April 24, 2012

Partington Cove

This area is near where one can view Condors up on the ridge on the Mt side of Hwy 1. The trail to the cove is on the ocean side of the road. It is a nice dirt path down to three choices of trails. I went right at the garbage can by the Kelp Forest display. At my next choice I took a left and crossed a wooden bridge into a Redwood stand. The trail coming all the way down was Purple Ceonothus (three veined leaves somewhat curled) and CA Sage country. A mediterranean climate characterized by dry summers except for coastal fog, which helps keep the lower Redwood stand alive. It was April 20th and the wildflowers were in their early prime. The air smelled good with a smell that said to me I am in Big Sur. It is CA Sage country. This was a really fun trail to explore for though many of its microclimes afforded some of the same species it had differing communities within arms length of each other that also had some neat diversity. Crossing the wooden bridge put me along a classic Redwood trail with ferns sorrel and black berries. The trail ran along a creek with Bay trees wafting in the cool breeze. Every once in a while I would hear the muffled thundering waves. I then came to a tunnel what a fun tunnel with nice hefty wooden girders that made a beautiful pattern when photographed. Then I came through the tunnel to find a lovely trail with a fun wooden fence over which was a beautiful ocean bay. I was in Indian Paintbrush country with ferns hanging over the cliff's edge which went to the sea. The trail ends at a nice wood bench. One could see lovely kelp fronds streaming through the blue waters caves out on the opposite cliff and waves pouring over rocks. So going backward I retraced my steps along the blooming trail into the tunnel under the Redwoods onto the wooden bridge and back up to a fork in the trail. I was heading out, but as I climbed the hill I saw a beautiful pool by the ocean on the trail I passed to my left. I quickly went down the trail and this time took a right at the fork into willow country. I came out at the screaming cove. The light the waves and the scenery were amazing. A place where fresh water meets the ocean like where the Seven Sacred pools meet the ocean in HI I love this place and am going to find as many places like this that I can. I went to the pool and was in BLue Iris country quite idealic and amazing. This was my first visit to Partington Cove. Got lots of drawings, photos, sampling, plants I have known and had fun remembering them,etc.

Things that stand out are the ferns you can put on your jeans making a perfect spore print of the fern's pattern, seeing the Sorrel leaves folded like umbrellas in the sun, smelling the bay leaves, seeing the wooly catkins of the willows and seeing the new Monkey FLowers waiting to be pollinated. I did see two Condors coming back up. ALso saw a dark Heron being chased by a smaller dark bird. The Heron's feet were bright yellow and looked funny sticking out behind it as it was chased. This is a beautiful place were Partington Creek meet the sea.

Posted on April 24, 2012 05:07 AM by timkin timkin | 0 comments | Leave a comment

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