Elephant Seals

On our way to LA, we saw Elephant Seals on the beach. Seen from very far, they look like big stones on a pebble beach. When you get closer, you can see that the stones are actually seals. The ones you see on the picture are female seals and babies. It's spring and they are molting. They take a few weeks off to fast and relax on the sand while they change their winter skin for their summer pelt. You can't see it on the picture, but they either lay very still (as if they are dead) or they flip sand. They like to be buried under some sand, because it cools them off. They are used to swim in very cold water, being on shore is way too hot for them.

Camping with the bears?

This is the flag of California. Every state has a descriptive nickname. California is The Golden State (New York is the Empire State, Florida is the Sunshine State, and so on). When you approach a historical landmark in the Golden State, you see a brown sign with a bear. At first, I thought it meant 'beware of the bears' and I was a little reluctant to enter when I noticed the sign last Thursday night approaching our campground. But I quickly learned it just means that you are about to see something really beautiful. We installed our tent in the woods. Though we kept our food in the car for fear of a nightly tent visitor, we saw only squirrels and field mice on the campground, no bears.

Los Angeles

Dit weekend waren we in LA! We hebben een lang weekend genomen en zijn langs de Pacific Highway ('PCH' voor de insiders) langs de oceaan naar LA gereden. Omdat ik jullie in Belgie mis, heb ik besloten om snel een paar foto's te posten. Morgen zal ik er wat meer over schrijven.

We hebben een nieuwe tent gekocht op eBay. Dat was een groot succes. Hierboven word ik heerlijk wakker na een nachtje slapen in het bos.

Daarna logeerden we bij vrienden in LA. Annelien leerde me de kneepjes van het coole showbizz vak in een ongelooflijk donker (en volgens de kenners ook hip) cafe. Pas na een half uurtje wenden mijn ogen aan het licht en kon ik zien dat er naast ons ook andere mensen in het cafe zaten.

Morgen zal ik meer vertellen over de Elephant Seals die we gezien hebben en die met honderden op het strand lagen, over de charme van Mulholland Drive, en over de lange tocht langs de oceaan via Solvang (een Deens dorpje), Murro Bay (een "volcano plug", wat dat precies betekent, weet ik nog niet), Hearst Castle, Santa Barbara. Je kunt begrijpen dat we na dit weekend uitgeput waren. Nu gaan we snel uitrusten!

Hot hot hot

Today, it is 90 degrees in San Francisco and San Jose! We are melting!

It's a perfect day to stroll around in our neighborhood. The Mission District has a lot of flamboyant mural paintings. This is one of the more serious paintings, but I like it a lot.

The Fly II

The killer fly is back!

We spent a full afternoon biking up and down hills on the Point Reyes archipelago to visit the small local penguins (17 inches long, beak to tail) and cows. The cows live at 1 of the 6 local ranches; they eat the local vegetation, which does not look like grass at all.

And for those who want to know: yes, our life really is like this, baking in the sun, biking, and watching cows, whales, and other wildlife.

Easter Bunnies

The local crazies, you would think? No, these guys participated in a serious contest for best dressed Easter bunny. It’s a local tradition and a great excuse to dress up.

The Fly

Today, we went on an outing to Half Moon Bay. When I bike, I wear special sunglasses so no flies or bees fly in my eyes. Annelien thinks it makes me look like a giant killer fly.

Half Moon Bay is gorgeous. Actually, we saw the nicest part after the battery of my camera went dead. So, remember that the area is even prettier than on the pictures.

The views were amazing! The hills were – once again – very steep. We really had to work hard for every nice view.

On our way to the redwoods, we stumbled upon the Bike Hut. The Bike Hut provides drinks, snacks, and repair tools for bikers. It works on an honor-based system, which means that everyone who stops by, leaves a contribution in the cash drawer. That really appealed to the hippie in me.