Friday, November 28, 2025

Black Hill Hike, Channel Islands NP and Mission San Luis Obispo

 


                                              




Nov 16, 2025 - We stopped by for a walk in the Elfin Forest with Elaine and Marilyn today.




Low tide in the bay this afternoon




we love this hike, which is just 2 blocks from Elaine's house and is a one mile loop





the whole gang




Nov 17-21, 2025 - Another week of work!  




Marilyn is loving her books




this one has tails that stick out and she loves to grab the animals' tails








                      
                                                                 my favorite Marilyn outfit!






a quick walk to the Monday Farmers Market





somebody likes to swing








more books





we love to look out the window after a diaper change





and watch Mom pack her lunch





the best trick for sleep






Romeo welcomed us home after work



a view of the rock from our Airbnb







yum!








we stopped by for our favorite sunset spot





Friday beers and appys at Beerwood




Nov 22, 2025 - Today we decided to get the bikes out and explore some areas of Los Osos we haven't seen.  





First we rode down the hill and stopped at the Monarch Preserve.  It was a walk to Shark Inlet (and we didn't see one Monarch)





the rock and stacks across the water










a drink before getting back on our bikes





Next we rode to Cuesta Inlet.  There were lots of kayaks here






It was a nice short walk to the water














pretty colors 





back on the bikes







Next Doris St access (with a view of Hollister Peak)




we sat and enjoyed the view for a few minutes










for dinner Kevin made some really good wings in our Ninja toaster oven/air fryer




Nov 23, 2025 - Sundays are a great day to explore.  This morning we decided to drive to Morro Bay and hike the Black Hill trail from the Morro Bay Golf Course.





It was a nice easy hike




with views of the bay (at low tide)





and of course Morro Rock











the rock with just one stack (the other 2 are hiding behind the stack)





nice well traveled trail






we're getting closer to the top






we made it!














It was a 2.5 mile round trip hike with a 250 ft elevation





we parked at the golf course and walked from there, it took about an hour and a half.  If you drive the upper state park road there is a small parking lot that cuts quite a bit off the hike





You can see the streets of Los Osos across the bay






it was a little foggy over Osos









Romeo was out for a walk around the neighborhood!







                      

Elaine wanted Marilyn to make Ian a b-day card so while they were at work we used finger paint to make her hand prints.  She did OK with the first hand, but when we painted the second hand she decided she had had enough!  Elaine worked with what we had, and made Ian a cute card.




Happy Birthday Ian!




Nov 24, 2025 - Since it's Thanksgiving week, Elaine has the week off, so she and I get a bonus day for hanging out.












we decided to go to Morro Bay for some exploring





and ice cream









Nov 25, 2025 - Today Kev and I are headed to the Channel Islands.  I booked us a 9:30AM ferry from Oxnard Harbor to East Anacapa Island and a 3:30 ferry back.  There are 8 Channel Islands, with ferries to 6 of the islands depending on the time of year.  It was $65/roundtrip for each of us and it was about an hour and a half ride.  There wasn't a lot of space indoors on the ferry, and luckily we had brought enough to keep warm on the chilly ride.  Once we were on the island it was 70 degrees, but it was windy there so not hot.  There was only one ferry to Anacapa today and it dropped off 30 of us, which made for a very quiet island for the afternoon.  There was a visitor center, with a small museum and about 2.5 miles of hiking trails with beautiful views from everywhere.




We left the house at 5:30, since it was about a 2.5 hour drive to Oxnard to pick up the ferry






it was a pretty sunrise







those are the islands in the distance





on the way to the island we came across 4 humpback whales







we watched them for awhile, which was a treat






almost as good as our trip to Maui earlier this year








it was a nice day to be on the water and I always appreciate a non-windy day (since I'm prone to getting seasick)





Anacapa Island













Kevin found some peanut M&Ms






Anacapa reminds me a bit of Scotland















pulling into the dock.  there are 157 steps from the dock to the top






the boat backed up to the dock and we got off while the motor was running (without tying up or anything)






It was a tight spot to park











there goes the ferry







the Anacapa lighthouse






once we made it up the stairs the island hiking was relatively flat











we stopped at Pinniped Point for lunch







we could hear the sea lions below us in the water






nice view of the lighthouse















middle Anacapa Island






we made it to the end of the island








Inspiration Point is pretty inspiring














I couldn't get enough of the view







it was a relaxing day wandering the island






there were only a few buildings on the island.  The building on the left is the visitor center and the one to the right is a building to protect the 2 redwood water tanks 





Cathedral Cove







This lighthouse was built in 1932.  Prior to the lighthouse was a 50 foot tower with a light atop that was built in 1911.  A lighthouse was necessary as the Santa Barbara Channel was hazardous.  In 1853 the passenger ship the Winfield Scott sank off of Middle Anacapa.








pretty views everywhere





they look like white rocks, but those are seagulls







every once in awhile the birds would all decide to take off and squawk and fly around






lots and lots of birds






We got a view of Arch Rock as we left






a view of Arch Rock and the lighthouse from the other side











sunset over the Channel Islands







On our way back to Oxnard, they said they could see a bunch of birds all in one spot, which meant there was a lot of bait fish, which could give us some good whale and dolphin sightings.  It's really hard to see in the pic, but there were dolphins everywhere (and quite a few whales too)!  It was a superpod of dolphins, there were hundreds and hundreds (maybe thousands) of dolphins and every place you looked they were jumping out of the water.  I wish I had thought to take a video, but I was in such awe that I didn't even really take any pics.  It was really an amazing sight. 








There were tons of birds flying above the water.






we're back at the Oxnard Harbor, you can see the Channel Islands in the distance.  It was a fun day, but a long day with 2.5 hours of driving on each end of our trip.  We left at 5:30AM and didn't get home until almost 8:30PM










Nov 26, 2025 - Today we were running errands in San Luis Obispo, and I talked Kevin into visiting the Mission San Luis Obispo.  Every day but Sunday there is a one hour tour at 1:15. It was interesting to hear the history of the missions in California.  We've visited a few missions in California and Texas, but it was interesting to hear a good overview of the missions.  The mission was named for Saint Louis, Bishop of Toulouse France.  They built this mission after starting the mission in Carmel.  They referred to the area as the Canada de Los Osos (the canyon of the bears), since there were so many bears in the area.  When they were facing starvation while starting the Carmel mission, they sent a party back to the area to kill the grizzlies and 25 mule loads of bear meat were sent north to relieve the missionaries. 



the flowers were painted in the sanctuary in the early 2000's (it took the painter 3 years to complete)





The door into the chapel was made tall enough for someone to come through the door on a horse






the part under the balcony was originally a stables for horses






This was the 3rd SLO mission and was built in 1772 (the first 2 were built too close to the river and destroyed when they flooded.





the original bells are in the garden.  The bells are rung (by hand) every day and for special occasions, such as weddings and before church services





the mission gardens





No comments:

Post a Comment

Thanksgiving and Point Buchon Hike

                          Nov 27, 2025 - It's Thanksgiving, and we're headed to the vineyard for Thanksgiving with Todd and Laurie....