Adventure 008, Hike 081 - Salmon Waterfall Trail

Capture California, the Game-2012

Adventure: 008, Hike 081 - Salmon Waterfall Trail

Team: Thing One, Thing Two

Date:  August 31, 2012

Location: 2.2 miles north of Monterrey County Line off of Highway 1

Hike Info:

Trail: Salmon Creek Trail to Salmon Creek Falls

Distance: 0.3 miles

Duration: 0:19

Elevation Rise: 85'

Description:
After a great day driving down the coast we decided we had one more hike in us. We had wanted to do this hike last year but ran out of time and energy, but not this year. Thing One and Thing Two were on it. We had read about this trail in our Day Hike on the California Central Coast by Robert Stone. It was getting close to sunset and we had time for one more daylight hike. You go a well marked trail. When it forks we took the left fork to the fall. We could see the falls from the trail but we scrambled around boulders and view the fall above the base of the falls. The falls were gorgeous-the picture does not do it justice. It was a great way to end our day






From Day Hike on the California Central Coast by Robert Stone:



”The trail follows the first portion of the Salmon Creek Trail to a dynamic waterfall. A short hike leads to the base of Salmon Creek Falls, where a tremendous amount of rushing water plunges from three chutes. The water drops more than 100 feet off the Santa Lucia Mountains onto the rocks and pools. Under the shady landscape of alders and laurels, a cook mist sprays over the mossy green streamside vegetation.” Page 58

Adventure 008, Hike 080 - Limekiln Falls

Capture California, the Game-2012

Adventure: 008, Hike 080 – Limekiln Falls Trail

Team: Thing One, Thing Two

Date:  August 31, 2012

Location: Limekiln Creek State Park

Hike Info:

Trail: Falls Trail

Distance: 0.8 miles

Duration: 0:29

Elevation Rise: 77'

 Description:

This trail starts at the end of Limekiln Creek campground. You follow along Limekiln Creek. This is a fun little trail as you get to go across various little streams with small logs and boards. In the past crossing streams has not been Thing Two’s favorite thing to do. But with a small amount of water in creek, this was easy. The fan shaped fall comes from 100 feet up the cliff. It looks like three separate waterfalls. This is a very different kind of water fall when you are used the falls in the Sierras. It is a lot less water but comes over in a very picturesque way. Thing One and Thing Two discovered this fall last year when one of Capture California Adventures was waterfalls. It was a great discovery to have made. We were glad to return to it this year and to be able to spend a few moments enjoying its splendor.

Adventure 008, Hike 079 - Limekiln Creek

Capture California, the Game-2012

Adventure: 008, Hike 079 - Limekiln Trail

Team: Thing One, Thing Two

Date:  August 31, 2012

Location: Limekiln Creek State Park

Hike Info:

Trail: Limekiln Trail

Distance: .7 mile round trip

Duration: 0:20

Elevation Rise: 141'

Description:

This trip follows the west fork of the Limekiln Creek. It is a relaxing trail as you meander up and over a few fallen trees. There are bridges to help you cross the creek. At the end of the trail you see four very large stone and steel kilns. You pause in front of them and wonder about the history of our state. In three years the limestone deposit was removed from the sides of the canyon. But from this limestone, much of early San Francisco was built.  Not only the lime but the trees were clear cut. It is a good thing that it is now a state park. There are now redwoods, sycamores, oaks and maples to be enjoyed by all who stop and walk among the trees.

From the brochure for the state park

THE LIME KILNS

Beginning in 1887, the Rockland Lime and Lumber Company extracted, processed and exported thousands of barrels of lime from Limekiln Canyon. Four stone and iron furnaces were built at the base of a large talus slope eroding from a limestone deposit. Limestone rocks were loaded into the kilns, where very hot wood fires burned for long periods to purify lime. The lime was packed into barrels, hauled by wagon to Rockland Landing on the coast and loaded onto ships that carried it to northern ports for use in concrete. After only three years, the limestone deposit was all but depleted, as was the redwood forest that had been nearly clear cut to use for lumber and fuel. Today the four kilns, some stone walls and bridge abutments are the only remains of the thriving lime industry that existed here.

Adventure 008, Hike 078 - Hare Creek

Capture California, the Game-2012

Adventure: 008, Hike 078 - Redwood trail to Hare Creek

Team: Thing One, Thing Two

Date:  August 31, 2012

Location: Limekiln Creek State Park

Hike Info:

Trail: Redwood trail to Hare Creek

Distance: 0.6 round trip

Duration: 0:20

Elevation Rise: 91'

Description:
This trail is unexpected. As you drive along Highway 1, you see magnificent cliffs and oceans. You do not expect creeks and trails. This was a fun walk. You are in the midst of trees walking along Hare Creek. You see groves of trees that are in honor of a family, lush landscape, and little cascades of water as it goes down the creek. The trail starts less than a mile from the ocean. This is a place that Thing One, Thing Two and Cat in the Hat should look at acquiring one of the campsites and spend a night or two in the flourishing forest environment.

Adventure 104 – Cowgirl Creamery Creme Cheese

Capture California, the Game-2012

Adventure: 104 – Cowgirl Creamery Creme Cheese

Team: Thing One, Thing Two

Date:  August 31, 2012

Location: Big Sur

 

Description:
On top of the Big Sur Coastal Gallery is a cafe, with both interior and patio seating. If possible, go out onto the patio deck and get a great view of the ocean and forest behind the gallery. As a bonus, you get to admire some of the art work in front of the gallery as well. This cafe is dog friendly, encouraging you to bring along your canine companion—our dogs would not be very well behaved. All the dogs up there were very impressive in their control.



But you come to eat at the cafe, so we ordered the Cowgirl Creamery Cheese and Charcuterie Board. This comes with an assortment of California Cheese, Salami, Pate, Creole Mustard, Quince Jelly, Basque Peppers, Caperberries, Sylverleaf Olive Oil and Z Crackers. Each tasted pleasant to the delicate palette. With a light breeze, it was the perfect place for such a meal.


But Thing One will confess, he really was looking forward to an Ortega Burger with fries at Hill St Bar and Grill in Cambria.

Adventure 103 - Big Sur Coastal Gallery

 Capture California, the Game-2012

Adventure: 103 – Big Sur Coastal Gallery

Team: Thing One, Thing Two

Date:  August 31, 2012

Location: Big Sur

Description:
A little south of Big Sur, is this building sort of shaped like an overgrown wine barrel. We have passed this place for years. But thanks to Capture California, today is the day we go into the Big Sur Coastal Gallery. From the outside, it is a lot more toneier than our usual mountain haunts. On the other hand, those inside made you feel more welcome-both us and dogs-than most upscale art places have in the past. For example, Mike was seeing us take a few pictures for Capture California. We talked a bit about the history of the place and he even consented to have his picture taken with us.



We make our way up to the top where the Cafe is. Why? For a little something to eat and find some canine friends. And we get both. As you would expect from a place like this, the view is great. We stay for about an hour and move along. The food, well that is another adventure. But even with the friendliness, the prices are way out of our league.

Adventure 008, Hike 077 - Whalers Knoll Trail

Capture California, the Game-2012

Adventure: 008, Hike 077 – Whalers Knoll Trail

Team: Thing One, Thing Two

Date:  August 31, 2012

Location: Point Lobos State Reserve

Hike Info:

Trail: Whalers Knoll Trail

Distance: 0.4 miles

Duration: 0;15

Elevation Rise: 100'

 Description:

How many times in your life do you get to act like a lookout for a whale, like in those days of old and shoot out at the top of your lungs, “Thar She Blows!!!!!”. Well, today would not be one of those days. From the junction with the North Shore Trail, we trail up and eastward. It is not a bad rise, when we get to the top, we find a nicely carved whale bench. To be honest, the view is not that great and I wonder how in the world could they have spotted a whale from her. But now it is downhill and ready to complete the loop back to the North Shore Trail on the other side of the knoll. But first, as we come down to the North Shore Trail, Thing Two spots two young deer. A good way to end this section of our walk.



But now, did we spot a whale? Read on!



From the Point Lobos Brochure:
Three trails lead to the knoll, one from th entrance road, two from the North Shore Trail. The longest trail over this hill is .5 miles, 25 minutes with an elevation gain of 180', through woods to views.



“Thar she blows!” imagine yourself an old-time lookout stationed on the windy hill to spot the whales on which your livelihood depends. A flagpole once stood here; a signal flag was raised when whales were sighted and lowered when the boat crew was heading in the right direction.



Examine the pines from October to March for clusters of orange-and-black Monarch Butterflies that seek sunny protected branches for wintering.
























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Adventure 119 - Point Lobos

Capture California, the Game-2012

Adventure: 119 – Pt Lobos Picnic and Walk

Team: Thing One, Thing Two

Date:  August 31, 2012

Location: Pt Lobos, Whaler's Cove

Description:
Just a few miles south of Mission Carmel is Point Lobos State Reserve. We turned in on trip down Highway One. The ranger at the guard station noted that this was the last day our State Park annual pass was good for. So in September, we buy another one. But today we enjoy!

We decide on a picnic lunch and as things would be, we turned into an area called Whaler's Cove. Would this be a fortuitous place for our whale watching? Tune in for the answer. In the meantime, we have our lunch of peanut butter, nutella, crackers and jerky. What could be finer! After our lunch, we went for walk along North Shore Trail.

Adventure 008, Hike 076 - North Shore Trail

 Capture California, the Game-2012

Adventure: 008, Hike 076 – North Shore Trail

Team: Thing One, Thing Two

Date:  August 31, 2012

Location: Pt Lobos State Reserve

Hike Info:

Trail: North Shore Trail

Distance: 1.2

Duration: 0:34

Elevation Rise: 289'

Description:
The North Shore Trail starts right where we had lunch—Whaler's Cove. This is where the whaler's in yesteryear would launch their boats to harpoon whales which wandered into Monterey Bay. It starts with some steps to get to the top of a ridge, which Cannery Point. At this point, we look around out into the bay, looking for whales. We did find some seagulls, cormorants, and a couple or three seals. But did we find any whales before we moved on? Stay tuned for more!



But on we went, along the coast, looking at several overlook points. Lots of great looking areas. We get to see lots of poison oak along the trail, but a safe distance from us—we hope. The skirts Bluefish cove before it loops around towards tge Sea Lion parking lot. We stop before then to return back to Whaler's Cove via the Whaler's Knoll Trail. When we meet up with the North Shore Trail, we see a couple of young deer. Then head back to our car.



According to the Pt Lobos Brochure, this trail is:



Between Whaler's Cover and Sea Lion Point Parking Area, .75mile, 40 minute, one way. Woodsy, with open views of coves below.



Exposed to prevailing northwesterly winds and seas, this rugged headland of sheer-walled coves and changing plant communities offers surprises at every turn. Near the west end of the trail, a short side-trail leads to aview of the strikingly beautiful Old Veteran Monterey Cypress tree—we did not go this far.



Midway on the trail, a side trail leading to a view of Guillemot Island passes over a sea cave. Part of this cave has collapsed, leaving a hole where the sea surges unexpectedly. Just to the east is Bluefish Cove, where harbor seals tend to haul our, and where both Snowy and Great Egrets fish from the kelp canopy. Spectacular views from Cannery Point mark the eastern end of this trail.

Adventure 017 - Whale Watching

Capture California, the Game-2012

Adventure: 017 - Whale Watching

Team: Thing One, Thing Two

Date:  August 31, 2012

Location: Point Lobos State Reserve

Description:

“Thar She Blows”. Thing Two has been looking for whales since The Cat in the Hat got a pair of Binoculars for Christmas for her. Every rock in the ocean looked like a whale to Thing 2. But today some of those rocks are going to be whales. We were driving down Highway 1 and a large number of people were looking at the ocean with cameras and binoculars. We went a little farther to Point Lobos State Reserve where the ranger told us that there were several whales to be seen. After lunch we started up the North Shore Trail. And there they were with their blow holes, fins and big bodies swimming in the cove. It was an unbelievable experience. It was the first time Thing Two, and Thing One, had seen a whale other than in an aquarium. There were a pod of at least five whales swimming in the cove. There blow holes were spouting water. There fins were coming up out of the water. Not only that but you could hear them. We even heard one of the whales do a belly flop-sounds like a muffled canon shot, even from ¾ of a mile away. Driving down the coast of California is always a great time but this day was even more wonderful for Thing One and Thing Two.



So much better than the whales in the Monterrey Bay Aquarium we submitted last year! And it also seems very appropriate that we would see these wonderful creates from Whalers Cove.