Disclaimer: Back in November 2005, when I was posting about our trip up the coast, we were severely limited regarding photos I could post on the blog due to bandwidth limitations. Here in 2022, I’m updating these posts using the original image and text, but I’m adding the rest of the photos I would have liked to share 16 years ago if bandwidth and storage had not been an issue.
Thanksgiving. Today, we were on the slow boat to China, I mean Monterey Bay Aquarium. Left early with fog still hugging the hills, but that burned off quickly. Our first stop of many to come was here at Morro Bay.
The fishing boats were quiet on this holiday, but the shorebirds kept busy squawking at each other. Bayside, we stood and watched seals who watched back; we also saw sea otters eating and listened to them as they tried to crack open shells with rocks.
Beachside, we walked along the shore and could have possibly been happy staying right here for the rest of the day.
Where Caroline finds the fortitude to walk in the late November waters of the Central Coast is beyond me. Maybe you think I should do her the favor and carry those boots? Well, then, who would take the photos?
A heron, some pelicans, along with many a seagull, were taking care of morning business.
That’s barnacle mom on the left and barnacle dad on the right, and if you look close you’ll see a couple of baby barnacles.
It’s nice that when the ocean makes trash it will biodegrade or become food for other species and contribute to the health of our planet.
Juvenile male elephant seals practicing for what will one day become serious combat and bloodletting.
Meanwhile, the females (obviously the smarter side of the species) lie around in the sun, toss sand on their sides, scratch their noses, grunt, and fart.
We’ll never tire of pampas grass, and while it’s invasive, it sure looks beautiful to us as it graces the cliffside of the Big Sur coast.
You might glean from the number of baked goods in the case here at the Big Sur Bakery that it’s rather late in the day; just look up at the clock it’s already 2:10 in the afternoon. They could have crumbs left, and still, they’d be the best crumbs anywhere.
Where we’re going, clouds mean nothing.
Inside Monterey Bay Aquarium, where life is perfect and everything is beautiful.
I’d have a fish tank at home if it could support such things.
Well, not these things: yellowfin tuna can hit speeds of 30 miles per hour and can weigh over 400 pounds; that sounds like a weapon to me.
Okay, so I wouldn’t want these in my tank at home, as I can only imagine having to jump in and detangle them from time to time.
And just look at the get-up you need to clean one of these tanks; this is why we come to the aquarium instead of trying to bring the aquarium home.
Sure, having these little fish would be easier, and while I don’t mean to slight its stature, it does look a bit common. Yeah, I know; I can just hear the Angelena Jolie fans saying, “But look at its lips!”
Some people prefer candies; we prefer sweets for the eyes.
Not finding the sweet in this guy; there’s something about horns that spells danger.
I can’t believe how psychedelic the fish world can be while we idiots on land try sanitizing our world into blunt conformity.
I’d bet a dollar that this fish is thinking, “What an asshole you are on the other side of this glass where due to your envy of our world, you have imprisoned me and my kind, forcing us to swim in endless circles eating the same crap pre-cut fish that gets boring. How would you like to live in some 1,000-square-foot space and eat McDonald’s every day?”
I think this ray is making fun of me by sticking sand to his chin as he comes over to the window, pretending to be the fat bearded guy trying to take these National Geographic-quality images.
Since it was after 3:30 when we arrived we didn’t have much time in the aquarium tonight, but any time at all is wonderful for us.
If only we could bypass the motel for one night and just wander along the coast or, even better, play night security guard in the aquarium.
