Stardate 2015.962

California IV

Our California trip was rapidly coming to an end. We visited Morro Bay again for an hour or so before heading back to Bakersfield and beyond. We found the beach and waves to be full of surfers. The coastal waters between Point Buchon (south of Morro Bay) and Point Estero (north of Morro Bay) apparently host a fair number of Great White Sharks. This link illustrates what happens when Morro Bay surfers sight one. Despite being land-locked, I'm a strong swimmer and I can assure you I would have been the first one back on shore.




Dude, the next one has your name on it.




He makes it look easy!








I would love to try surfing, but I don't like fish larger than me hanging out in the vicinity.






See you again in several years Pacific Ocean.




Well, that's it for sunny California. Ancient sandstone of Utah is next on the docket.

Adios

Stardate 2015.937

California I

Hi all, gobble, gobble, gobble... I just returned from 10 days out west. Every other year or so, Snowcatcher and I try to visit her parents for Thanksgiving, as well as spend a day or two on the beach.

Thanksgiving Day found us leaving the Denver area on shear ice. As we proceeded higher into the mountains, conditions turned from ice to easier-to-pilot snow. From the Vail Ski Area to our first stop for family and food, dry conditions prevailed.

The next day, following an early morning communion with a mountain biking velociraptor in Fruita, Colorado, we found ourselves traversing central Utah in somewhat slick conditions again.





By the time we reached Cedar City, Utah, 8 inches of fresh snow had accumulated.







The storm was short-lived, and the 4,245-foot loss of elevation (over the course of 90 miles) down onto the Mojave Desert between Cedar City and Mesquite, Nevada, went quickly. Give or take 454 miles and 6.75 hours later, we found ourselves rolling into Bakersfield, California, at the southern end of the San Joaquin Valley, our primary destination. We managed to sneak away for two days to the coast. Starting at Morro Bay, we worked our way north to Cambria.




Stay tuned.

Adios