Today, I drove out to Point Reyes to hike to the end of Tomales Point.
The trail started at the Pierce Point Ranch, which was one of the oldest dairies in the area. It produced butter and milk for San Francisco in the 1850's. The buildings have been maintained in their original form.
This is looking at the tip of Point Reyes, and those offshore rocks are actually The Farallon Islands, about 30 miles straight offshore from San Francisco. It was a very clear day.
Looking north, the direction to the end of Tomales Point. The point is miles long and is a thin steep spine that separates Tomales Bay from the Pacific Ocean. It is home to one of the biggest Tule Elk herds in California. This makes it home to a number of mountain lions, also.
A member of the clean-up crew.
The herd was started with 10 elk in 1978, and in 2009 was estimated to be over 440 animals.
An American Kestrel watching for movement.
Some big male elk were gathered in a group apart from the younger elk.
Wind sculpted cypress looking like a huge bonsai.
Looking down on the entrance to Tomales Bay.
This island had a couple neat things going on.
There was a group of seals on the beach. I couldn't tell if they were elephant seals, or what.
This cormorant was very iridescent.
I had to mind surf this wave, which was bigger than it looks.
The other neat thing about that island was this blow hole that was quite spectacular, even from a distance.
One last look at the Tule Elk before heading home.
Looking north, the direction to the end of Tomales Point. The point is miles long and is a thin steep spine that separates Tomales Bay from the Pacific Ocean. It is home to one of the biggest Tule Elk herds in California. This makes it home to a number of mountain lions, also.
A member of the clean-up crew.
The herd was started with 10 elk in 1978, and in 2009 was estimated to be over 440 animals.
An American Kestrel watching for movement.
Some big male elk were gathered in a group apart from the younger elk.
Wind sculpted cypress looking like a huge bonsai.
Looking down on the entrance to Tomales Bay.
This island had a couple neat things going on.
There was a group of seals on the beach. I couldn't tell if they were elephant seals, or what.
This cormorant was very iridescent.
I had to mind surf this wave, which was bigger than it looks.
The other neat thing about that island was this blow hole that was quite spectacular, even from a distance.
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