"After watching B and G set up the tent in 100 degree sunshine, I was rushed to the cool air of the coast. I had been hearing for months about Husky Boy Burgers in Laguna Beach, and about the great counter man who let B and G in on a wonderful 'secret beach' - Shaw's Cove. They were told to go there holding a Husky Boy bag, and there would be no trouble."
"What a splendid cove, with clear water, and a great place to snorkel at the north end. B and G donned their wetsuits, masks, and snorkels, and headed out along a rock reef. Being a freshwater croc, I stayed onshore. I should have gone, though, because it turned out B and G had seen garibaldi, leopard sharks, colorful schools of fish, beds of purple sea urchins, and waving sea grass."
"Later in the afternoon, monsoonal moisture and heat caused gusty winds and thunderclouds to form. B and G left me in Blue while they decided to bike around the Dana Point harbor. When they showed me this picture of the overturned sail boat with 4 teen girls, and a father clinging to it, I thought, dang, that would have been an easy meal! Ha, ha, just kidding! They were rescued a short time later by the harbor sheriff."
"Here I am, feeling mighty fine! The sun is setting, the air is cooler, I'm getting some G-luv, and look at our 40 year old tent - you don't see those around anymore! We were almost the only ones in the whole campground, too!"
"After a margarita, we all watched the sunset. This cactus produced a spectacular yellow flower the next morning. We also saw a family of acorn woodpeckers come flying into a sycamore tree, and disapear into a cluster of holes in the trunk. Their soft cackling sounds made me hungry! Moments later, I became nervous when a great horned owl landed on a dead branch nearby."
"I don't know what B and G were thinking when they told me they were going on a night hike up some spooky canyon. They should have brought me along for protection! I think they said they went for almost two hours, hardly using their lights in the nearly full moonlight."
"I don't know how B spotted this scorpion on the trail guarding a penny, but he did!"
"And then he did it again, saying that he spotted a black shadow about twenty feet off the trail that looked bigger than the flower shadows in the area. Bingo - a large tarantula! A little while later B and G spied a pair eyes trotting up the trail towards them. A grey fox, moved cat-like into the bushes - another amazing animal!"
"The next day, we headed over to the coast again. I was left to guard Blue while B and G went for a bike ride. They found this beautiful cove named Crescent Bay. Shaw's Cove is just around the point in the distance."
"That beautiful clear water reminds me of the Everglades! After their bike ride, B and G went snorkeling around those rocks sticking out of the water. I whipped my tail when I heard that G saw two small manta rays! There were many more baby leopard sharks there, also."
"Ah, the trusty old Schwinns looking elegant at the little Crescent Bay Park on the point. By now, you are probably wondering where Paco is. Well, Paco is my homie. We have each other's backs. Therefore, I persuaded B and G to leave him home, where he could stay hydrated. I didn't tell them my other reason - more Tofurkey for me, The Nipster!"
"B and G took a lap on the FREE beach trolley - a pleasant way to get around in Laguna Beach!"
"Later in the afternoon, we all drove down the coast to a beach overlook near Dana Point. We spread out treats on a table, relaxed, and G recreated her impression of snorkeling earlier at Crescent Bay. A couple walking toward us pointed out some areas where they were seeing whales - Humpbacks! We spotted two who surfaced and dove several times."
"Okay, what I'm about to tell you scared this trembling croc to the bottom of his sleeping hole. Around 2:00 a.m., there was a blood curdling scream that resounded through the campground. B described it perfectly when he said it sounded like a woman being murdered. B and G bolted up and heard another scream or two, followed by a coyote uproar. The screams continued every couple minutes and were progressing down the dry river bed alongside our campsite. After about 10 long minutes they stopped. After we got home, B and G did internet searches on different animal sounds. They believe that it was either a mountain lion, possibly in heat, or a grey fox. I think it was a mountain lion because it was so loud! We tried to find tracks in the sandy parts of the river bed, but no cat tracks."
"The next morning, B and G took a hike up the Oak Trail. This part looks very deserty to me!"
"The dried flowers and cactus were striking!"
"About a mile up the trail and about 2 miles from our tent, B and G spotted mountain lion tracks on the trail."
"More mountain lion tracks. They measured 3 and a half inches wide."
"Oak Trail is well named. This live oak is immense and stunning!"
"Give me a waterhole anyday, but I have to admit the desert has its own beauty."
"Oh smart, now they're going to branch off onto the Cougar Pass Trail! Are they nuts!"
"G giving reference to the size of this mountain lion scat - on Cougar Pass. Nuff said."
"The contents of B's camera, found near the end of Bell Canyon Trail, ended with this picture of a mountain lion track. That is a quarter next to the track. B and G have yet to be found. Ha, ha, - just another croc joke! There were a number of tracks in this area- about a mile from the first tracks seen."
"Well, its great to be home in my native habitat! No more stinking desert for me! B and G, however, claim this was a beautiful trip with many discoveries. Hmmppff."
Yours,
Nipper
1 comment:
Nipper, you are very brave to go out into the wild with Baba and Gail.
These pictures and stories are amazing. This is by far my favorite blog! It takes me outside my daily routine.
Post a Comment