Montaña de Oro State Park

February 10, 2023

We’ll begin today’s post with a few brief news items. First, there’s the fact that we’re decamping again, have a longish drive ahead with a dinner date at the end of the day, and don’t have a lot of time to spend on such foolishness as this post. So, it’s another blitz affair.

Second, Rachael set a new PB (personal best, not peanut butter, fyi) on the walking front: 14.5 miles, 3,700’ of climbing, and three more peaks bagged - Valencia, Oats and Alan. Actually, she had to recross Oats and Valencia on the way back, so she’s claiming five for the day.

Third, she woke up this morning with her body declaring that enough’s enough. No more peaks for awhile dammit, her joints and muscles scream at her. Fortunately for them, the upcoming drive is just what the doctor ordered.

Fourth, about the ankle. It’s doing better - much better, in fact. I did a fair amount of walking myself, by the standards of the last few days - four, maybe five miles? And my ankle doesn’t feel normal yet by any means, but dare I say it’s starting to feel normalish? Yes, I do dare. It’s our blog, after all. Who cares if normalish is actually a word?

Fifth, at the end of the day Team Anderson is united again. Things looked iffy for awhile though at the end of the day, when I sat in the car for over a half hour by the outhouse we agreed to meet at, listening to the news and starting to get impatient that Rachael was so far behind schedule. Finally I decided to give her a call to see when she’d arrive, and was distressed to find I was sitting in a dead zone. I started up the car immediately and drove up the road looking for her, and was relieved to came across her a minute later looking and sounding quite distressed herself. She’d been trying for a half hour to find or contact me and was about to give up and try to hitchhike back to town. Oddly enough, phone service returned almost immediately after I rose up out of the depression the outhouse sits in.

Sixth, Montaña de Oro State Park is a gorgeous place. It’s our second time here, and hopefully not the last; and hopefully next time I can go back up to the amazing viewpoint on Valencia Peak myself. For today though it was wonderful staying on the flats just walking along the bluff trail taking in the waves and the fantastic rock formations.

See for yourself. For a change, we pooled our landscape photos into a joint slideshow:

Video sound track: Song for Alex, by Yasmin Williams

Rachael’s hike got off to a slow start when I realized I may not have locked the car. I called her up to see if she was still near the car. She wasn’t particularly, but at least she was closer and faster than me and had her own set of keys.

Her hike, in her words:

Today is my last day in my quest to hike some more peaks. My hike included Valencia Peak, Oats Peak and Alan Peak. What I didn’t think about is that my route back took me over Oats Peak and Valencia Peak again so I’m claiming 5 peaks. The climb to the first 2 peaks were sunny with beautiful views. During my climb to Alan Peak a fog rolled in which was amazing to watch. As I made my way back, the fog gradually lifted. What an amazing hike!

Wonderful views. I wish I’d been up there with her.

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My own much shorter and easier day began with a loop walk along the Bluff Trail and then back along another trail back from and above the bluff. A gorgeous walk.

A representative view from the bluff. It’s amazing like this the whole way.

Valencia Peak starts disappearing into the fog. I start wondering how Rocky’s doing up there.

One more challenge for the research team.

That took me about two hours; so with an abundance of time on my hands and few birds in evidence on the bluff I drove back down to Los Osos for some bayside birding and a pleasant break at a cafe, sitting in the sun enjoying my ham and cheese croissant and coffee and trying to decide if these are Brewers blackbirds or cowbirds hopping around nearby.

Two or three hours later I called Rachael to get an ETA, learning that she’s still three miles from the end - an hour plus maybe? So, a bit more birding and then I drive back up, park by the outhouse, and wait. And wait. And wait. Later we’ll listen to the poignant messages she left on my phone, her voice quavering as she implores me to call her. It gave us something interesting to talk about on the way back to town.

An ornamental, by the waterfront in Los Osos.

At the Audubon Society Sweet Springs Nature Reserve.

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2023 Bird List

91. Pelagic cormorant

92. California scrub-jay

93. Greater yellowlegs

94. Western Sandpiper

95. Chipping sparrow

96. Cinnamon teal

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Kathleen JonesSee any monarch butterflies in Sweet Springs?
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1 year ago

Scott AndersonTo Kathleen JonesNot there specifically, but here and there in the vicinity. Every time I see one I marvel that they can really fly so far.
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1 year ago

Kathleen JonesTo Scott AndersonNext time you pass through that area in the winter, a stop at the monarch sanctuary in Pismo Beach is well worth it. One of the largest populations in the state.
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1 year ago

Suzanne GibsonWhat a great slide show!
Losing contact like that is scary!
I never thought that you would have 100 bird sightings before you leave for Italy, but now obviously you will!
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1 year ago

Scott AndersonTo Suzanne GibsonNo problem! I’m surprised myself, but there’s no doubt that I’ll easily blow past 100 in our month in Portland.
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1 year ago

Rachael AndersonTo Suzanne GibsonIt was scary!
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1 year ago