Busy Like A Bee

Yesterday I met with the Team Logan girls. We went to Luna Park, which is just around the corner from where we live. It was a tidy little place that offered little vegetarian options. And the veggie sandwich they did have sounded unappetizing to me. I got a lettuce plate, D got potatoes. I don't think either of us will go back. But the point was to see the girls and it was nice. I never have the forethought to make small talk, so I talked about books of course. It was better than my stunted attempts at pedestrian conversation.
Today we got an early start and we were at Leffingwell Landing before noon. Walking on the beach we came across a lone seal that had gotten separated from it's group and there were people on the beach who had called the ranger. I spent a while by the tide pools and I found a sea star, which is always my goal. We watched the tide come in before we got up and moved to the rocks where we found anemones in bloom. There were otters in the water and we could see seals playing too. I loved it. If it were only a little warmer so I could have stayed longer.

I never feel that I get enough of the ocean. I love the briny smell and the feel of salt sticking to my skin. I think the beach is best on overcast days. There is more of an atmosphere when it's cloudy. All the colours seem richer. Nothing is washed out by glare. I love the darkness of the sea in contrast with the grays and rich blue gray. It's really beautiful, the photos don't do it any justice. There is something about the quality that a camera can't catch.

From there we went to San Simeon to Elephant Seal Beach. The last time we were here the look out wasn't built up and the viewing area was small with a small path that took you further down the shore. That is all changed now, it's all built up and it has this deck that follows the elephant seals area pretty far down. The elephant seals are huge and they are ruckus, making a fair bit of noise. And I don't remember it smelling the way it did today. It smelled almost like a barn. Not really a bad smell, but it wasn't the best smell either. I took some video of them. I will upload that to here too.

We tried to see about Hearst Castle but the tours were going to have us waiting for hours and we weren't interested in that so we went back to Paso Robles and found the Mission of San Miguel. Before we got there we came across this hillside that was so picturesque and beautiful. I only stopped for a moment to take a quick photo but it was the sort of place you sit and look out at for hours. Then we went on to the mission. It was really rundown but that just made it interesting. I love the architecture of the old missions. The Spanish styling and the wood and masonry construction. I would have loved to have gone into the chapel for a bit but nothing was open to the public. To be honest it didn't look safe enough for the squirrels that were climbing about. We are throwing around a bunch of ideas of things to do tomorrow. We are in talks to stop back at Leffingwell Landing, drive down the 1 to Morro Bay, continue on to Lompoc and stop at La Purisma Mission before starting our official heading back. Thank god for Eclipse on audiobook. Of course it is more apparent to me, hearing the story, how silly Bella can be nearly all the time. I really wish she was better to Edward. She's rotten to him in Eclipse. What I really wish is that I had The Host on audiobook. Oh well. We should be about halfway through Eclipse when we make it home tomorrow.