Complete: March 16, 2008
Ano Nuevo Island sits off Ano Nuevo State Reserve and is home to over 5 types of Pinnipeds, but I was only interested in one this time - The Elephant Seals.
Planning too late, tours booked for months in advance, I managed to get a single ticket to a tour very late in the season to travel up to the coast to the Ano Nuevo State Reserve to view supposedly thousands of elephant seals in their natural cycles. To my unfortunate disappointment, my tour came a little too late to see any real action, but that doesn't mean I didn't enjoy and respect how very awesome it was to be near these creatures. The tour guide noted several times that at this point in the season, they haven't eaten or drank any water in months, are emaciated and movement for us burns more calories than they have available. There would be no tussling males over females, no scampering little ones, only lazy, tired, underfed "weaners" and "flat" males. But those were enough to make it worth it.
Down paths and over sand dunes, we hiked behind the guide in a pack of about 15, careful to where she was routing and rerouting us, expertly spotting a calf in the grass where we would have all missed it laying in the "heat". The wind blew quickly and it amazed me that the guide kept commenting on how torrid it was for the seals. They must really like it cold.
They were everywhere, and even inactive, they were impressive to just stare at, and imagine the life they lead.
The tour was a hefty few mile walk over a couple hours, exacerbated by fighting the wind, and turned in to a good sunny Sunday workout. I will definitely plan ahead in the future to go back in early January when the males are more active, and may even try and go back this summer when the little ones are there running around more and you don't have to be on a tour. I was happy that I finally made the 45 minute drive up the coast to this awesome nature that was so available to me, all these years ignored.
Mission Complete!
See all my Ano Nuevo Pictures Here.
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