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| Blooming ceanothus at the base of a Monterey cypress |
Point Lobos, located just south of Carmel, is regarded by many as the "crown jewel" of the California state park system. After our recent visit to the park, I can see how one might come to that conclusion, especially on a warm Spring day when everything is bursting with fresh new growth and flowers. The trails are well defined, relatively flat, and the views are outstanding. We hiked a loop that took us from Whaler's Cove, along the bluff to the Allen Memorial Cypress Grove, and finally to unprotected, wind-swept Sea Lion Point. Don't forget to pack a windbreaker. Some of what we saw along the trail:
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| Iris (Iris douglasiana) and wood mint (Stachys bullata) a common site in shaded areas along trail |
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| Lots of life on the rocky cliffs of Point Lobos |
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| Old cypress with orange lace lichen |
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| Ceanothus in the foreground with Headland Cove and Sea Lion Point in the distance |
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| The windy bluff trail around Sea Lion Point |
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| The familiar coastal scrub palette that I love so much: sagebrush, coyote brush, lupines, seaside daisy and indian paintbrush |
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| Looking south down the Big Sur coast |
