Monterey

After reaching the heights at Pinnacles, we sought out the depths of the Pacific Ocean at the Monterey Bay Aquarium. 

The aquarium, established and funded by the Packard family of computer fame, is ranked among the top aquariums (aquaria) in the country.  Our day began with a behind-the-scenes tour of the jellyfish exhibit where we learned that they are 95% water and have no heart, spine or brain.  A group of jellies is a smack.

These egg yolk jellies are ingesting a moon jelly.

These Kreisel Tanks create a circular flow that simulates their natural ocean environment.

The jellyfish were firmer than expected and felt kind of like plastic.

After the tour we explored exhibits of local and international sea creatures.  These exhibits continue to be both educational and enchanting.

We took a rest stop to watch the penguin’s dine.

Yielding to popular demand, the aquarium redesigned the jellyfish display.  Previously, there were many tanks of multiple types of jellies.  These are difficult to maintain, so they have been replaced by hands on activities which Anna Lee found to be educationally disappointing considering the excellent job they have done with the other exhibits.  And the music was so jarring Jeff complained to a docent who said there had been many complaints.

For some perverse reason, Anna Lee craves seafood after visiting aquariums.  We followed a docent’s recommendation and drove to Pacific Grove to dine at Passionfish, known for excellent and sustainable cuisine.  It was the first official “green” restaurant in the county.  We do apologize but we so enjoyed eating we forgot to take a picture.  Trust us and stop in here when you are in the area.  We know we’ll be back.

We topped off our dinner with homemade ice cream at a little shop where the owner lined his walls, floor to ceiling, with Beatles memorabilia and antique children’s books.  Anna Lee found a fairy tale book, Stories That Never Grow Old, published in the 1930s that had belonged to her cousin and is now waiting for Bennett to enjoy.

In the morning, the blue sky and warm air called to us.  We did a 10K volksmarch along the coast to Lovers Point enjoying murals, harbor seals, and perfect weather. 

The sign-in spot for the walk is at Lopez’ Tacqueria.  We have enjoyed lunch there before and were happy to take Jeff for two authentic Mexican lunches.  The store sells primarily liquor and lacks a ratings label on the window.  Based upon appearances it may seem a questionable choice for dining but it really is good.

We regretted leaving the beautiful coast but had to return home and bid farewell to Jeff.  He returns to snow and we return to a drought cloaked in sunshine and mild temperatures.

Pinnacles National Park

After having to cancel his January trip, Jeff finally made it to California, traveling from a frigid 18 degrees to a balmy 81 in Pinnacles NP.  The three of us were last here in the late ‘60s and all Anna Lee can remember is the roar of motorcycles during the night and a desire to return to see the stark beauty of the area.

After the RV was settled in, Jeff headed out for a run.  Along the way he had one of those small world experiences. He met a couple from Albany, NY, just across the river from his home in Troy.  Jerry and Anna Lee had the familiar experience of meeting a couple from Elk Grove and enjoying deer grazing.

In the evening, we went to the ranger program about the history of this newest national park (2013).   Pinnacles started out as a National Monument by virtue of an edict from Teddy Roosevelt  in 1908, the same year Yellowstone was declared a National Park.  It was elevated to National Park status by one of the few things that Congress was able to agree on in 2013.  The park’s geological origin was 23 million years ago when a volcanic eruption moved the area 200 miles north.  It now sits on a split of the San Andreas Fault.  The trails and buildings were part of the CCC program during the 1930s.  This is also the park that is now home to the  California Condor that was saved from extinction about twenty years ago.  It would have been fabulous to see one but that didn’t happen.

In the morning we joined another ranger for a hike through Branch Cave Trail.  The cave is a talus (gravity) cave created by breccia (bits of rock, some weighing tons) that have tumbled and wedged, forming walls, tunnels and ceilings.  It is home to the Townson Big Eared Bat which we also did not see.

The ranger left us to traverse the cave on our own.  For some parts we needed flashlights.  For others we needed to inhale deeply and squeeze, easier for Anna Lee than the men.  For a bit, we had to duck or crawl to get passed the talus.   This hike was a bit difficult but well worth the effort.

The rocks attract agile climbers.





We spent the rest of the day relaxing, talking to a neighbor and having Jeff continue his defeat of his mother in Boggle.  We also watched the large flock of turkeys performing their mating rituals.

Then in the morning it was back on the trail.  Jeff traversed the Old Pinnacle Trail from east to west while we drove around (there is no road connecting the two entrances).  We met at Balcony Caves where we ducked and scrambled through and around talus rocks finding increasingly more beautiful sites to enjoy.

We three had a great trip hiking and walking through this new national park.