The Elephant Seal – Coast of California

Big Sur, California

Attention: These posts following our coastal Christmas-thru-New-Year’s trip are named a bit specifically, that’s because when these were originally shared, they only had one photo each due to bandwidth limitations back in the day. Since that time, I’ve updated them to include images that relate to the details of each day.

We are on our way up the California coast through New Year’s, stopping for overnights in Big Sur, Santa Cruz, San Francisco for two nights, Point Reyes for two nights, and then back to Santa Barbara for a night before returning to Phoenix.

Big Sur, California

This is our third and obviously final trip on this stretch of coast this year.

Big Sur, California

Once again, we must linger on details of the small things that exist for mere moments and are seldom seen. The bigger pictures are shared everywhere, but things such as this seem all too often to be overlooked.

John Wise near San Simeon, California

On rare occasions, I’m seriously happy about the photos Caroline snaps of me, it must be something about the way I look at her that made them turn out good in my eyes.

Curlew at Big Sur, California

Who doesn’t love the curlew?

John Wise near San Simeon, California

North of San Simeon at Piedras Blancas, we spotted three male elephant seals on the beach away from the main group a few miles south. Thanks to this random guy we ran into named Brad for pointing out that just a little further up the road, there was an even bigger specimen. This was Caroline’s view of me and the elephant seal, while my view is just below.

Elephant Seal near San Simeon, California

Whoa, this massive elephant seal looks…well…kind of dead, but NO, it is not dead; he opened his eyes to check me out, scratched, and went back to sleep. I guess weighing more than 2000 pounds and being able to crush me like a gnat he wasn’t much interested in my presence to pay me any attention.

Big Sur, California

Sometime, someday, we’ll make it out here at a time when we can finally visit the lighthouse up on that rock.

Caroline Wise in Big Sur, California

We love the sunset; we love the coast; we love one another.

Christmas Eve at Disneyland

Caroline Wise and John Wise at Disneyland in Anaheim, California

This trip to Disneyland was supposed to be made for Caroline’s birthday a couple of weeks ago, but this is working out perfectly, too, at the beginning of an 8-day coastal road trip that will take us to Monterey and the aquarium, San Francisco, Alcatraz, Point Reyes, and right back down the Big Sur coast.

Caroline Wise at Disneyland in Anaheim, California

First up was Space Mountain, as it always seems to have the longest lines later in the day.

Disneyland in Anaheim, California

Time warp to tomorrow.

Caroline Wise and John Wise at Disneyland in Anaheim, California

Taking a picture of the point where a camera takes our picture so I can exit Space Mountain and take a picture of the monitor showing me our picture without us having to buy it…meta.

Disneyland in Anaheim, California

Well then, pencil in 2007 to come see Nemo.

Disneyland in Anaheim, California

From heart racing to heart swooning at It’s a Small World.

Caroline Wise and John Wise at Disneyland in Anaheim, California

Getting on Big Thunder Mountain.

Disneyland in Anaheim, California

Another time warp, this time into the past.

Disneyland in Anaheim, California

The mix of Christmas and Halloween at this time of year is the best time for us to visit. We are in the Haunted Mansion for those who may not know.

Disneyland in Anaheim, California

Yep, catching all of our favorites because who knows how long things like the Jungle Cruise will remain at Disneyland.

Disneyland in Anaheim, California

Same for the Tiki Room. Can these old-fashioned attractions still be appealing to kids growing up on the internet, superhero movies, and video games?

Disneyland in Anaheim, California

Can’t say anything has changed here inside the Tiki Room, even after 42 years since it opened.

Disneyland in Anaheim, California

It was still quite foggy when we entered the park. Obviously, the weather has improved.

Disneyland in Anaheim, California

Oh yeah, almost forgot to share that this is the 50th anniversary of Disneyland.

Caroline Wise at Disneyland in Anaheim, California

I find her cute.

Disneyland in Anaheim, California

Back to the Haunted House for an encore performance before…

Disneyland in Anaheim, California

…a final journey into It’s a Small World. Merry Christmas from Disneyland.

Flying in

A small commuter plane about to land

Caroline flew into Burbank, California, today, so we can go to Disneyland on Christmas Eve and take a short vacation up the coast; that is, if my uncle remains stable. Maybe you wonder, how do I know if this is Caroline’s plane? Well, it’s not; she landed at night, came in on a jet, and flew SouthWest, but as I didn’t have a photo for the day, I had to take this one and shove it in here to fill the gap, and anyway, it conveys the idea it was intended for.