365 days of images - - Day 12- Jan. 11, 2021 - Linda's Intuitive Images LMH -- Monday adventure to San Simeon to see Elephant Seals

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 Today Noelle, my daughter, and I decided to continue a tradition that we started while Phil was recovering and dealing with treatments for brain cancer.  We called it "Monday Adventure", it was a day that we would take a day trip, what we did was, dependent on how Phil felt on that given day.  I have written about several of our "Monday Adventures", in this blog.   We visited local places that we all loved, it gave us a change to spend time together and it gave Phil a chance to see the beauty to help him heal.

Noelle and I decided that we would celebrate Phil, by continuing our "adventures" while we are under social distancing and experiencing big numbers of Covid in California.  We will stay close to home, use it for exercise and help keep us from going stir crazy.  We have been in isolation since the beginning of hearing of Covid, because we knew Phil's system was vulnerable.  We have just kept it up, due to how the virus is spreading in California.  

We decided to head down the coast to check out the the elephant seal rookery, it is time for the pups to be born.  We started down Hwy 1 only to realize that our drive would be socked in with fog.

When you looked over the edge, where you would typically see ocean, was a sea of clouds.

We stopped for quickly in Big Sur and we were surprised by wild turkeys.  

When we got  to San Simeon the first thing I noticed at the Elephant Seal Beach was a Blue Heron.

The seals on my past visits were breeding, having pups and sparring at this time of the year.  Usually very noisy and active, this visit was more quiet, there were many babies feeding and lots of seals sleeping.  

I saw many seagulls trying to get milk right after the pup would quit suckling.

A large male seal with tracks of another seal etched into the beach. .

Black oyster catchers were among the seals.

  Sand flipping helps them keep cool on land by acting as a sunscreen. In addition, they sometimes can be seen flipping sand under stressful conditions.  I spotted a seal that was feeding two pups, I was enamored with them.

Pups watch as the mom's complain.

Young male elephant seal above and this female below seemed like the pied piper of pups. 

The seagulls grab placenta and head to the sea to fight over it.

There was many seals on the beach, although not as many as I have seen in the past.

A mature male making a bellowing sound.

After we spent time with the seals, we had one more mission.  We have a favorite place to grab a smoked chicken quesadilla, we head in that direction.... A quick stop to admire the horses in San Simeon and to gaze at Hearst Castle in the background.

We picked up our lunch at Ruddells in Cayucos and we were on our way back

Ruddell's never disappoints!  Delicious!

The drive back was equally as foggy, but the sunset was pretty!

It was a damn good day!

For Phil

I am missing you desperately  

.