It was so exhilarating traveling around the north part of California for a month. We spent a lot of time on the coast. We drove up to Mt. Lassen Natl. Park. We were seeing new things but things we'd seen before as well. John particularly liked going to the John Steinbeck museum in Salinas. I loved seeing the Pacific along Hiway One. The cliffs are very high and steep and the ocean waves are huge. Point Lobos below Monterrey hasn't done as well as expected. This used to be a protected preserve, but millions of visitors have left their mark.We drove from Santa Cruz down to San Simeon where we went back inland to 101 to return up to SF Bay Area. The new section of the SF Bay Bridge will be spectacular when finished. And Golden Gate Park - still so lovely - particularly the Windmill just at the western end of the park near the ocean.
In contrast, we have just returned from a week in Port Aransas on Mustang Island; a barrier island off the Gulf Coast near Corpus Christi. We had a wonderful view from the sixth floor of the condo we stayed in. We could watch the big ships and the shrimp boats going up the channels. I could take my walks every morning where the waves gently lap up to the sand and the sandpipers scurry after them digging for the little creatures they suck up.
We drove down to the Mesquite Natl. Park preserve on South Padre Island. This is one of the longest barrier island preserves in the world. The sand is so very fine in texture and so relatively clean, the sky and water so blue. The park dredges out tons of trash every year that collects on this curved island shore. This is where large sea turtles swim ashore every year to lay their eggs. The rangers protect the eggs and release the young turtles later when they are able to survive.
I resolve to take disposable gloves to any beach I visit and collect trash - especially plastic bags and bottle tops - every time I go. I suggest that everyone else do the same. We can make the world a little more beautiful....wild creatures and all the plants are so vulnerable.