Hope Travels

Down on the Boardwalk(s)

Hope Travels ~ The West Coast RV Adventure 2023 ~ Day 7

Before we get into the day, I have to share a little pet peeve about these RV Parks. They always have a “dog park,” and that means there are always DOGS in it. Usually big dogs. And there’s no privacy. So there’s no way I’m going in there! Luckily, the Avila KOA had this really cool trail where I could go off on my own. Plus it was much more fun to explore the smells.

Today we left Avila Beach but before we headed inland, we stopped at Morro Bay State Park and walked the estuary boardwalk. When we got started walking, Mom asked Dad and me what the second best thing about being there was after us all being there together, of course. We had no idea, so she told us it was the smell of the eucalyptus. Eucalyptus trees were lining the parking lot, and there was a refreshing scent in the air. Evidently it reminds her of when she was a little girl. I liked it cuz it made her smile.

The Morro Bay estuary is important because over 200 birds and lots of marine animals hang out there. And you can see the big iconic Morro Rock from the boardwalk too. The highlight was an otter taking his morning bath. And behind him, you can see our LHOW. Mom said I’m a lot like an otter on dry ground. I think she means we’re both small, clever and cute.

On the way out of Morro Bay, we saw the Morro Rock from the highway. Right next to it is a nuclear power plant. Now that’s a total juxtaposition for you! (big word for a little dachshund, right?)

Then we headed inland to Paso Robles. Dad decided we’d rent a car there so we could just park the LHOW and drive around more easily. So we got the car and then got settled at a really nice RV Park. It’s the first time we’ve stayed at a Sun Outdoor RV Park, and boy is it nice! We have a big campsite with a concrete pad for the table and a metal firepit. Even if we don’t have a campfire, I bet other people will, and Mom says it’ll smell so good!

Next we headed back to the coast but further north. Dad was tired, so he let Mom drive. Amazing! I was tired too, so I cuddled up on Dad’s lap. We woke up just in time to see Hearst Castle up on the hill when we drove by.

Mom said the drive was just beautiful with rolling hills, lots of oak trees, patches of yellow mustard, some wild flowers, and an occasional creek. Of course she couldn’t take any pictures for me to show you cuz she was driving. Our first stop was a crazy place called Elephant Seal Vista Point. It’s a protected beach where elephant seals come to mate, give birth, nurse their young and then a few months later, molt. That’s right. I bet you didn’t know that elephant seals molt. They lose all their hair and skin every year. Wild, huh? So we have to stay on the boardwalk above the beach so as not to bother their habitat. (Get the song reference now? This was our second boardwalk of the day.) At first we just saw a few of them. They were just snoozing on the beach without a care in the world.

Then we went to another area, and oh---my---goodness! There were hundreds of them!! All different ages, sizes and colors. They were lying on the beach like lumps of blubber! Well, that’s kinda what they are, right? Especially this one really big one!

Every once in a while, one would flick some sand on its back, or move a little. Evidently the older males fight for dominance on the beach. And it was easy to tell “quien es mas macho” in the group!! This big ole guy kept pestering another male. They went at it for a while, and finally the other one backed off. The big ole guy was certainly a character. Behind them a ways, we could see two juveniles mimicking them. We think they were just playing though.

From there we headed back down south to Moonstone Beach in Cambria. What a cute little community along the beach. This beach also doesn’t like dogs on it because of lots of marine life, but they had a nice boardwalk above it that we walked along. The sun was warm, but that wind off the Pacific Ocean was sure nippy! The views made it all worthwhile though.

And guess what? Mom found a patch of bluebonnets! So she ended up getting her annual “Hope in the Bluebonnet” pictures…in California! I have to say, I wasn’t very cooperative though.

On the way back to Paso, there was a great lookout point. Mom likes to stop at those. Dad, not so much. But from this one, we could see miles of rolling hills dotted with oak trees with patches of yellow mustard. It was just gorgeous. Did you know that Paso Robles means path of oak trees? Sure makes sense! Far off in the distance at the coastline, we could see Morro Rock, which is where we began our day!

Back at the LHOW, Mom and Dad had a quick bite. Then Dad pulled out my house for the first time on this trip. I knew what that meant…they were going to leave me! And leave me they did. But it was ok, because I was really tired from all the boardwalking and fresh air today. When they got back, Mom told me all about their evening. They went to a place called Sensorio. It’s a very unique art installation by British artist Bruce Munro. It’s a light show on 15 acres of rolling hills using over 100,000 fiber-optic stemmed spheres that change color. They got there before sunset and then watched the progression of sunset, dusk and finally darkness. As daylight disappeared, the lights gradually came on. Imperceptivity, the lights gradually changed colors and the scene morphed without you even noticing it.

Mom said it was truly spectacular. As they walked along, they came to an area with lighted towers. The towers are made with over 18,000 wine bottles.

Beyond the towers were two brand new art installations. Dad called them the jelly fish and spraying lights. They jelly fish were really cool, especially when a breeze came along and blew them. The spraying lights looked like something out of a scene in Star Wars when Hans Solo got frozen.

As they walked back through Sensorio to the entrance, the lights looked like fields of colorful wildflowers. It was an amazing experience, and they’re glad they went. I’m glad I got a good rest. You never know what Mom has planned for us tomorrow!