This is 65

This is 65

March 5th marked two very significant milestones: My 65th birthday and the public opening of the San Diego Zoo Safari Park's Denny Sanford Elephant Valley. This was one of the best birthdays I've ever had! 

My day began with some birthday pancakes with the olallieberry syrup I bought on my road trip to the central coast last month. I took Jerry to daycare so he could have a fun day playing with his dog pals while I was out all day. 

At 8:45 my neighbor, Lauren, meet me at my house and we headed to the Safari Park. We were both ridiculously excited to see our beloved ellies. It's been more 4 years since they announced Elephant Valley, and 3 years in construction. 

The new exhibit opening was at noon, so we had 3 hours to explore other areas of the park.  Our first stop was the coffee cart, where Lauren bought me a beautiful new travel mug and a cafe mocha. As a matter of fact, I'm drinking out of it now as I write! Next stop was the carousel, where I spotted a familiar employee. Rhonda has been at the park for about 20 years. I've seen her in multiple roles, and we would chat when I worked there. I told her we were there to celebrate my birthday with the elephants and so she wrote my name on a birthday button and slapped wristbands on the both of us.  She said we get free carousel rides for my birthday! We were the only ones on the carousel and both got on animal we loved since there was an okapi right next to an elephant. Rhonda took my phone and snapped pics and made a video of us kids on the ride. Such a fun start to our day!

It's so  cool that there are birds in our photo, too!

We decided to head Tiger Trail. THAT was a brilliant choice.  Dumai was spotted in the first enclosure taking a bath. What a sight! The keepers had just set out food all over Diana's enclosure for her to find. We have never seen her so active! She had just finished lapping up some meat off a big floating plate in her pool, and then explored the rest of her spacious habitat, stopping to gobble up piles of meat in various places. She and Majel are my favorite tigers.. for reasons. 😉

From Tiger Trail we wandered up to Condor Ridge and saw the Thick-billed Parrots, Bald Eagle, Toco Toucan, Burrowing Owls, Big Horned Sheep, and, of course, California Condors, my favorite birds in the whole world. 

Then we walked through Australia, stopping to admire the Cassowaries, Platypuses, Wallabies, and Kangaroos. Fun fact: the Safari Park has the only platypuses outside of Australia! The first time I saw them I was surprised at how small they are. I had always imagined they were beaver-sized. They are fast, too! The platypus is a fascinating creature and I always feel privileged to see them when I visit. 

We still had a little time to wait, so we visited the gift shops where I spent too much money on elephant swag. I got 2 shirts, socks, a magnet, an ornament, a little wooden elephant, and 2 totes-- every item a definite necessity!

At about 11:40 we went to line up at Elephant Valley.  While waiting in line, Marco  Wendt, the SDZWA Wildlife Ambassador, stopped to give me a hug and his pin as he was on his way inside. He was a busy guy giving interviews all day. I was happy we could say hi. There was a big crowd, but after the first hour inside it thinned out a lot. As the entrance was opened there were cheers from the visitors and zoo people alike. As we entered the exhibit there were zoo personnel on both sides welcoming us, and few lucky kids got hats. 

It's always a pleasure to get a selfie with Marco! Follow him on insta: @zoologymarco

From the moment we entered, this felt different. This habitat is fantastic for the eight resident elephants, but it's also wonderful for the human visitors. The first thing you notice is the scale. Elephant Valley is huge.  And the way that it is situated, as you look out past the enclosure it looks like part of of the rest of the valley. It's wide open, yet there are many shade structures and trees (protected by electric fencing so the ellies don't destroy them) as well as water features.  Food was on the ground and hanging from trees, feeder structures, and the rock structures. All of the ellies were active and most were feeding. I swear they were smiling.  I know I was... and I also cried. I have missed the ellies and I was so pleased to see them in such a wonderful habitat being so wonderfully and thoughtfully cared for. I remember when the herd was rescued from being culled in Eswatini and brought here. Ndulamitsi, the matriarch ellie, was pregnant when they arrived, unbeknownst to the at the time of import. I remember visiting little Vusmusi 22 years ago with my kids. He now resides at the zoo, after spending some time in Fresno. 

There are actually 2 large enclosures, connected by a tunnel that runs underneath the visitor walkway.  Throughout our visit the elephants made use of that tunnel over and over again, and they seemed very comfortable hanging out on both sides. 

No matter where you are along the long, wide walkway there is an unobstructed view of both sides. There is plenty of shade from both trees and shade structures. The path meanders down a gentle slope which is barely noticeable until you get to the end and you can see that you have ended up at a lower level than where you started.  

At the end of the walkway is a big grassy parklike area with large shaded areas. I'm sure they will be utilized for special events, school groups, and such. There is Tu Grill and several stand up tables. It's not typical zoo food! They had kebabs of beef, chicken, or falafel, and smoothies. 

And let's talk about Mkutano House restaurant! It was stunning! The moment we stepped up to the huge hand-carved wooden elephant doors we were impressed.  Inside there are Kenyan touches in all of the decor. There are tables situated under a large fabric canopy and wooden trunks, making it feel like you are dining in a grove of shade trees on the African Savannah. A huge screen is running video of elephants on one wall. There are hand-carved ostrich egg lamps, and Kenyan crafts on display in the waiting area. 

We checked in for our lunch reservation (you have to reserve through Open Table or risk being shut out of this experience) and had a seat. As we waited for my name to be called I hoped we would be seated outside.  My wish came true! Not only were we seated on the outside patio, but we had, undeniably, the best seats available! We were front and center to the elephants. Directly in front of us was a pond and on the other side of it we enjoyed watching the ellies eat and take mud baths. It was glorious! 

The food was fabulous, and so was the service. There are plenty of vegan/vegetarian and gluten free options on the menu. We opted to share 3 items: Roasted Garlic Hummus with fresh made naan, Crisp Harissa Cauliflower with with tahini-lemon yogurt and chickpea leblebi, and crispy vegetable samosas.  I also enjoyed a Dawa, an drink made with vodka, lime,  and honey.  I kept the honey dripper for a souvenir!  For dessert we shared a small cake with gelato and dried fruit. 5 stars!

After lunch we walked upstairs (the wooden staircase is a work of art!) of the restaurant to check out the Ona Lounge. There is a small cover charge up there, but it looks lovely. I will check it out on another day. There are stunning views of Elephant Valley and they make refreshments crafted with premium spirits sourced from local distilleries from across Africa. I hear they have a small food menu as well. 

As we headed out of the park we were so happy and satisfied.  We lingered with the elephants for a few hours and had a delicious meal. The weather was perfect. It was a glorious day with a lovely friend.  I might add, that Lauren was a wonderful companion to visit the park with. She also used to work there, but as a tour guide! She knew every elephant by name and was knowledgeable about practically everything there. 

After a short rest at home, I joined my daughter, Katie, at The Grand Tea Room for 413 Repertory Theater's dress rehearsal of The Importance of Being Ernest. Since it was a preview show, we did not get high tea, only cookies, but the show was very fun! We got a lot of chuckles out of it.  

My 66th year is off to a great start. 

More pics here

An Otterly Delightful Day

Sea otters resting at the Embarcadero in Morro Bay

 Today was pretty chill. We stayed close to the hotel and took a relaxed pace. Before we left the motel, I watched the first episode of Starfleet Academy for free on YouTube. I probably won't watch the rest of it, even though I liked it, because I don't want to give Paramount/Skydance/Ellison any of my money for reasons of politics and morality,  and I don't believe in pirating. 

We started our adventures at the Embarcadero where we chatted at length with a local and then with a visiting elderly woman and her son from San Diego. We saw a few birds and about 15-20 sea otters. One of them had a pup. You gotta watch this cuteness. 

Next we made our way to Windy Cove at the State Park to look through the telescope. I got some Least Sandpipers and three kinds of grebes. Twenty species confidently identified in 23 minutes. 

We then headed over to El Moro Elfin Forest Preserve, which I had been looking forward to all week. I finally was able to view the estuary, which I had been struggling to find access to a few days ago. Remember the mud and muck? Yeah, this was better. A lovely dry boardwalk meanders through the preserve, affording views of the estuary and the scrub. Educational signs are placed throughout the path, with information on the plants and animals in residence and the Indigenous Chumash people who historically made this land their home and how they used the natural resources there. There are also several benches and viewpoints along the boardwalk and Jerry and I sat and pondered on some of them. 

The Elfin Forest Preserve is a curious place where coastal live oaks, which normally grow to a height of up to 50 feet, are stunted by environmental conditions. The trees are measure in at between 4 and 20 feet tall! There are a few tall trees in one small grove, but for the most part nothing was taller than me. Check out their website to learn about the 6 distinct habitat types and who lives there. 

The view of the estuary from the Elfin Forest

The Elfin Forest Boardwalk Trail

Fuchsia-flowered gooseberry was in bloom all over the preserve

Mudflats from the Bush Lupine Viewpoint

We then had lunch in our motel room and then walked to Absolution Cellars where I did a wine tasting. Another woman from San Francisco came at the same time and we ended up chatting and tasting together. I sampled 6 wines in all, and heard about where the grapes were grown (all in central CA)  and the stories behind the labels on each one. I purchased some wine and we walked it back to the motel, since it was heavy. 

or should it say Wine Not?

Then we walked all the way back to a dog friendly restaurant on the water so I could view our last sunset unobstructed. There were a lot of people arriving for the Morro Bay Bird Festival this weekend. I noticed  a lot of no vacancy signs at motels we walked past. I attended that festival many years ago with Doug. It's a well-run birding event and I can imagine it's a great off-season boon to the local businesses. 

Our last Morro Rock sunset

The rest of today's photos here. 

This whole week Jerry was the bestest boy ever. He was the perfect traveling companion, hiking buddy, and nighttime snuggler. He got to meet a lot of people and animals and behaved kindly to all. He is truly the most well-behaved dog I have ever had. I thank him every day for choosing me. 

My best buddy

He's also my favorite subject to photograph

Jerry watching some elephant seals

On the trail up to Black Hill

This alpaca was just one of many domestic animals that Jerry met

At the Monarch Grove, undoubtedly grateful to be out of car and stretching his legs

At the beginning of our journey. He was great in the car! He used to get so nervous and vomit in the car, but now he's a well-seasoned traveler. 

Out of Service

What a long (and at times frustrating) day! 

We got an early start driving up to Cambria to visit the Fiscalini Ranch Preserve. At some point along Highway 1 my Maps app declared I had arrived. Huh? There was no road, no sign, no evidence of a preserve entrance. So I turned around and took the first street I saw. Slight problem: I had no cell service. My phone was Satellite-Only most of the day, but I couldn't connect to a satellite. I couldn't google the preserve's website, or search for anything in Maps. I tried to find any entry into the preserve, but the roads in the neighborhood I was in were not exactly laid out in a grid and I struggled to even keep going towards the sea. After a half hour of being lost in this maze of a residential area in the forest, I finally found my way back to the highway. From there I headed to the little main drag of Cambria where I spied a coffee shop. You know what coffee shops have? WiFi!! 

I got a delicious vanilla latte and pastry and the WiFi password. I was able to catch up on some texts and update my location to my friend who was in charge of knowing where I was in case of emergency. I also got directions to an entrance to the preserve, which I wrote in my Notes app. It seems there is no actual entrance or parking lot. You just park in a neighborhood on either the north or south end of the preserve and look for a sign at the end of a dead-end street. I'd have never found it! 

The map of Fiscalini Ranch Trails 

Once inside the preserve we took the accessible trails first. They were basically a looooong boardwalk for wheelchair accessibility. The boardwalk meandered through some grassland and scrub and along the coastal cliffs below which I spotted some harbor seals.  At one point there was a cat. A black and white domestic shorthair cat to be precise. This cat was following a woman and rubbing up against her legs when she stopped. I thought it absurd that someone was walking her cat through a nature preserve.  Then the woman proceeded and the cat did not. Ahhh, so it isn't her cat.  As we approached the cat came to greet us, too. The cat and Jerry sniffed each other, the cat rubbed against my legs, and I pet it.  I checked the tag on its collar. His address was on the street I parked on and it also said "I play at Fiscalini Ranch."  I hope that cat isn't eating the birds on the preserve. Just sayin'.

The preserve had a lot of unique benches made from downed branches and such. We took pics and sat on several of them. It was unseasonably warm and we did not bring enough water. No worries, we will just catch that trail to the Monterey Pine forest at the other side and then leave. Great plan, except we got kinda lost. 

I grabbed a trail map when we entered, but there were a lot of side trails that were not on the map. There were also bridges that were not on the map. And none of the trails had signs or markers, so I struggled to figure out just which criss-crossed line on the map I was on. The map also gave no indication of elevation gain and we ended up climbing a lot (we are feeling it tonight!) At one point I noticed on the map that if we kept left we would cross a bridge then go straight taking the left fork and arrive at another entrance with bathrooms and a so-called dog park. Once we crossed a bridge I thought it wouldn't be long until we had access to water at that bathroom. WRONG. We walked forever until we came to yet another entrance sign and some cars parked along the highway. I asked someone who just came out ahead of me where to go. The bridge I crossed wasn't even on the map, and the bridge I wanted was across the highway, but we couldn't see where to find it and I wasn't willing to cross the highway and walk for who knows how much longer. Plus, we were far from the car. So we turned back and somehow it was even more uphill. We found the right turn the good samaritan told us to take after much huffing and puffing. Once out of the forest we could see the grasslands trails below us and found our way back to the car where we had more water. 

Once we were rehydrated I found my way back to the highway and we drove up to San Simeon to observe the elephant seal colony. We paid a visit to the Friends of the Elephant Seal headquarters where I bought myself some souvenir socks. Then it was a few more miles north to the viewing area.  We spent quite a while there, mainly watching the females and their nursing pups. Further up the beach we could see the males hauled out and every once in a while a little scuffle would break out, sometimes with one male chasing another into the sea. You can find out more about the fascinating life history of the Northern Elephant Seals here. 

Informational sign at the Elephant Seal Viewing Area

Northern Elephant Seal moms and pups at Piedras Blancas

We continued north on Hwy 1 for about 30 miles to Gorda, just to stickybeak, as Doug would have said. The views were stunning, but the drive was tedious. At Gorda, there is little gas station and convenience store where I used the bathroom and bought some overpriced snacks and a drink, I tried for 10 minutes to connect to satellite, but it wasn't happening. On the way back I saw a bobcat walking on the shoulder! By the time I could grab my phone and open the camera app, the cat dipped under the guardrail and disappeared.  Very cool!

A few miles before Piedras Blancas I spied a bunch of large light colored animals in the distance. I thought they were probably Tule Elk, but I couldn't pull over because there were signs at regular intervals that said NO STOPPING ANY TIME.  So when I had the chance to turn around I did and pulled over just before the first no stopping sign and verified that there were, indeed, about 70 Tule Elk. I took pics but they were very away. 

Those light colored specs out there are Tule Elk

I continued back to Piedra Blancas, and pulled off just after the lighthouse. This parking area was also part of the Elephant Seal Vita Point, but hardly anyone goes to that side, as there are less seals. I saw some pelicans, cormorants, Royal Terns, and Black-bellied Plovers, too. 

Brown Pelicans 

The view to the north from Piedras Blancas

Jerry was super tired, and honestly, so was I.  The hike at Fiscalini would have been enough for one day, but there were pinnipeds to see!  I told Jerry we should be back in about 40 minutes. But that was a lie because just south of Hearst Castle I noticed some cars pulled over on the east side of the road and people looking into the fields beyone the barbed wire fence. THERE WERE ZEBRAS mixed in with the cattle! I was reminded that the zebras were descendants of animals that were part of a zoo that William Randolph Hearst imported at the beginning of the 1900s. They are considered wild and not managed by anyone, including the state wildlife agencies.  They are just living their best life out among the cattle of the central coast. There was even one foal in the herd. I counted about 25 zebras, but was told there were many more around the area. 

Zebras and Cattle on the Central Coast

We finally got back to our hotel after dark.  I was too tired to go look for food, and the restaurant I had in mind closed at 4 anyway. I ordered some delivery and showered then set to work on uploading photos to eBird and catching up from being AFK and Out of Service all day. 

HERE are today's PHOTOS

We Got High

We had a slow start this morning. I had some business to take care of for home so we didn't head out until 10:30. When I walked Jerry early it was cold and kinda windy, so I layered up. I regretted that choice. The trails were all unshaded and HOT. We started by hiking to the top of Black Hill at Morro Bay State Park. The view at the top was stunning.

Check out this short video of the view. 

The hike up to the top was short. I didn't realize that I drove to far up and missed the lower part of the trail.  Since it was so hot, I didn't care. Once at the top we sat on a huge granite boulder and just took in the views. There was a controlled burn to the east, and we could smell the smoke. At one point some turkey vultures were riding the thermals below us and it felt magical to be higher that the birds. There weren't many birds on the hike, but I did hear both Bewick's Wren and California Thrasher singing, and got some pics of an Anna's Hummingbird that captured his bright neon magenta gorget beautifully. 

Does that bird come with batteries??

They glide so effortlessly.

Watch them soar here

A survey marker at the very tippy top of Black Hill.

Morro Rock as seen from the top of Black Hill.

Looking south over the estuary and mudflats

The view to the east.

Soaking up some sun on a rock at the top of Black Hill

We chatted with some other hikers and found out about another nearby trail that seemed appealing. So we drove down to the campground and took walked the "Fitness Trail," which was an easy trail through the coastal shrub. We saw some California Quail, and got nice views of a California Thrasher. 

California Thrasher was a bit of a poser. 

A survey marker at the very tippy top of Black Hill.

I kept wondering what was on those mudflats and how to get up close to the estuary. I could see there were hundreds, if not thousands, of birds out there, but at that distance they were mere specks. So we went exploring. We drove across the bridge to the little town across the creeks called Los Osos. We eventually came upon a place where we could get close. Pasadena Park Beach.  Calling that place a beach is laughable, but there were other dogwalkers about and a bench to sit on and try to sort shorebirds.  It was low tide and there was a lot of exposed mud and gunk. We walked down the "beach" for a bit and Jerry ended up sinking to his knees in black goo. My shoes didn't fare so well either. And that black gunk stunk!

We went back to the motel (glad to be in a rental car-haha) and went straight to the dog wash station. Yes! This motel is so dog friendly that they have a dog wash sink and towels. (they also gave us dog treats and a poop bag holder with a flashlight on it) More on that later...  After cleaning my pup and my shoes we went up to our room where I cobbled together a lunch from my mini frig and then we had a nap.  Day 3 Done. 

Here are the rest of the day's photos. 

About the dog-friendly motel:  I used Bring Fido to plan this trip.  I highly recommend it. At that website you can find dog-friendly accommodations, restaurants, and activities. Just plug in the place you want to go and, voila! You can even book your room right through their site. I used it last month for an overnight in Palm Springs, too. I have found cool dog-friendly restaurants and some even have dog menus so that Jerry can eat a fresh meal with me. You can also find out what shops and trails and other activities allow dogs. That is how I planned our hikes! I am not an affiliate or anything like that. Just passing on a good resource for my readers who want to travel with their pooches.