We drove the coastal highway today, sto
pping at fruit stands
and nibbling on fresh berries all along the way. We drove from state park to
state park. Looking to see what we could see.
Originally, we had planned to go to the Monterey Bay
Aquarium, but I was having second thoughts. It seemed the town was filled with
screaming children. Now, don’t get me wrong… I don’t hate kids (hell, I even
have two), it’s just that I don’t remember mine running around screaming at the
top of their lungs… like other peoples kids do - or mine just plain burned me
out (quite possible with Nikole).
Either way, watching all the sugar crazed small humans
buzzing around town made me start reconsidering. I told Jaz…. I don’t like kids anymore. She
laughed and said the same thing. I decided I was getting old and grumpy. And
then to confirm this remarkable observation… I made a kid cry (unintentionally
of course).
We were getting coffee… and I had just ordered. I was
walking past the counter and this little kid… must have been 3 or 4, tried to
run past me. She was still a little wobbly – as kids her age are – so her aim
was not that great. She miscalculated the distance between me and the wall. I
stopped walking (also a miscalculation on her part). She bounced off my leg…
and then her head bounced off the wall, and then she bounced off me again. Then
the kid got scared… like I was going to kill her. She ran to mom silently. Once
she reached mom safely, she let out a very long wail. Please no more screaming
children! We drove towards the aquarium…
there were tall kids, short kids, kids on leashes… my heart started to pound.
We looked at each other and decided to go to the beach and
photograph the rocks and tidal ponds instead; a place that was quiet and
peaceful… and serene.
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| Better than fish tank |
We drove out to Point Pinos Lighthouse – it was closed. We
then drove to Asilomar State Beach and saw spectacular crashing waves on the
rocks. We decided to go out on the rocks and try to get closer to spectacular.
Jaz made the comment that she was only going to take the short lens, in case
she falls in the ocean (the last time we climbed on rocks it was expensive for
her camera equipment).
Later when we were reviewing the afternoon, Jaz told me we
forgot the first two rules of climbing on coastal rock. Rule #1 – wear shorts
in case you get wet. Rule #2 pay attention to the tide so you don’t get
stranded on said rocks. Maybe next time. I grew up in Utah (no ocean there),
and in Alaska would have been too dangerous.
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| Rule 1 - Jaz |
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| Rule 2 - Me |
We climbed out on the rocks and enjoyed the waves. We got
wet coming back. I had Levis on and my only pair of comfortable shoes. They are
less comfortable wet and squeak pretty loud. We stopped for coffee in Pacific
Cove and I left wet footprints across the floor. The cappuccinos were good
though.
 |
| heavy shoes |
 |
| Did not like |
We headed up the coast and stopped along the highway to
shoot photos of the artichokes. Artichokes everywhere – including the place we
stopped to get coffee – which was listed as a bakery. They had “fried artichoke”
we had to sample… it tasted like fried artichoke.
The wind was blowing and kicking up the sand. I was dry from
the ocean stint, but between the greasy artichokes, the sand, and the salt
water… I needed a shower. It occurred to me that every time I hang out with Jaz
I need a shower by the end of the day… hmmmm.
We made it to Pigeon Point Lighthouse, and it was closed.
This would be the 4th lighthouse we have visited in 2 days that has
been closed (Big Sur and Point Piedras Blancas being the other two). My luck is
not too good. Pigeon Point is closed for repairs. Even so, it afforded some
great photos and we got to tour the foghorn house.
Point Pigeon Light Station, at 115 feet, is the tallest
operating lighthouse on the west coast. It is listed on the National Register –
built in 1872. The lighthouse was outfitted with the most powerful lens of the
day – a Fresnel lens. It is 16 feet tall and weighs 4 tons. French physicist Augustin Jean Fresnel used 1008
handcrafted lenses and prisms to create the lens. It is pretty damn
spectacular!
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| Gorgeous Lens |
The lighthouse is in serious need of attention, and the
historical society is working on that. It is currently closed for renovation
and the removed the lens for that process. You can see the lens where it is temporarily
being stored in the fog horn house.
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| Pigeon Point |
Speaking of foghorns, they had a recording of what each one
sounded like (there were 4 used over different periods). I videotaped the kiosk
so you could hear them:
(later tonight)
All these closed lighthouses, and even state park ticket
booths closed. I guess it is the off season, or timing needs to be impeccable
(which mine never is). Jaz made the comment that I should have brought my
ranger hat and a green slicker. I asked her why… she said that we could have
stood outside the closed ticket booth looking official and people would have
paid us to go into the lighthouses… we could have stayed long enough to make
gas money. I told her we were not going to participate in illegal activities.
We crossed over the mountain through Pescardero and into
Standford country. Soon we were parked in Redwood City for the night.
With a little luck tomorrow… we will find an open lighthouse
at Point Bonita.
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