Lets Go Outdoors - Adventures

Central California Coast
January 27 - 28, 2006


Look carefully, .... they are indeed elephant seals.

See Trip Plan Below

Part 1 - Ano Nuevo State Reserve

Part 2 - Point Sur Lightstation Historic State Park

View Slide Show

It's been a while since I visited San Francisco Bay area. The first part in this trip was Ano Nuevo State Reserve. It is a State Reserve on the coast that hosts 6000 elephant seals habitat. Wow, I was very excited to see some wild elephants because January / February is their mating season.

It was quite a scenic drive from SF to Half Moon Bay , then to Ano Nuevo State Reserve. The wide open coastline extend miles of miles reefs and beaches. We stopped at the Point Pigeon Lighthouse and took a few pictures as well. Weather was getting better and better as we got into the afternoon.

Ano Nuevo State Reserve, California

We had to take a guided tour because it is the mating season for the elephant seals. We walked out about 2 miles and saw ...... one, two, then hundreds of elephant seals just lying around. The state park guide basically explained their life cycle as we observed from far. We saw pups feeding off the moms. We saw two bulls fighting and battling for 30 minutes. And we saw lots of lots of them just lying there eating up on the sun.


Enroute to Ano Nuevo, here's Pescadero Point


Reef extending to Pacific Ocean


Who says there is no farming on California Coast !


Lighthouse at Point Pigeon


Closer ....


and ... closer ....


Ano Nuevo State Reserve


Elephant seals life cycle.


I will follow you ...


Lone tree & Blue sky


Seriously, this is a Grey Whale's Clavicle Bone.


See the coastline from the Reserve


My signature shadow.


OK. It's serious business here.


Are they dead ?


Sand dunes at the Reserve.


Elephant seal skin


Just another elephant seal behind you.


Getting into the Battle Zone.


This guy (Bull Elephant Seal) is about 6000 pounds


It ain't no sausage at all.


Looking out to ocean, the sun was setting already.


Don't bother me, I am napping right now.


It is NOT suggested that you travel by yourself in this Reserve. He is a park ranger indeed.


Look carefully in the middle of the picture, two bull seals were fighting fiercely.


Bulls fighting for the mate. Click to play video (34 MB file).


Can you see baby seal feeding on its mom?


Last shot before we headed back.


Sun was setting ... and we were leaving


The bull drove the single female away from the pack just for himself.


Really, don't mess with me.


Not much life here besides the elephant seals.


Blue sky and the coastal range.


See how far we had walked through.

Point Sur Lightstation Historic State Park, California

The following day, I met up with my CUHK friends and went to Big Sur Area to visit the Point Sur Lightstation Historic State Park. POint Sur is the only complete turn-of-century light station open to the public in California. The lighthouse was built in late 1880s, when families lived and worked in the station. At the time the only way to reach Point Sur is by boat. There was no road access, workers here would sometimes live in solitude for months.

We drove to Monterey Bay, passed Carmel and reached Big Sur Coast. It was spectacular. The winding highway was built in 1930s during the Great Depression. There were endless views of the ocean and beaches.


It was a warm sunny to begin with.


Walking on beach by Carmel.


Water washed the beach.


Yes, my signature shadow


60 foot tree, see the little man ??


Big Sur Coast on Pacific Ocean.


How about building a golf course here ?.


Big Sur Coast.


Standing by the bluff.


This bridge was built in 1930s.


... gotta have a picture here ...


Hey, it's a big drop here !


... built in 1930s...


10 locks for what ? This is a multi-user lock interface. Each user can access with their own key. Picture taken by Stephen Mak.


We have to pass through a provate ranch to get to the Lightstation.


5 of us were going to climb that hill behind us.


Serious ? We were gonna get up ther ?


Historic State Park Plaque.


Another gate another 10 locks !!


Looking south of the lightstation.


This watertower is actually an AT&T cellular phone antenna.


Abandoned oil storage room.


Point Sur Lighthouse.


Stairs inside the lighthouse


Spiral stairs up to the light deck..


These prism helped light up the lower deck.


This would have been how it operated in the old days..


The diagram is up to scale, the Lens is acutally 9 ft tall.


Looking North from Point Sur.


Does it give you that "power" look ?


Light from heaven, just kidding.


This lighthouse is being restored section by section.


These staris used to all rusty due the sea wind.


Can you see anything ?.


Look out !


historic Lighthouse at Point Sur

Location: Ano Nuevo State Reserve, California

Description: Ano Neuvo State Reserve is fascinating in every season. Elephant seal pups are born between December and February during the "Breeding Season". During the spring and summer months, elephant seals come ashore to shed their fur during the "molting Season". Each Fall, yearling seals hang out on the beaches during the "Fall Haul Out Season".

We drove from SFO International Airport to Half Moon Bay State Beach, and then take Hwy 1 along the coast to Ano Nuevo State Reserve. Continue on Hwy 1 to Hwy 156 West to reach Monterey Bay, and then Carmel, and follow along the coast to reach Point Sur.

Map: Location Map

Resource(s): California State Parks
          or Ano Nuevo State Reserve
          or Elephant Seals
          or Guided Tours
          or Point Sur Lightstation Historic Park

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Jan 21, 2006

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February 5, 2006 →