Abre tus ojos!

Abre tus ojos!

Open your eyes. That is the message I just received from an old canvas coffee sack in the bathroom here at Top Dog coffee shop in Morro Bay. Once again we have arrived at another neat central California coastal town to be greeted by a festival. This time it was an avacado and margharita festival. The Saturday market was even more refreshing and interesting. I love to see the change in latitude through the foods (fruits mostly) which are sold at the farmers market. Not nearly as many apples and berries as back home but more raisins, dates, and mexican food.

Sailing into San Simeon

Before Morro Bay we had an easy 30 hour sail from San Francisco to San Simeon. We thoroughly enjoyed our time in the beatiful bay of San Simeon. The life beneath the surface of the water must be vibrant because the species that feed on them are abounding. Pelicans, sea otters, seals, shearwaters, porpuses, etc. We witnessed a rare (at least special) moment in bird migration. We were sitting out on the deck on a foggy evening doing some reading when we started to hear a sound like lots and lots of babies crying. Through the thick fog we started to make out hundreds of birds sitting on the surface of the water making these baby-like noises. We watched as the hundreds turned to thousands right off the bow of the boat. The fog was giving birth to more and more of these Sooty Shearwaters. We later learned that these birds migrate from New Zealand and Australia all the way to Alaska! We were witnessing a flock of these guys coming into the bay to feed and rest along their incredible journey. A small sample below. The sound was the best part. We were laughing out loud at how much they sounded like thousands of babies crying.

We were able to get off the boat for a night and put our tent to use in an illegal camping spot right on the point (Casa Blancas, I think) near San Simeon. We had a beautiful overlook over kelp beds right off the point. Guess what!? Like Homer Simpson's incessent draw to donuts so is poison oaks' draw to me. I have been bestowed with a little devil dust which has turned into itchy poison oak on my skin. O joy. Of course it is all the plants fault not mine.

Yet another cheesy "look at us having fun" couple shot, that's our skipper Ken in the background. (it's not a skirt it's a towel.)

Now we are in Morro Bay where we just enjoyed the best maple bar donut we have ever had. Next stop San Louis Obispo, then the Channel Islands.

.Hope you all are well.

.Much love all around.

Written by Colin, approved by Kirstin.