A Morning on the West End

MB was in town over the weekend, and on Friday, with only half a day to spend, we swarmed off to the West End. First to Rialto Beach, where we raced the incoming tide out to the Hole-in-the-Wall,

Crossing Ellen Creek. (Click for larger image.)

turning around when we reached the big rocks, as the tide continued in. It was silly to insist on showing M. the most beautiful place in the world, but, it was the only place I wanted to be/see/show.

Out at the end of Rialto Beach (Direct link for RF.)

M. hoped to see whales, so we darted back to the parking lot and drove around to First Beach, sat out on the point to eat cheese sandwiches and fail to see any whales whatsoever.

First Beach. No whales. (Click for larger image.)

This was the third time in a couple of weeks to not see whales. The season seems to have ended without the cow/calf pairs appearing here. The calf count is apparently low all up and down the coast. The National Marine Fisheries Service biologist/observer at Point Piedras Blancas in California says this is a very slow year for calves. Other observation points report the same.

M. wasn't entirely skunked for big mammals. Over the weekend his family took him hiking up in the Elwha, and they saw a bear back by Humes Ranch.