Saturday, May 2, 2020
Morro Rock is a one of several volcanic plugs on the California coast. Today parts of it is a nature sanctuary and all of is a California Historical Site. But only about half of it got preserved. The rest was dynamited from 1889 to 1969, to provide material for the breakwater of Morro Bay and the improvements at Port San Luis Harbor. I'm so glad we kept half of it for the public to enjoy.
I have attempted to visit the rock several times, but have a penchant for getting distracted and following a trail, a bee, or even a view, so it took several tries to actually get there. But I thought the second of two days might be auspicious, when I caught a rare sunrise on my way there. That was but one of many diversions, in spite of it being my second day in a row, of exploring down the coast.
My first close up view of Morro Rock was from the edge of the recreation area leading to it. Kayakers and surfers put in from the beach located in the curve in the picture below.
I spent a lot of time watching the sea otters - both on the way out and back in. They were just far enough out and in very bright, overhead light to make it hard to distinguish them from the dark seaweed. The sea otters were fairly close to shore but in very bright, overhead light.
I came upon a group of huge prickly pear cactus. I noticed that there was something very different about some of the ears. They I noticed that they had been carved by vandals and responded with growing a kind of scar tissue.
Two Indian tribes, the Salinan and Chumash tribes consider Morro Rock to be a sacred site and the Salinan people are the only people with the right to climb it. Near the end of the trail, I spotted this gentleman in dark clothes, seemingly extending a blessing. He stayed there for several minutes - maybe a lot more.
The rock was quarried and some of it became this breakwater. I couldn't get a good picture because the fog was rolling in by the time I got to this spot, near the end of the trail.
Fishing boats started to come back in through the now thick fog, looking more like drawings than actual boats. Using the watercolor setting improved the very washed out pictures a bit.
I was interested in the different plants quite high up on the rock.
Today, Saturday, Cindy and I filled up her gas tank and went out to see what we could see. She wanted to check out some of her favorite places in Moro Bay. The best stop was at the Moro Coast Audubon Society Sweet Springs Nature Preserve. There we got a view of Morro Rock from the south west. We also enjoyed a few birds, including a mother mallard with babies, green wing teal, and and a great horned owl.
Today I saw the most cars on California highways, but the people are staying dispersed on the beaches and trails. Hopefully we will be able to get out and enjoy the the beautiful places around here. It certainly is keeping me happy and sane.
Morro Rock is a one of several volcanic plugs on the California coast. Today parts of it is a nature sanctuary and all of is a California Historical Site. But only about half of it got preserved. The rest was dynamited from 1889 to 1969, to provide material for the breakwater of Morro Bay and the improvements at Port San Luis Harbor. I'm so glad we kept half of it for the public to enjoy.
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| I first caught glimpses of Morro rock on the way to Montana de Oro State Park and a view from the park, partly obscured by fog |
I have attempted to visit the rock several times, but have a penchant for getting distracted and following a trail, a bee, or even a view, so it took several tries to actually get there. But I thought the second of two days might be auspicious, when I caught a rare sunrise on my way there. That was but one of many diversions, in spite of it being my second day in a row, of exploring down the coast.
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| Sunrise over vineyards |
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| At the beginning of the walking tour |
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| From a bit closer so I could exclude the diving platform |
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| Another of my "watercolor shots" of the north end of Morro Rock |
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| Watercolor pictures of some of the flora |
I spent a lot of time watching the sea otters - both on the way out and back in. They were just far enough out and in very bright, overhead light to make it hard to distinguish them from the dark seaweed. The sea otters were fairly close to shore but in very bright, overhead light.
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| There were lots of mothers and large babies. - I had a hard time telling what was otter and what was not - can you see the two mother/baby pairs? |
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| Wrapped up sea otter - mothers roll them up in a floating, but rooted, piece of see grass to keep them in place while they dive for sea urchins |
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| The trail continues along the south end of the rock |
I came upon a group of huge prickly pear cactus. I noticed that there was something very different about some of the ears. They I noticed that they had been carved by vandals and responded with growing a kind of scar tissue.
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| Vandalized cactus pad |
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| Blooms and vandalized pads |
Two Indian tribes, the Salinan and Chumash tribes consider Morro Rock to be a sacred site and the Salinan people are the only people with the right to climb it. Near the end of the trail, I spotted this gentleman in dark clothes, seemingly extending a blessing. He stayed there for several minutes - maybe a lot more.
 |
| Man, possibly praying |
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| A water color picture of the amazing fragmented rocks - and praying man |
The rock was quarried and some of it became this breakwater. I couldn't get a good picture because the fog was rolling in by the time I got to this spot, near the end of the trail.
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| Add caption |
Fishing boats started to come back in through the now thick fog, looking more like drawings than actual boats. Using the watercolor setting improved the very washed out pictures a bit.
 |
| Fishing craft |
I was interested in the different plants quite high up on the rock.
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| This patch of yellow blooming plants made a nice contrast to the rock |
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| A succulent growing maybe one hundred feet up. |
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| I caught sight of this group riding along the beach from the north and ran to get pictures |
Today, Saturday, Cindy and I filled up her gas tank and went out to see what we could see. She wanted to check out some of her favorite places in Moro Bay. The best stop was at the Moro Coast Audubon Society Sweet Springs Nature Preserve. There we got a view of Morro Rock from the south west. We also enjoyed a few birds, including a mother mallard with babies, green wing teal, and and a great horned owl.
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| Morro Rock from the Audubon Sanctuary |
Today I saw the most cars on California highways, but the people are staying dispersed on the beaches and trails. Hopefully we will be able to get out and enjoy the the beautiful places around here. It certainly is keeping me happy and sane.
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