Point Lobos State Reserve

On Wednesday we spent a few hours at Point Lobos State Reserve. (It's getting repetitive to say how beautiful the natural surroundings were, I know!)  It was a damp, cool morning, and the reserve was lovely in its misty glory. Given how blue the water seemed in spots despite the mostly gray skies, I can only imagine what it would look like on a day of bright sun. Likewise, I'd love to see it again in a few more weeks when the spring flowers begin to carpet the fields and forest floors! Pictures don't begin to do justice to the seething ocean, the smells, and the colors... 

Monterey Cypress are found naturally only here at Point Lobos and on another beach a few miles up the road. The ones on the cliff edges took lateral, bonsai-looking forms. 

I loved all of the natural, wild growing succulents in the rocks. 

 

The boys were pleased to see this sperm whale shaped rock.

 It wasn't always clear whether they liked the views or just the binoculars themselves. (I suspect the latter!)  Here Josiah has the binocular strap on his neck but is having William take a look. So cute when they're getting along and sharing, eh?

The orange color is algae growing on the tree trunks and branches (the spray and damp carry so, in spite of these trees being a few hundred feet above the ocean). It's colored with carotene. The white stuff is a lichen; in many spots it hung in spider-webby, dewy drapes, looking a lot like Spanish moss.