Smelly Dirty People

Today was to be Wash Wednesday but we encountered a few issues which we will detail later in our blog. The plan for Wednesday was to visit Point Lobos State Preserve followed by visiting Garrapata State Park. We arrived at Point Lobos just after 10 am and headed for the Sea Lion Rocks. As we exited our car, we could hear the bark of sea lions. We quickly bundled up and headed out. The wind off the ocean was exhilarating and the scenery of course was beautiful. We climbed down stairs, hiked over strange rock formations until we were at Sea Lion Cove. And there they were, hundreds of sea lions barking and basking in the sun on the appropriately named Sea Lion Rocks which were way far away. We took lots of pictures and hopefully the blobs we saw will actually show up on the picture.

Look - sea lion dots!


We then started to hike toward the tide pools when we noticed a cute little harbor seal in a small cove very close to us. Well, we started snapping pictures at a frenzied rate. Imagine our delight when we notice another seal. Cameras, both still and video, continued to frantically document the cute little seals (now 2). Suddenly, we realized a third seal is already on a rock sunning itself. It was quickly followed by two more. Then, the drama begins. Little seal number 4, wanted to get up on the rock with the other harbor seals. But try and try as he might, he just couldn’t make it. Video cameras in hand, we shouted encouragement each time a wave came in. “Now” we yelled, “you can do it number 4” as we continued to snap pictures and record video. Flash forward 45 minutes – Number 4 as we call him, finally pulled himself out of the ocean onto the rock. “Whoo Hoo” we yelled, and continued to take pictures and video.

Seal #4 is the fourth seal from the right.

It was then that we noticed several other seals in the small cove, playing in the surf and jumping on the rock. Number 4 should take lessons from Number 5. He got up on the rock in one try. We said goodbye to the cute little seals and headed to the tide pools.
On our way to the tide pools we passed several rocks that had more seals on them but being blind, we didn’t notice them until someone else points them out or we notice them taking pictures. Apparently, there are a lot of harbor seals at Point Lobos. Finally we make it to the tide pools. We climbed down bizarre rock formations looking for small pools of water hoping they hold trapped sea life waiting desperately for the tide to return. We didn’t find any starfish or sea urchin but we both found lots of crabs. Bigger red crabs and little bitty hermit crabs.

Big Crabs

Little Crabs - hiding in the sea shells.

The two intrepid explorers (Lori & Amy – it is our blog after all so we can be intrepid explorers), never ones to take the easy way, decided to climb down to an area that was difficult to reach and free of pesky tourists. In this desolate and dangerous crevice, we encountered the magnificent Kelp Ball Sea.

The Magnificent Kelp Ball Sea

Since we are the first explorers to find it, we get to name it. Lori foolishly goes first and touches the icky kelp balls. A thought occurs to her, “how about I toss one at Amy?” So begins the first ever kelp ball fight. We invented it – we get to name it. Amy is stranded on a ledge across from Lori, separated by the Kelp Ball Sea. Lori attempts to help Amy cross the sea by tossing her a very long piece of kelp rope. Unfortunately, the lasso didn’t make it to Amy and she had to scramble down the jagged rocks unaided.

Try to catch it when I throw it Amy!

We explored the area, name the largest rock Lewis & Clark Mountain – again we can name anything we discover. We continue to explore the coast, climbing up and down rocks, scrambling through crevices, hoping to find trapped sea life.

Suddenly, we discover we are hungry – it is almost 2 pm. We walk back to the parking area. It takes us about 20 minutes. Hiking is a lot faster when you stick to the path and don’t take a picture every 3 minutes. We forgot to mention that Lori lost the map. It must have happened during the harbor seal rock climbing drama. You remember, number 4 couldn’t get up. Lori purchased another map and we were able to find a picnic area. We selected Whaler’s Cove where we enjoyed our usual scrumptious lunch of PBJ sandwiches, grapes, chips and a cookie. While eating lunch, Lori notices that Amy’s ears are red. Amy says “not as red as your nose”. Lori’s nose isn’t that red, it is just reflecting Amy’s ears. Lunch finished, the intrepid explorers press on. We now have a map and we know where we are going. Yeah, right.

Where did we park the car?

We start on a simple trail around a few coves. We end up back where we originally started in the morning. Not too bad but our car is parked at Whaler’s Cover. We take another trail to double back. We don’t. We find ourselves even farther from the car. We take another path and by some miracle end up close to the car. By now Lori is hobbling (sore toes) and Amy’s ears and nose are about to erupt into flames. Needless to say, we are done for the day and we will not be visiting Garrapata State Park.


We head back to the cabin where we plan on enjoying hot showers followed by a lovely dinner of potatoes, sweet corn and spaghetti and then the evening’s entertainment – laundry. Upon entering the cabin, we realize we don’t have any power. We can’t call anyone because the phones are cordless and they need power. We can’t use our cell phones because we don’t have any service. Like any intrepid explorer would do, we head back to town and electricity.

Upon entering Safeway, our safe haven, we notice that the quick wash up job we did in the dark with cold water – well we missed a few spots. We say hi to Wi-Fi friends we have made and quickly post our Monterey trip on the blog. It’s only 5:30 – what to do now? We decide to have Chinese food in town. We read the menu and decide on frozen yogurt at the Yogurt Heaven instead. It is now 6 pm. What to do? We head to CVS to pick up batteries for the flashlights and candles. Once there, we realize we don’t know what size batteries we need and they only candles they have are small scented votive candles. We head back to the cabin to prepare for a rustic evening. Upon arriving, we decide to visit our neighbor Laura who is also the caretaker. She graciously gives us her flashlight and tells us that they say the power will be restored by 2 am.

Back to the cabin, we light candles and start our daily fire. We had picked up tinder for the fire and while building it we realized we had gathered up a hanger. Only Amy could blindly, randomly collect a wire hanger with the rest of her sticks and never realize it. (Amy thinks Lori planted it.) (Lori knows Amy picked it up, she also attempted to pick up the water line.) Fire started, we eat anything that doesn’t need to be cooked. After a refreshing dinner of bananas and one cookie, we attempt to entertain ourselves by telling stores and pretending to be living in the Little House on the Prairie. Amy is kicked out of the Little House when she can’t bring in more firewood because she has just lotioned her hands. Lori is kicked out because she can’t keep a fire going.

As we sit in extremely low light of the glowing, not burning logs, we realize we have one thing going for us. The scented candles are masking our smelly dirty kelpie body odor. And with Wednesday our scheduled laundry day, we both are a little short on clean clothes. Did we forget to mention that the hot water heater uses electricity? That means no hot showers for you! When we are at the depths of our despair (9 pm) suddenly the power comes on. Yippee!!! Amy quickly makes herself some spaghetti and we both enjoy a beer. All is well in our world. Tomorrow, clean clothes!!!!