayak. Morro Bay, San Simeon beach etc. Those of you who live in the central coast already know this and must be keeping is secret
2, Bring the bicycles. See above
3, Bring the surfboard See above
4, Stay longer and camp at San Simeon, Kirk Creek or Plaskett Creek
Things I did right.
1, Got out of the house!
2, Brought a football. It's a good way to get the kids out of the car while stopping for gas play some catch loosen up etc. and at $60 a stop its cheap bounding...
Well that's all until next month. I'm planning on attending the Central Coast meet and greet March 2nd
Cheers,
Matty
