A Tasting of California

Sequia National Monument

Since I was not in a hurry and was in the area I stopped at Sequia National Monument to see some tall trees.

A view on the way up to the grove.

A refreshing stop allong the road.

The Sentinal Giant Sequia

My car near a smaller tree

A waterfall in the area.

A cliff near that waterfall

A bit down river

Yosemite

I went on a backpaking trip in Yosemite with a freind. We were near Hetch Hetchy Reservoir.

A view of the reservoir.

My fellow hiker.

I was there as well.

Some mountain meadow flowers in bloom.

A view over the reservoir.

The water has a good force comming out of the dam.

Monterey Bay

The start of my day in Monterey was diving at Lover's cove.

more of the cove

While boaring on the surface, it's a bit more interesting underwater.

Later I traveled about a mile north to the Monterey Bay Aquarium. After all, It is considered one of the best Aquariums.

Two of thousands of fishes in residency at the Aquarium.

A friendly cat shark.

Say hello to the baby shark.

The rare half-wood stingray.

A jouvinal half-wood ray.

One of the best varieties of freashwater stingray

A motoro stingray.

Labled as "Spider web ray"

A ray that was mis-behaving.

Some friendly Amazon creatures to keep the rays busy.

A shark.

A near-by Skate

Some bottom dwelling fish.

One more fish hiding on the bottom.

A few Sand Dollars.

Invertibrites in the deep sea exhibit.

Sardine?

Schooling Mackerel

Looks like a nice place to sit.

A Sea Bass (?) in the large Kelp tank.

A Sinorita Wrasse (?) keeping the bass company.

Goboid on a rock.

Many many polips.

Why can't the fish just stand still for a picture?

So many Brittle Stars.

A Sea Horse slowly moving allong a wall.

More Goboidie!

A crab wishing to be left alone.

A more feisty crab.

Starfish...

and it's relative.

yumm... Bivalves...

A few birds from the coastal exhibit.

More birds.

One of many trout.

Why not end the day with some squid eggs.

Pasific Coast Highway

No beter way to go south from Monterey.

A view of the California coast

more coast..

Painted Desert

On my return trip to New Mexico, I stoped at the Painted and Pertified forest.

A picture of the painted desert the failed to capture most, if not all, the color.