Friday, January 28, 2022

What's that commotion?



Plastic may be a prime reason to go to the coast but yesterday with blue skies, a glass-smooth blue bay and two intrepid hikers (Doug and Doug Woodbring) in blue there were other reasons. From the ridge crest tip of Chimney Rock, we could view across the way to the white cliffs of Drakes Bay and muse about fossilized layer of geological history and the whale vertebrae they found back in 2015.

Enjoying the sun and surf, the massive elephant seals have hauled out to mate and pup in the protected coves. We lean in to listen to the clicking, belching and bellowing from below. Hey, what’s that commotion?



Yes, there is the thrill of that first peek in pink at the Checkerbloom (Mallow) but, the real pleasure was experiencing the sights and sounds with others who are avid appreciators of the natural world and especially, curious people wondering...hey, what’s that commotion?


To arrive at our destination, we drove the 20-mile length of Lagunitas Creek to where it reaches Tomales Bay, continuing on to the Chimney Rock turn off. How the heck do those salmon ever even remember their home stream and navigate the 20 miles from the open ocean to the perfect spot up stream to spawn? 



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