Not quite live Explorer Mazlatan to Vancouver.

[drron29]

The water is so clear.

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The bird buffet has become more popular.

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Now sailing toward Monterey.Pass several oil platforms and a lot more shipping.

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[HappyCamper777]

Love the change in scenery as you move north!

[drron29]

[drron29]

A lovely specimen of an Australian wildflower as we walked to the bus.

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Passed an interesting building.

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But basically going too fast for successful photography.Though whilst the bus was stopped at lights I could get some roadside flowers.

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[drron29]

Point Lobos is truly beautiful.

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Views to a hut used in an abalone business and over to Pebble Beach.

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[drron29]

Lots of wildflowers for spring.

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[drron29]

The whaler's shack which has been turned into a mini museum Our guide's husband is the grandson of the man who owned this area.He was an Engineer from Pennsylvania who got a job at the coal mine here in 1897.It went out of business and he bought the land except for a 1000 block subdivision.However an economic slump then let him buy back most of the lots.He ran an abalone cannery and also a sand and gravel pit.However he and his family came to appreciate the natural beauty and after his death the family sold most of what now is the park to the state.All human evidence was erased apart from one whalers cottage.

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[drron29]

Looking towards the spot where whales were processed.

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Today a harbour seal haul out.

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[drron29]

And seal pups doing what comes naturally.

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[drron29]

Once again looking down is rewarded-a salamander.

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A Carmellite monastery.They take a vow of silence.Apparently only 2 left.

[drron29]

Another little criticism.The descriptions of tours were a little misleading at times.This was described as a moderate walk on a well formed track with some inclines.The inclines often were many steps over uneven rocks and tree roots.Rojaan had a lot of trouble so we just took our time.Also as you can see a fine,warm day so I wore shorts.As not yet the start of the season the poison oak was over the path in places so I had to be careful.People complain of the dangers in Australia but obviously forget what's in their own backyard.

 

 

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[drron29]

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Smart bird.

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[drron29]

It isn't all looking at water.

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A famous cypress pine-the Veteran's tree.Unfortunately half of it has fallen in the water.

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[drron29]

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Those are some Californian sea lions.In the next photo you may make out some hazy brown stuff on the water between the furthest 2 sets of rocks.In that are several sea otters but with the sun behind them you just have to take my word for it.

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[RachelG]

Very familiar with this area as well as our son spent 18 months at DLI in Monterey. Lots of visits to him and we much enjoyed the surrounding area. Hiked a lot, and of course, there is the wine!

[drron29]

Coming to the end of our Point Lobos trek.

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The cormorants have their little niche.

Then someone says-"look at all the otters out there-

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And there were-

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Not easy to see but the lighter blobs are the heads of otters floating on their backs.We were even able to see the process of making little otters.

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[drron29]

Rojaan decided to sit in the shade rather than walk out to see the otters.A bird walked up to her.

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So time to say goodbye.

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Unfortunately no time for this exhibition.

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These sea lions have taken notice of the sign.

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So we now leave Monterey.I was not aware that this cruise was billed as a whale watch cruise even though that was the reason I wanted to do this segment.We all got a book on whales.They supplied each suite with binoculars-obviously they still have them.they were collected on the last day.There were also 2 young women involved with whales.

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Anna and Lucy were a delight and lovely to see their enthusiasam.

We did see a lot of humpback activity in the next 48 hours particularly breaching humpbacks as we entered and left San Francisco.