Just south of Monterey near the town of Carmel, Point Lobos State Reserve is an extraordinary 550-acre wildlife sanctuary situated along the California coast. A number of hiking trails wander past moss-draped trees and precipitous bluffs that fall off to the blue ocean water below. The waters around Point Lobos contain extensive kelp forests and abundant plant and animal life, moving up the food chain to seabirds, shorebirds, and large marine mammals. It’s known to some as “the greatest meeting of land and water in the world.”

We were smart to bring binoculars, as there were plenty of sea otters and sea lions cavorting in the surf, and a healthy variety of birds perched in the trees, feeding on the rocky shore, and diving in the water. Gotta love those cute black oystercatchers!

  

We probably hiked just about every trail in the park, and even though most of the geocaches around here were disabled, we still managed to find a few as we progressed through the reserve. The area is also very popular with divers, thanks to the rich marine life in the water -- just make sure to have a wetsuit, because the waters are a chilly 55-degrees!

  

After a half day at Point Lobos, we drove back up to Monterey for a tasty Thai lunch, and then over the the ritzy area of Pebble Beach. A 17-mile scenic drive meanders along the coast from Pacific Grove through Pebble Beach and the forests around Carmel.

Once owned by the Del Monte Properties, Pebble Beach has become the playground of the fabulously well-to-do. Its enormous, manicured golf courses creep up almost to the shore's edge in bizarre contrast to the dramatically jagged cliffs and turbulent surf. The drive is rolling, looping, and often spectacular. We were able to bypass the hefty $10 entrance fee to 17-Mile Drive by telling the guard at the gate that we were off to riding lessons at the Equestrian Center. Hehehe!

  

After some evening blogging at the Monterey Public Library, we hooked up with David and Ashley at the Brittania Arms pub to shoot the breeze over some less-than-healthy bar food and beer. We stayed at their pad one last night, this time on the better-inflated air mattress, before continuing south down the coast.