California Wanderings

We have traveled a bit around California since we got here and it has always been my intention to start a blog so I can show you all where we've been and.... now that I think of it... and to show you why you should have come to visit us. No, no. You don't need to make excuses. Weston and I understand. It's okay that you didn't come. But there is still time.... ;)

This first two pictures are from a camping trip up a near by mountain - Figueroa Mountain.
























We heard about an beach locally known as "Elephant Seal Beach" not too far from here. Though we were too late in the season to see the females or any of the really big males, the juvenile and young adult males still put on a show for us.





































































Every May in Santa Barbara the "Big Dog" company hosts a dog parade. It was quite the event. I think all you dog owners out there should consider what role your pup might best play in next years extravaganza. We also went to the Santa Barbara Zoo.











Every June in Lompoc, CA the flower growers host the Flower Festival. You've never seen so many sweat peas in all your life. Field after field of them. There were also marigolds, artichoke plants in bloom, and many many other I couldn't identify. Here are some picts we took on our drive.



In June, we spend a weekend camping on Santa Cruz Island, just off the cost. I found that getting in and out of a small tent when six months pregnant was actually quite difficult. If we went now, I think I would just have to sleep on the picnic table. This island has a neat recent history and a wonderful host of endemic fauna (and likely flora) . Pictured is the endemic fox. Cat sized cuties that make daily passes through camp to see if we've left any food out where they can get to it. Although it had been a very dry year, the island still had many flowers and after finding dense nests of Andrena and Diadasia, I couldn't help but day dream about the beelab hiring me to do some intense collecting out there.


Lastly, just a month ago we made a road trip to pick up the new subaru we purchased. (We traded in my cute little VW golf for a Forester. Icey Montana winters warranted just such a trade in... especially with the little one on the way. Safety first!) It was quite the trip. It ended with a drive down highway 1 from San Fransisco to Lompoc. We stopped to see some redwoods on the way.