Extended Weekend at Morro Bay

Little water-babies that we are, we wanted to have a fair share of beach relaxation before the night of nail-biting (a.k.a. the US election night). And so, we hopped into the car, and off we went to San Simeon in Central California… But to be honest, it was not as impulsive as I made it sound. Ro and I had planned a beach camping getaway at Morro Bay Strands since a while. And the San Simeon pitstop was just an extension for the Morro Bay camping to follow.

Morro Bay

The sea lapping at the sandy beach was more endearing here at Morro Bay with its gentle calmness. The sheer blueness extending on both sides mentally transported me back to the Mediterranean. It is not just I who was transported there, and the antique shops in the Morro Bay downtown fostered the European sea-life charm further. Whitewashed or pastel colored exterior for the low-rise buildings skirting along the Bay marries the American and European charm.

Naturally formed bay and estuary (and the sand bar) at Morro is a part of eroding volcanic formation from millions of years ago. The iconic Morro Rock is the volcanic outcrop from the oceanic floor that stands tall to this day. Morro Bay is home to many aquatic and amphibian species. Finding varieties of kelp, sand dollar and other aquatic life on the beach, are common things when one takes a casual stroll on the sandy beaches.

Sight of the Morro Rock from T-pier

We camped to the north of Morro Bay downtown, at the Morro Bay Strands. The beachside campsite offered lovely views of the beach and the most coveted spot for sunsets. Incidentally, we were at the site on a full moon night, and the night views were spectacular! Overall, we were surrounded by natural beauty all around – while being at a stone’s throw from the city.

Camping at Morro Bay Strands, overlooking the sea

Morro Bay was a highlight for us for the array of dog-friendly activities. Kuro had a blast running on the beach, playing in the sand, peering down from the pier, and chasing the gulls! Another thing Kuro did for the first time was accompanying us in the canoe! a tiny dog that he is, he smelt the gentle Bay breeze, and gradually warmed up to the idea of having fun in a mobile contraption on water (the canoe). I was impressed by the other dogs who accompanied their humans on the paddle board and maintained their calm composure. That may be the next step to aspire for, for little squirmy Kuro!

Kuro enjoying the view as we paddle forth

And sometimes he snuck up to me with the cutest “mleh” expression

Mammals and birds at Morro Bay

And oh, the birds and aquatic animals at the Bay! I was spoilt – with the sightings of herons, cranes, egrets flying, fishing, and doing their thing as we walked on the beach and then to Morro Rock, and then when we sat by the pier. We didn’t catch a glimpse of any whales, presumably because they all swam to the south to breed around this time of the year. The sea otters were plenty at Morro Bay around this time, and we joked how big they are, as compared to our little 7 lbs pooch.

Whale jaw-bones near the Natural History Museum at Morro Bay

Could we take a moment to express the annoyance about seagulls and geese? I absolutely adore all birds, don’t get me wrong. BUT, yappy seagulls and (entitled) geese that sometimes actively attack humans, have been on my list of annoying birds. And at Morro, seagulls were plenty! Surprisingly, like the sweet humans of Morro Bay, the seagulls there were not too annoying… Maybe the place rubs on you 😉

We named this one Mr. Magoo

With some sporadic shopping, playing boardgames under the moonlight and cup of tea by the fire, we felt at home at Morro Bay. The sky was clear, and gradually we emptied our minds off work-stress et al. Camping also afforded us a sort-of analog life, away from internet and fancy gadgets. This time around, we did not take many pictures as much as capturing mental images of us having a good time, relaxing and soaking upthe sun.

We returned home with our hearts full, and plans for heading back to Morro sometime soon, to unwind 🙂

D.

Amazing backdrop of the sea and the Morro Rock

Breaking monotony at Albany Waterfront

Fires in California made headlines. And the stupidity of humans – gender reveal party that set thousands of acres ablaze – was not lost on us, staring haplessly at the screens, looking at latest news updates. A thick blanket of smoke was hanging above. And the sun became a rare sight in sunny California.

I was laboriously dusting the ash off my plants in the balcony… Only for new soot to settle down next morning. Did the women in Pompeii feel something similar thousands of years ago? What would they have thought, seeing ash pour down, and sky turning deep yellow and orange as if ablaze?

Albany waterfront

That day, much before the fires, Ro and I were marveling at the beautiful Bay landscape. And how this beauty was a creation or a product of intense pain… Heat, lava, erosion, exfoliation, and so on. The petrified mute geological markers of time and landscape formation had borne the brunt of these natural elements.

On a scale of this vastness, we are indeed tiny speckles of carbon.

The undulating landscape of the Albany waterfront was a natural setting for nerds such as ourselves to reflect on the many ironies of human life. And this mulling over was accentuated with eclectic pieces as embellishments of the landscape. It was a fine example of public participatory art. I could totally imagine one person setting up the wooden planks, and some other random person adding a few pieces until finally a ship shaped up…

Bespoke pirate ship sculpture at Albany waterfront

We as humans mark the landscape in some way or the other: through tangible material expression, or narratives, or merely by our presence. Sometimes it is a desirable intervention, but oftentimes, not so much.

Our actions beget reactions from nature, and the fires have shown us what scale it could reach, so as to engulf everything in its wake. In our monetary calm at the waterfront, we immerse in the natural beauty that surrounds us, but carries a slight taint of being momentary, or fleeting.

I oscillate between being a hopeless romantic and a bleeding heart worrier (not warrior). I proclaim that the nature has its course of healing, and we should let it be – only to turn around and panic about how irresponsible we as humans have been! And in such oscillating states, something like a thousand acre fire shakes me to the core. Every view that I see here’s colored with that immediate concern running in the background: that of fleeing to safety.

View of San Francisco skyline from Albany waterfront (pre-forest-fires) – Aug 2020

We return to waterfront in the hope of taking in the calm pace of nature, to heal and nurture. The gentle harmony of ripples sets a pace for busy days to come, and we can mentally zone out to the tranquil depths at the waterfront.

The gentle unfolding of patterns in nature struck me more as I read “The Hidden Life of Trees”. In this book, Peter Wohlleben renders endearing pen picture of plant life. And it truly makes us seem ignorant. Nah, self- obsessed! So self-consumed, that we fail to look around us.

Less is more, at Lassen

So, taking up from the last post, we set up our camp and set out to explore the treasures of LaVo.  In a day and a half, we were mesmerized by the variegated landscape of LaVo. The thermal springs, mud-pods (with literally steaming hot mud), basaltic outcrop and breathtaking lakes that would remind you of the pristine beauty of the Canadian Rockies. And all this, in a periphery of mere 400 odd kilometers.

milky waterfalls

paths lined with conifers

Pristine lakes with clear blue waters

The mudpods

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And all this transforms into a diamond-studded veil in the night. The milky-way stretches on the top as if a magnificent brushstroke positioned to frame the beauty of LaVo.

I did not manage to get clear pictures of the night sky…and I think it is better cherished in the mind’s eye 😉 But by our next trip to Lassen, I plan to perfect the art of dark sky photography. Stay tuned! 😀

D.

Lassen log-in

It was again that time of the week… the weekend! 🙂 We set out with our tents, sleeping bags, and all the paraphernalia on a long drive from Berkeley to Lassen (fondly called LaVo – Lassen Volcanic National Park). Kuro was at the dog-sitters and four of us drove towards Lassen on Friday night.

First stop was Mineral – yes, name of a place – for the night stay at a lovely ranch with a cute cat. The night stay was so comfortable that my mind refused to leave. A willow tree in the parking area was a welcome sight that almost roped me in. The ranch was a wide expanse of flat land with horses frolicking at a distance. That reminded me of the vast Prairies and took me back to Alberta. I woke up early in the morning on Saturday to soak the sun and enjoy the vastness of land with a warm cup of tea and a cat curled up at my feet…

And as the sun climbed up, we made some scrambled eggs and hopped back in the car to get to Lassen. The geography changed drastically from flatlands to an undulating landscape made up of volcanic formations. The vegetation and color of the soil closely resembled that of Deccan plateau composed of basaltic formation. As we climbed up towards Lassen peak (in the car, still) the temperature dropped and snow-capped mounts graced the picture-frame. And then, I was mentally back in Calgary! Uff, such back and forth between places with my mind’s eye!

And then we were close to Manzanita Lake, where the landscape turned into a cover of conifers with blue hills in the distance – a striking reminder of Mt. Rainier National Park.  And again, a lot of breath-taking lakes: Lake Emerald, Lake Helen… and them ur campsite next to the Lake Manzanita.  Our plans for things to do at LaVo were in constant flux. We started off with a plan to check-in at the camp-site, then hike at King’s creek and end the day with star-gazing after a short kayaking round at the lake. But it was already noon by the time we reached LaVo, and so all this would not be feasible. Hence, we came up with plan B: Kayaking at Manzanita first, then a sun-set hike at King’s Creek and then star-gazing in the night. BUT, some of us also wanted to check out a night photography workshop at Lassen. So, we settled on driving to the visitor’s center first, to gauge what would be the optimum course of action.

So, we picked up the map at the visitor’s center and we were even more confused than before – because there is SO MUCH to do! And we proceeded to the photography workshop (which was frankly, a tad bit boring) which provided a good breather before we began with the adventurous day that lay ahead.

After the workshop, we raced to Manzanita Lake and rented a kayak. The lake was pristine and brought the joy of kayaking back. Last time I was at Lake Louise and the meditative calm of the blue waters had made my kayaking experience out of this world. Ro and I raced with our friends back to the Kayak dock and splashed water all over by the time we returned the kayaks.  The contemplative depths of the lake were rippled with our last leg of kayak race – but no humans, plants or animals were harmed (maybe some microbes) and we were one of the last people in the lake, so no fellow kayakers had to feel that their meditative kayaking was disrupted.

We set up our camp after kayaking, and we felt that we have finally arrived! Leaving our home in Berkeley the evening before, to this moment of setting up our tent, I was in a partial state of limbo, and I longed to plop my things somewhere before I take to the mountains. The consolation is that we were car-camping, and did not lug around all the camping equipment. It, however, amazed me to feel the sense of relief to see our tent all set to curl up in. Sometimes we give little credit to these small cues that define “stability and peace”.

This in LaVo, we had arrived 🙂

D.

Cycling to Sausalito

Saturday was for Sausalito!

Since I moved to the Bay Area, the little wanderer in me wants to visit a new place every week(end). And this week, I thought I am ready to kickstart some cycling activity. It has been a good fortnight since we got a new bike for me, and I took my time to adjust to the gear system, gradient biking and so on. I feel unprepared for the strenuous bike paths, and I thought Sausalito is a great first bike route to assure myself that biking with the right preparation is a piece o’ cake!

So there we were, sitting in Berkeley, setting out for Sausalito…

Come Saturday morning, Ro, me and Kuro (of course) packed the essentials for a half day trip and hopped on our bikes (Kuro hopped into his little backpack), headed towards the station. But we had to take a detour for the last minute air check in the tires and adjusting the saddle. Although that meant we were slightly off our original time schedule, we were very thankful that our bikes were primed for a gradient we would bike on near Golden Gate bridge later.  After meandering at the only bike shop that was open in the wee hours of the morning, we made our way to the BART station. Biking to the station was the easy part, but making my way to the platform wasn’t. I was juggling Kuro on my back and bike in my (ehm, strong) arms as I tapped the transit pass and tried to get through the electronic barrier. Well, the juggling did not go so well after all… The front wheel of my bike safely made over the barrier, and the rear wheel was lodged behind the barrier – with Kuro in the backpack and me struggling to get the bike out of the awkward stuck “wheely” position. Ro nodded as he caught me in the act, and was probably wondering why I had not followed him through the wider gates made for bikes and wheelchairs to pass. “I didn’t know”, I gestured – and we both knew, that I was just defending myself.

After the kind station attendant let me through the electronic barrier, I heaved a sigh of relief, and then it was all a breeze (well, almost). The trains weren’t as crowded, and we promptly changed trains to get to Embarcadero as a pro. I was also amazed to see numerous fellow passengers with their bikes on what I thought was an “odd day for Sausalito”. We got off at Embarcadero station, and now wiser me looked for the wide electronic gate to waltz out of the station. This time, I tapped my card on the sensor, walked my bike past the drawn barrier with Kuro in the backpack on my shoulder, and glanced back at the barrier closing off. A secret victory dance in my mind, oh yeah!

Ro was the navigator, and I was the paparazzi for the trip. I followed him on the cycle paths from the station to the Fisherman’s Warf, where I put on my snazzy GoPro device to capture the moments in action. Onward from the Fisherman’s Warf, our bike path to Sausalito began.

Ku and Ro 😀 

View from a high point on the way to the bridge

That’s Kuro in the backpack 🙂

The path was varied – with numerous uphill and downhill areas, sand, dirt and made roads in addition to crossing the grand bridge. The sun was strong – but I had my sunscreen on – but the sea breeze made it pleasant. The entire ride was very scenic, and people on foot, biking, in their go-karts or with their dogs, made a lovely addition to the scape. I was thankful for the many kind suggestions by fellow bikers to carry a windbreaker for the time on the Golden Gate Bridge. The gusts were so strong, that I was afraid that I’d be blown away.

Cycling on Golden Gate Bridge (from GoPro)

We made it to the other side of the bridge, and I was indeed blown away – by the Mediterranean charm of Sausalito. The short bike ride was probably too pretty and hence seemed too short. Had I known I would keep on wanting more of this landscape, I think we would have planned to bike both ways. But for the first ride, we thought 10 miles was enough – and had a ticket for the return ferry from Sausalito to Fisherman’s Warf.

Sun-soaked Sausalito seemed straight out of a movie or a book, and I was too happy to contain my mirth. We explored the streets of Sausalito cursorily and looked in awe at the battery of cyclists pass us by. Finally, we decided to relax at Le Garage. The dog-friendly bistro was a great place to unwind overlooking the water. The food was ordinary, but we enjoyed our time there and laughed at my big appetite. I was still hungry after two full plates of food at Le Garage!

La petite salade et omelette  😉

Then came a rather long time of queuing up for the ferry under the hot sun. At that point, a giant scoop of ice cream would have melted all these thoughts away! Finally, we stacked the bikes and found a lovely seat on the ferry. On the sort boat ride from back to the Fisherman’s Warf, we made a new friend from Japan. I suspect that she thought I am too chatty. But she went along, nonetheless.

And once we were back to San Francisco, our energies ebbed a little. The train journey that lay ahead seemed a bit too long. We cycled back to Embarcadero station and boarded the train back. 10 miles were short but were glad to have traveled back by ferry boat. And with happy hearts and tired feet, we started planning binge-worthy movies et al.

D.

 

Up and down the Bay

Kuro’s move to the Bay has been an event as such, A number of rendezvous of our friends and Kuro on evening walks, hikes and at home have been a routine for the past two weeks.

My friends visited Napa for a weekend, and we got a chance to drive to Napa with Kuro and visit Castillo di Amorosa again. Kuro frolicked in the sunny vineyards – and occasionally looked up as to say “it is so hot here!”… Needless to say, his cuteness was an instant hit in the valley.

The next weekend we drove due south towards Monterey. Exactly a year later, Monterey and 17-mile drive welcomed us in a very similar fashion – with sultry weather and overcast skies…

And the next weekend was the most exciting so far. The hike to Mission Peak was the best – tiring, strenuous, but worth it! The sun was scorching, the sunblock melted away in minutes with the perspiration.  And no matter how much water we drank, the dry mouth continued to question “why are we doing this?”… The upward gradient was steep, and perpetual – till the peak. Kuro was heating up, and finally, I put him in his backpack and we carried him on the back. Six pounds heavy Kuro seemed sixty pounds at the time.

Half a day of steep hiking was indeed worth it. The view from the peak was soothing to the eye, and the cool breeze ran through my light braids. Entire Bay area lay in front of eyes, and we watched the gliders gently touch the ground. Ant-sized cars gushed by on faraway streets and humid air continued to hang along the Bay. Kuro was an eye-candy once again, and the fellow hikers stopped in amusement to pamper little Kuro. At that point, Kuro was walking solely fueled by the numerous “aww”s.

Up and down the Bay for three weekends started to make me feel that I have truly arrived in sunny California. I am enjoying the seasons in the sun, secretly longing for the pleasant summers in Calgary…

D.

Back, again!

A loooong break! Yes!

Thanks to my scattered brain and procrastination… And also forgetting my password (I am serious).

June to September flew by in a blink of an eye. As much as I wanted to firm my hold onto the passing time, the faster it slipped away.

Rohan’s parents visited us and it was a wonderful time of long walks in beautiful Berkeley, home made delicacies and afternoons of relaxation. My stories of Japan added to the bliss of summer, and I paid a Nelson’s eye to the blog. Bar, bad, hey!?

But I am back again, with my schedule in full swing. The mornings of caffeination, long day of work and reading, finally blending into the dark skies of the evening and a warm cup of herbal tea is what a day in my life looks like.

Sporadic visits to Calgary Zoo, walk by the Bow river, or cowering under a thin layer of chemise on a seemingly bright day which turns into a sudden cold spell is the sprinkling of spice in life.

Rohan visited Calgary over the weekend,and that was my solace from tedious routine. By Thanksgiving, I will be thankful of this; much like sugar mixing in water. And then a mid semester break will be the unwanted guest!

D.

P.S: Kuro is now a year old (ehm, young); but I am looking forward to celebrating his “gotcha” day! 😉

Flora and fauna of historic Alberta!

Traveling from Calgary into the mountains was akin to time travel. Leaving behind the concrete jungle, we saw light at the end of the tunnel (quite literally). Driving under the green bridges for the animals to cross over is one of my favorite things on the road to Banff! From mowed lawns and curated gardens, we entered into the designs of tundra vegetation.

Same family- conifers, but very different accross the border. The sea of trees in Alberta, Canada sweeps one off the feet. The road from Banff to Jasper is undoubtedly one of the most scenic drives. The pine and spruce trees appear as waves atop the hills… adorned in hues of green and red. Yes, RED! The insect activity changes the color of the leaves on these trees, I have been told. The dark red coloration of the trees undoubtedly adds to the color galore of the landscape.

Fed by glaciers and moraines, the abundant lakes and healthy foliage is home to mega fauna. Our drive into the woods, as such, soon turned into an exercise of animal spotting. The black bears were many! Large and small, skirting the highways and resting by the lakeside. We would often see them lurk in the depths of the woods…as other Swift animals like elk and caribou. I was anticipating to spot a moose the entire time we were there… but the Mr. Moose’s family chose their privacy over public appearance.

Mountain goat with a pair of fighting rams was a surprise on our way to Jasper one Saturday evening. The herd was chilling by the roadside and some sudden urge caught the better of the rams who put a petite horn-to-horn show for us!

After a brief period of time, they decided to turn their backs and walk away. And that’s when I realized why they are a relatives it easy hunt… the bulls eye target is almost naturally painted on their rear!

Of all the wildlife we managed to spot, the sight of a grizzly was the most awe-inspiring. Partially because of the movie “Reverent”, and because we were told that the grizzly in the area are difficult to spot.

Another rare find was that of a bald eagle nesting close to the Medicine lake near Jasper. Once again, I regretted leaving my camera lens behind for we were headed for a “casual walk” along the lakes.

The trip afforded ample trivia on the wildlife at Banff and Jasper. The black bears in the area are not skilled at fishing (!)… (There goes my stereotypical image of a bear). And that they mainly eat some sort of yellow flowers ubiquitous in the area. Parks Canada is working on bringing back the wild bison with wooly coat, and the numbers are expected to rise to about 100 individuals by 2020! For further details, you could read this story: http://calgaryherald.com/news/local-news/the-bison-are-back-in-banff-national-park

With a host of other intriguing discussion on birds and resident species, we came back to hoomans in the area! As a tourist fascination, the totem poles were first on our list. And we found ample installations of those in the area and near Canmore and Calgary!

The history of Sunwapta, the area around the falls and the like helped recreate the history of Western Canada. The visit to the Heritage Park in Calgary was the Cherry on top in terms of the living history of the area…

Glimpses from the Heritage Park, Calgary

Piecing together the bits and pieces of natural and human history in southern Alberta, needless to say, it became a part of our historical trip 😉

D.

Lake tours in USA and Canada

Last three weeks we were traveling incessantly… Rohan was on a driving spree with Kuro and I glued to the passenger seat. Finally Kuro’s getting used to the long drives and “moving world” as seen from the windows of the fast pacing car.

The weekend of May at lake Tahoe was a much needed time for unwinding. Gliding on the blue waters of lake Tahoe was an experience our of this world… And again, we regretted not caring our go-pro to save the memories as snapshots for you all…

Parasailing at Tahoe (not endorsing for Hard Rock Cafe)

A clear day on the boat at Tahoe (California, USA)

Later that evening, a quaint dinner by the lake side at the candlelit table was our anniversary celebration.

***

Following weekend was another segment of “lake hopping” in Canadian Rockies. Lake Louise stood still in all its glory with fresh blue hue of water slightly tucked under the sheet of ice. That’s when I realized that full summer was yet to arrive at Banff!

Posing at the backwaters of lake Louise (Banff, Canada)

‘Winter’s still here’ at lake Louise

Medicine and Maligne lakes in Jasper had however welcomed summer and had cast their icy coldness. Black bear grazing on yellow flowers by the lakeside was an omnious start of the day in Jasper.

Kuro by the breathtaking view at Maligne lake

Maligne lake ❤

Medicine lake (but the bear’s not in the frame)

My little black bear (Kuro) frolicking by the lake was a sight worth a thousand words. And he’s a certified water baby; now that I am convinced that this little furry baby leaps at water in any form and depth. Walk by the waterfalls henceis a dread now!

The epitome of our “lake tour” was the trail at five lakes. The petite five kilometer loop took us along the five lakes (duh!), standing at the pinnacle of nature’s beauty and bounty.

The second lake (first lake was average looking 😉 )

Third lake

The fourth lake

Long bridge at the beginning of the trail loop

At the fifth lake! Finally…

Kuro the amateur hiker accompanied us all through. And I can safely say that he’s a dog “who has tasted the water of eight lakes” (or more) ;). Also, we have discovered his strange hangup for wooden bridges and stairways. He squats still on seeing either and beds to be picked up. Little tantrums!

Oh, there’s much more from these there weeks to post.More updates soon after I find some time to breathe between my next trip 🙂

D.

Hills and beaches

Berkeley is spoiling us with choices for food, cultural events, activities for Kuro and evening getaways. Hills and beaches are never too far, sitting in Berkeley…

Kuro is getting used to the car rides… And being sassy about it

Stroll by the waterfront in Berkeley is a perfect recipe to unwind after a long day

Even on the cloudiest of the days, the beach is like an immersion into a different sensorium

Like water, we cascade from the hills to the beach… Every week

Standing at the brink where the beach meets the hill, we tune into the best of both the worlds

This week was once again being close to the nature. It was kuro’s first visit to the beach, and a feeling of ” happy feet” for myself and Rohan. Bundled up in Calgary cold all this while, my feet thanked me for the promenade by the beach and my mind for building castles of air as we soaked the sun on the hills.

Kuro was ecstatic at the beach! (Hardly surprising)… He made some new friends, and the furry friends frolicked in the sand together (sometimes resembling the wrestlers in a sand pit).

Kuro is now a confirmed water baby! It seemed like he wanted to walk into the salty water lunging at him as he tried to stay still on the slipping sand. Tiniest of the waves were too big for him, and I won’t lie that I was a little apprehensive to let him wade into the waters. After a brief “wave-game”, Kuro was drenched and looked like a smaller version of himself – the fluff sticking to his bony limbs and a cute little snout showing through the dripping fur…

Beaches near the Golden Gate bridge brought home the feeling of being on a holiday. We discussed that this feeling is worth every cent we pay as the exorbitant taxes to the state of California 😉

After the weekend at the sea and the hills, we continue this fling with nature, sun and the sand.

D.