Once we found our kayaking rhythm (took a few minutes for me to paddle at a regular rate and for Doug to stop saying I was going too fast..ha!). We kayaked for over an hour with Doug pointing out just about every potential wildlife viewing opportunity. I have terrible faraway vision, so I'm a hopeless spotting partner, so I really on him to be my faraway eyes. Except for the small fact that he comes up with wildlife types with such confidence and I can't tell if he's right or not so I'm usually quite skeptical. I am pretty sure we saw a few ospreys, a crane, lots and lots of jellyfish, some fish and pelicans. We stopped for our snack at a little inlet beach and then with 30 minutes left before our kayak was due back to the rental place, we shoved off and kicked it into high gear.
Thankfully the current and wind were in our favor, although I have to say it was quite a workout! We discarded the wet suits (phew!) and refilled our water bottles and headed to our next adventure...Point Reyes Seashore National Park.After entering the park, we actually got back on Route 1 or Shorline Highway which was the curvy, sickening road from yesterday. Thankfully today it was much more even and only had a few intense areas. The terrain was completely different here versus yesterday as well. Dry grassy hills specked with craggy trees, cattle ranches (also historic places, but yet still functioning) and then severe vegetated drops down to the ocean. Very beautiful and so different from the North East coast. We pulled over to see some sea lions playing up against the rocks at the bottom of a steep drop. Unfortunately, the pictures and video of this did not turn out to show what we enjoyed watching. They were super cute splashing and flipping around in the water together and you could hear them all communicating together. When we got back to our car, some of the cattle had come up alongside. They roam without fences to keep them off the roads on this part of the roadway up to the Point Reyes Lighthouse.
Just a little farther on we reached the parking lot for the lighthouse. Since the whole area is engulfed in thick, ominous fog we figure that the lighthouse is probably somewhere right in front of us beyond the park gate. But as we walk up that path we see a sign that says it's a half mile hike. Doug grumbles a little at this as we have had very little to eat and already put in quite a bit of physical excertion today. He commits to the additional walk though and we proceed. Then as the park ranger building and then the older, original lightkeeper buildings come into view we find the next informational sign...
Obviously, Doug is delighted to find there is even more exercise awaiting to see this famed lighthouse. I coerce the man that it wouldn't be worth it to come this far and not do the stairs down to the lighthouse (which still is tough to make out well with all the fog), so we continue.
We made it down (it's really steep and awkward). We stayed only a few minutes as the foghorn kind of gets to you and we knew the 308 steps upward awaited us and our stomachs were really growling already! Here's the lighthouse (no longer used)...
Beneath it is the little house which holds the sighing, consistent fog horn...
And here's the triumphant couple at the base (we actually did fine hiking back up, it wasn't that bad to me at least, I mean it got my blood runnning and I felt a burn in my calves, but I like a challenge).
Here's some more wildlife spotted by my crazy hawk-eyed husband. I mean it's really crazy how he can pick out things when I'm not even paying attention that there might be a little critter around. Anyways, he claims it must be a baby elk because they are around in this region, but it looks like a baby deer to me (see, the skepticism).
Doug also spotted another "elk" as he calls it, on the way to Point Reyes Station which was an adorable town we spotted this morning and Doug had already researched the Station House Cafe as a potential lunch spot. We couldn't get there fast enough (literally we were stuck behind a park ranger the whole drive out of the park). The cafe has an enchanting little outdoor patio with lots of flowers and tables in the sun and shade. We quickly ordered our food and then ate it almost as quickly. We got some Drakes Bay Oysters to start (Drakes Bay was along our drive and is famous for its oysters) and then enjoyed our entrees as well. I think the server was a little alarmed at our eating pace, the food disappeared at a remarkable rate (seriously it was 4pm by the time we ate lunch, we were just a tad hungry!). We highly recommend this spot to anyone traveling through this area. Quintessential little Western town, an amazing farmer's market, gift store at Toby's and then this fantastic cafe.
We drove back to our hotel and took a dip in the pool and hot tub to hopefully undo any potential soreness from the kayaking. Then we finally crashed and relaxed in our room for awhile. We finally decided we should get a snack for dinner and headed over to a spot in walking distance from our hotel, Toast. Such a great find. We shared a brick over pizza (pesto, arugula, roasted tomatoes and prosciutto). Then we really came back and crashed. I'm amazed I'm up already (and not sore at all actually) typing up this post. Now, what will our adventures hold today??
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