May 14 - Abbotts Lagoon and Limantour Beach (Port Reyes)

I woke at 5am and debated whether I should be an early start or linger as it's take off day for Yosemite and I can't get there too early because check-in is  at 4:30.

I'm up so I'm in motion. Next decision is whether I want to hold onto my keys so I have a place to linger after my trip to the Lagoon or just go all in. I went all in.

I leave around 7am. It's not sunny but not foggy either so its a good day!

I repeat my drive of yesterday and the cows are out. I see a hawk that spooks and a deer.

And another Red-tailed hawk.

And lots of Quail.

It's so nice that I decide to pass the Lagoon and see if I can get some elk photos w/o the fog. But as I continue past Keihoe Beach, it's getting foggier. Time to turn back.

There are a couple of cars in the lots as I start.

There is a field of cows to my left and a marsh and lagoon in front. In between is not a field of flowers like yesterday. It's a brushy shrub of some kind.

Lots of red-winged blackbirds and quail. Oh I see a Toehoe and better still it's with a quail!!

Yes, there are flowers: Purple Owl's Clover,

Shrub Lupine, Yarrows, etc just no where near prolific as yesterday's 3 hikes.

And there are bunnies - ton's of bunnies!!

I also find several woolybear caterpillar

a few snails with very pretty shells 

and a centipede crawling along the ground. 

Later I find another on Cow Parsnip -- maybe eating it..

Very paranoid about ticks today. Yes, even though I walked 3 trails yesterday without really thinking about them. But I am checking today. This trail is gravel and pretty wide but there are a few tight spots!!

I cross one bridge and reach water. There's Egret and a Blue Heron.

I reach the second bridge and reach the beach surrounding the lagoon. It's a big lagoon -- way bigger then I expected.

In fact to reach the ocean is quite a walk I pass a Mallard pair and then reach a big piece of driftwood where I talk to a couple who ask if I saw the Plover chicks near the bridge. No I didn't. (They are rare birds and they do nest inside the reservoir. In fact, dogs are banned in many locations right now because it's chick time.) They said they were surprised when a Egret flew to close near the bridge and that spooked the Plover parent. That's the only reason they saw the chicks. I will have to look on my way back.

I head off into the sand towards some Terns and then farther down the beach.

I stop on a piece of driftwood. Way out in the distance is what looks to be a Cormorant.

I turn right and see this large creature moving in the distance. Holy Cow! It's a Blue Heron. Looks like a dinosaur!!

I start making my way back. I guess this is the Lagoon.

I see a new duck pair (Gadwalls) near the bridge.

I stop on the bridge looking for the Plover chicks with no success.

Time for a return which I find Spittle Bug on a Yarrow!!

At one point I look down and see a black bug crawling fast across my jacket. I bat it off quickly. Not sure if was a tick but it's gone!!

I get back to my car and check my pants, jacket, camera, backpack and head to my car. When I return, I find 2 black bugs crawling on my car. Not sure if they are ticks. If they are, I have no idea why they are on my car. But I'm leaving it to the wind of my drive to get them off! Ick!

Next stop is Limantour Beach. I don't think I'm walking much of it as my hips are not happy right now but I will check it out.

Different landscape heading down to this beach; it's through the woods. 

I find another Red-Tailed hawk.

I reach the parking lots but there's woods to get thru before the beach.

There's also a bridge to cross over a very different landscape then what I've been used to.

Finally the beach!

The waves sounds awesome!

I walk right for a bit and then go left towards Sculptured Beach. It's 2 miles away and I'm not making it today so I take a quick rest stop on driftwood.

Time to go but I need cell service so I head to the Bear Valley Visitor Center. On the way I see a Pale Swallowtail!

I get service and start my drive towards Yosemite. Google is taking me a different way today. 

I'm hoping to grab lunch on the way but there's only one town I go thru with good and it's all on the wrong side of a very busy road. And then the highway. It's super busy, the exits have no signage, I'm very focused.

Then I get to cross the longest bridge of my life; I didn't like it!

Then it's city, city, city. Chicago is a piece of cake compared to this.

Finally about 20 miles out, I see a city name and just get off. Good timing because I pull into a big strip mall complex. I see a Dennys and then a Subway. Subway it is. ($11 sub meal here -- much cheaper than Sausalito).

Then I set good for an Oakdale gas station and off I go.

Pretty flat and grasslands and then a super steep hill climbing over 3000 feet to get to Groveland. I've got time so I punch in Carlon Falls trail which it right outside of the park. I get there and there's a spot to park but there's rain clouds and I don't remember how long the trail is. 

I turn around and head back to my hotel. It's still early for check-in BUT after dinner it won't be.

Good day, loved Port Reyes but it's time to start phase 2 of my trip - Yosemite Valley!