Vacation 2007 - Samuel P Taylor
After a few events at the Carnaval were photographed, the strolling throngs of Carnaval participants were exchanged for the streams of cars and pedestrians on the streets of San Francisco. Thankfully, the street directions were such that, with few problems besides slow traffic, Samuel P Taylor was reached and the campsite found by 5:30pm. There was not much time left to do anything other than set up camp and crash.
(Point Reyes, near the Lighthouse)
At 8:30 next morning, May 28th, the campsite was secured before traveling the short distance to the Point Reyes Visitor Center. Thereafter, at Limantour Beach, a brief hike was undertaken with not much to show for it. The road to Limantour Beach is surrounded by mostly native vegetation, and the area is very beautiful.
(Black-tailed Deer, Point Reyes)
Having never been on the Lighthouse road, it was decided to explore that area. It was somewhat disappointing to discover that it was mostly farming land, with a few remnant wildflowers squeezed between the side of the road and the fences. Nevertheless, in a thickly populated patch of wildflowers near the Lighthouse, some first-time species were photographed, some of which await identification - which will be pursued in the following months. (A useful technique I have found is to look for an online plant list of the area, and then by looking for all plants in the family of the unknown, narrow down the possibilities.)
(Douglas Iris, Point Reyes)
Time was spent on a number of different activities on May 29th; laundry done early in the morning; a short hike in Samuel P Taylor Park between 10 am and noon, and in the afternoon, another excursion to the more northern parts of Point Reyes along the road to Pierce Point Ranch.
(Crab Spider, Samuel P Taylor)
Once again it was reasonably disappointing to find that the areas on either side of the road were mostly farmland, except for Tomales Bay State Park. It was while driving along this road, that a number of birds were seen on a dam to the left of the road. An unmarked road — i.e. no prohibited entry signs — was seen running past the dam. This side-road was followed, and for several minutes a number of photos of a flock of twirling Red-necked Phalaropes on an overcast day, were recorded on the camera flash-disk. When starting to move the car again to look for a turn-around-place, I discovered a police car behind me. After checking up on me — there is no ticket or speeding history ever in my record — the policeman allowed me to continue on, with an admonition not to travel on side roads. The excellent signs in the San Luis National Wildlife Refuge had conditioned me to expect the same in Point Reyes. The Red-necked Phalarope flock was the only thing of interest on that afternoon.
(Red-necked Phalarope, Point Reyes)
May 30th, a travel day, is described in the Mount Diablo section.
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