Showing posts with label sunrise. Show all posts
Showing posts with label sunrise. Show all posts

Sunday, October 1, 2023

New Year's Laurel River Lake

 1/1 - 1/2/23

Laurel River Lake

Nice weather, my wife suggested that I spend the night in the woods. I planned on going one place and when I got to the trailhead there were about 10 cars. I wasn't interested in camping near a bunch of people and I figured that at least some of those people were going to be where I was planning on staying. So, I decided to head to Laurel River Lake. I knew I'd be able to see the sunset/sunrise and the lake is always pretty.

all cell phone pics



I walked along the lakeshore for a bit and found a place to setup camp.


Looks like there is some potential for a nice sunset

It started out nicely ...

... and kept going








Then the stars started to come out

Orion coming up in the east

Venus?


Cloudy morning, no sunrise





A short trip, but a nice way to start the new year

Friday, March 3, 2023

Point Reyes

Point Reyes and Samuel P. Taylor State Park
6/20 - 6/22/22 (2 nights)
2022 Bag Nights: 15

I drove over from Yosemite and got settled into my campsite at Samuel P Taylor SP and then drove over to Point Reyes to start exploring.

First stop was Tomales Point to see if I could see some elk, preview: lots of elk

Song Sparrow

Tons of lupine blooming all over the place








This guy popped up out of a hole right in the middle of the trail. He saw me and disappeared. I decided to see if he would stick his head up again and after about a minute he did. 


Lots of elk before this one, but first reasonable photo

So many flowers






California Red-sided Garter Snake, still don't like snakes








Down to McClures Beach for the sunset



Day 2: Up early and off to Abbots Lagoon, I hoped to find otters but no such luck, lots of birds instead.

Another Sparrow

Scrub Jay

Quail

A badger? Only a couple shots and then it disappeared.


California Killer Rabbit, run away!

Abbots Lagoon

The tidal flats near the beach were crawling with birds and only a couple other hikers out early.

Immature Great Blue Heron?

Don't know?



Pelicans, seagull, and Merganser Duck?


Immature Great Blue Heron?




White Egret


Brewer's Blackbird?


Then over to Drakes Beach to find Elephant Seals



Chimney Rock from Drakes Beach





Then up to check out the lighthouse, the path to the lighthouse ended up being shut so no good photos or the lighthouse. But great views looking north at Point Reyes Beach

Over towards Chimney Rock and down to the Elephant Seal lookout



Drakes Beach in the distance

Old Lifeboat Station

Whales

Coast Guard



Sea Lions down below

Over to Limantour Spit for the sunset. I first hiked the couple miles down to Coast Camp to see what the backpacking would have been like. Hot and exposed, probably would have been fun.

Then towards Limantour Spit


Chimney Rock in the distance

Seagull and crab fight to the death


Seagull won








Then back to camp and then home the next day, wish I had more time to explore Point Reyes, but I got a nice taste.