“with my favorite ally” up the central California coast. Lyrics: Anythony Kiedis
We are taking a short 4 day road trip to check out some of the few places where Northern elephant seals mate, fight and give birth in the US, on the central California coast about a 7 hour drive from The Holler.
On the way we stopped for the night in Ojai at a Hacienda Hotel built in the 1920’s.
It is a Wallace Neff paradise for people who enjoy Hacienda architecture.
The Christmas ligths make for an especially lovely scene.
We are now in Cambria California, on the southern edge of Big Sur.
Today we are searching elephant seals.
Gray whales are also migrating and sea otter live here.
Cheers to you during our elephant seal expedition in California’s Big Sur~
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cindyknoke.com 
Sounds like a wonderful trip – such a beautiful part of the country! I hope we get to hear about it when it is over!
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Absolutely stunning scenery Cindy. I knew you would be back on the road sooner rather than later. I look forward to seeing those big boys through your lens. Take care they can be aggressive. I’ve seen them on tv….
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They open their mouth at you, show their teeth, burp in a very loud fishy smelling way, and then go back to sleep! 😉 They are sooooooo cool!
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How close do you go to them?
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Beautiful. Very envious. Looking forward to next post, Cindy.
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I wish I could imitate the call of the enraged bull elephant seal! It was quite memorable!
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Thanks for the memory from my trip to California. Monterey Bay and sea Otters in 1999. Glad they are still there.
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I greater number then ever, at least they are a success story thanks to the efforts of Monterey Bay and The Marine Mammal Protection Act~
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That’s good to hear.
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A very beautiful place in the world! You really know how to have fun. I’m happy you shared this! _Resa xo
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Cheers to you and thinking of you~
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Another lovely trip with beautiful photos! Love the winding roads! 💗💜
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There are so many undiscovered winding back roads in the foothills of Caly and my hubby loves to find them. So glad you enjoyed!
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OOOOOO you got you a keeper there for sure! I really love a long drive like this! So much to see! 😀
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I hope he reads your comment and it is very true! ❤
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This looks beautiful. Hopefully I’ll be able to make this trip myself one day 🙂
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I do hope so and trust you will post when you do!
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Honestly it will be a few years. But it’s on the list 🙂
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The list is really the most important part, it gives you things to dream about~ ❤
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Love Cambria. Everyone should visit!
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It has charm in spades, especially at Christmas time!
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So lovely Cindy. Your pics make me wish I was there. 🙂
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They do the same thing to me as soon as I leave! 😉 😉
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You are blessed to have been able to go to such beautiful places. It’s always a pleasure to see what you have captured. 🙂
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Happy you enjoy & cheers to you~
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This is my favorite part of California. It’s so pretty, and your photos are incredible.
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Yes, from the central coast up, Caly becomes wild and incredibly beautiful! So happy you feel as I do~
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Beautiful images, Cindy 🙂
It would really be great to take a trip through those winding roads in the hills.
Thanks a lot for sharing 🙂
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Your thoughtfulness is most appreciated. Thank you! I hope you do take a trip through this area and post about it. I would love to see it through your eyes~
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Cindy, that road is so beautiful to be on. Thank you for the great images. Hugs! Veraiconica
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Merci beaucoup mon ami~
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Amazing!
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Mil grazi!
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What gorgeous photos!
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Awww, so kind~
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Cindy – How we would have loved to have had you and your traveling companions as our house guest when you explored the Central Coast of California. We were a stone’s throw [well, make that a couple of stones] away from where you were shooting. I’ve always called that area God’s country and still refer to it as home. Never has another place on earth touch my heart and soul the way the Central Coast did and continues to do so. Of the 12 countries I’ve had the privilege to live in and an additional 20 or so I’ve visited, the Central Coast still holds the top place in my heart.
I’ve been meaning to ask and keep forgetting, have you photographed The Blue Grotto yet?
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Yes, I agree with all your sentiments. We were so close to moving to Cambria. Had a house selected. We were there for two nights on this trip and it was bitter-sweet as I am sure your memories are. It is so good to visit. I haven’t even visited the Blue Grotto. Can you believe it? I need too….so many places yet to explore! Hugs to you my dear one~ ❤
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I was heartbroken when we heard the Blue Grotto was destroyed in a terrible earth quake not long after we were there the last time – but everything seems to be operating normally. Your photography would be out of this world. Please, please – you must go. Well, maybe not must but it is one of the places I believe you would find truly awesome. I visited there many times before I met Tom because I was working not far from there [I didn’t want to leave when my assignment was finished]. I was always hoping the government would do something truly stupid so I could go back! I went back twice on my own and then Tom fell in love with the location and need I say more!
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I trust your suggestion entirely, besides I’m already planning to go back, I am always planning to go back to Big Sur. Blue Grotto is #1 on my list. Merry Christmas to you and Tom! ❤ ❤
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All work and no play makes for ignorance… I have grown out of touch with our own coastline – primarily because it has been all work. Learned a lot from this series, albeit working backwards! lol
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Now, I am really comitted to try and get you to go on vacation. 😉 You seemed to like Canada? Big Sur cannot be rivaled and it is close? I want to see photos of your vacay! You rock my friend~
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Klasse Fotos. LG. Wolfgang
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Vielen danke Wolfgang! ❤
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Wow! What a breathtaking view! And I love the Hacienda Hotel architecture.
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I am a big fan of hacienda architecture, especially the old stuff. I have an upcomming post on some real beauties. You are so appreciated my wonderful blogging friend~ ❤ ❤
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Enchanted by the beauty of the scapes,loved the Christmas lights from above,look like a galaxy 🙂
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I hadn’t thought of that so creatively, but you are right, it does look like a galaxy! Mil grazi~
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