CARMEL-by-the-SEA

The sun was out again for the second day in a row, so we went out for a hike along Carmel River State Beach. This beach is just to the north of Point Lobos State Natural Reserve. The Carmel River flows out across the beach at the northern end and is usually a small stream, however, due to the heavy rains in the last few weeks, we saw it as a rushing river, slicing through the beach and into the ocean. The surf was just pounding due to all of the storm activity. Wise to stay well back from the edge of the water.

There are many tide pools along this beach so I was in my element. Again, looking down while keeping one eye on Mother Nature as she slung water our way through the rocks.

A view of Point Lobos behind us in the distance.

As you can see behind us, the tide pools along this section of the beach were just waiting to be explored.

We found all sorts of life in the tide pools. Everything from turban snails, mussel's, anemones and barnacles to star fish and this little guy - I think he is a kind of limpet. If anyone out there can positively identify this one, please let me know what it is.

Limpet or other kind of mollusk?

Can you see this fish?

There is a fish in this photo. It is called a tidepool sculpin. These fish can change color and pattern to match their surroundings. Talk about blending in! What a great defense mechanism. Wish I could do this :o)

Nina was completely overcome with the warm sunshine while we were tide-pooling and collapsed like a lizard in the sand to take a nap. Ahhhhhhhhh, what a life!

 

I ran into this shore crab as I was walking along the pools and we had a stand-off. He let me get so close to him, which is unusual. Most of the time they scurry off to hide under a rock as you approach their space. This guy just stood fast on the rock with only the tip of one leg in the water. We became such good friends while I looked in the pool next to him, I finally asked him to come over for dinner........I told him we were having crab........he didn't think that was funny :o)

This was the pool that my crab friend called home. Not a bad place to live.

Another good reason to come to places like this in the off-season........we were just about the only ones on this beautiful beach!

The ocean is SO blue-green along this stretch of the Monterey/Carmel area. The cadence of the waves rolling in as they crash on the shore is just hypnotizing. A sort of peaceful turbulence.

We found this very interesting stripe of quartz rock through a section of the sandstone along the beach. What sort of event made this happen a zillion years ago? Who knows!

Looking south towards Point Lobos

We came upon this Turkey Vulture who sat there on the rock till we could almost touch him.

We finally got too close and he flew off and followed us as we made our way down the beach, all the while looking at us like we could be his dinner.

Speaking of dinner..........all that hiking made us hungry, so we collected Kim and went into Carmel to go to the famous Cypress Inn for a drink (c.1929, known as the most dog friendly hotel in the US). Every time we visit this area we come here for at least a drink so we can sit and pet all the dogs laying around the feet of their owners in the bar.  Doris Day, yes the legendary singer, actress and animal activist Doris Day, has been part owner of this hotel for more than 20 years. The bar here is called Terry's Lounge and features a lounge singer every night with classic song singalongs. It is just fabulous! Very Hollywood glam. None of the photos I took really do the place justice. Go here for more history, photos and a real tour of the Inn: http://cypress-inn.com/

The FABULOUS Doris Day

A view of the outside bar area of the Cypress Inn (sorry, all the dogs were inside since it had been raining)

A mural of Charlie Chaplin is painted on a wall in the outside bar

We had our drink and then headed over to our favorite sushi restaurant in Carmel, Sushi Heaven. And, yes, it is heaven if you like sushi.

We enjoyed our fresh fish, seaweed salad, miso soup and saki.

Of course we never miss an opportunity to be silly and take photos over a meal when we are with our dear friends Nina and Kim :o)

We did a little window shopping on our way back to the car. The shopping in Carmel is just out of this world, however, bring lots of money if you plan on doing any. This is a pretty exclusive boutique community so you will hear a big CHA-CHING if you want to buy anything like a pair of these boots.

I couldn't resist taking a photo of these little doggies in the window. Too bad the place wasn't open so I could at least try a pair on. Here is the website so you can see for yourself how fabulous these boots are: http://www.artemisboots.com/

Looks like many of them are one-of-a-kind.

This was our last night in Monterey. Our adventure continues tomorrow as we head off for a stop in Santa Cruz and then on to Berkeley.  

Stay tuned! All of this happened a couple of weeks ago. I am still trying to catch up on my posts.