In Sept. 2021 we took a 3-week motorhome trip up the coast of California. One goal was to escape the never-ending heat wave at home, and in that regard, we succeeded a little too well! While it was still over 90 degrees at home, it was often cooler & cloudier at the beach than we were looking for, considering the activities we'd planned.
Our first stop was at Flying Flags RV Resort in Santa Ynez wine country. We had planned on wine-tasting at the Sideways Inn (from the movie Sideways) next door, but it turned out to be closed on Tuesdays. Oh well, maybe next time.
Although the blazing sun made it too hot to play bocce ball (like the last time we stayed here), we did enjoy the shadows it cast upon our window awning. :-)
Our next stop was at Morro Bay State Park, where we stayed for 4 nights. We had reserved the best site in the campground (#125), a large site with lots of shade (although we could have used some sun) and no neighbor on one side.
When we glanced out the window at the one campsite nearby, we thought "now that gives new meaning to being in the hot seat," but it was actually their gas fire pit showing through a mesh section of their camp chair.
The next morning we headed out on our bikes, to ride through town and out to Morro Rock.
Before reaching town, we passed this flock (actually, a 'rafter') of wild turkeys.
We reached the charming town of Morro Bay just as the fog was retreating back out to sea.
We had lunch at Libertine Brewing located at the water's edge. They had a stage in one corner for live music (most evenings).
Continuing north, we made a brief stop at the tiny Maritime Museum.
As we approached Morro Rock, this otter was enjoying a snack while drifting with the incoming tide. (Video may take a bit to download.)
We always thought that Morro Rock was an 'island' more or less, but it is accessible via a road for cars and a pedestrian/bike path.
We also learned that it is within the State Park boundary.
Like Haystack Rock at Cannon Beach, I just had to actually touch it! :-)
On the way back to the campground, we visited the Museum of Natural History.
This bronze sculpture was outside the front entrance. The statue depicts a Native American with a great blue heron wrapped around his right side; a bear snuggling up to him on his left side; and a falcon leaving the perch of his raised arms.
“It’s a tribute to our estuary connecting land, sea and sky with our human history."
-Mary Golden, executive director of Central Coast Natural History Association.-
The falcon was stolen from the statue in the spring of 2009, but was replaced after a fundraiser in late 2011.
