La Jolla Coastline: We enjoyed a sunny but cool day as we walked the coastline pathway in La Jolla, Calif. The views, the sounds, the smells of the coast we wonderful. The scenes as we walked were continually changing and always beautiful. Photo by Gary Warren/ladailypost.com

Napping: We first spotted sea lions and seals as we passed the Children’s Beach area which has been claimed by the sea mammals. A short distance farther we say this “herd” or “raft” of sea lions and seals mostly minding their own business and snoozing as they listened to the crash of nearby waves. Photo by Gary Warren/ladailypost.com

By GARY WARREN
Formerly of Los Alamos

We have spent the last two weeks in Southern California on our current adventure. We have been able to fit several days along the Pacific Ocean coastline and about a week inland in the California desert. Some activities are more structured and many of our days are spent wandering and just enjoying the scenery and the different environment than we are used to at home in Colorado.

One excursion while staying along the coast in San Diego was to explore the beaches and coast around La Jolla, Calif. We set out with only vague ideas of where we were going but that’s how we roll. We navigated our way through town and finally arrived at the coast. Some streets and roads follow the coast for a brief period and then take you inland. We would head west when this happened until we found the ocean again.

After awhile of driving, we decided to stop and walk the coastal pathway. We found parking near the La Jolla Children’s Beach and began our stroll. This portion of the coast its more rocky than sandy beaches but there were coves along the way where the conditions were more suitable for swimming.

Being early March the coastal temperatures were still too chilly for wading or swimming and we were content to just walk and explore the coast for awhile. The Children’s Beach is an area where a protective sea wall had been constructed to create calmer waters suitable for families with children.

We discovered that seals and sea lions also liked this calm water and they have basically claimed the territory. We enjoyed watching for a bit before wandering on our oceanside pathway enjoying the sites and the sounds of the ocean as it formed waves approaching the shore and then crashing against the rocky shoreline making way for the next wave.

We arrived at another area farther up the coast where several people were gathered. As we got closer we began hearing the barks of sea lions. These animals are amazing to watch and we found ourselves doing just that for well over an hour as we meandered back and forth watching them nap soon the rocky shore, then maybe move about a little or even get back into the water and play like children going out a short distance and riding the waves to shore. These amazing animals were characters and we were the audience. I don’t know which was enjoying the day more, the performers or the spectators! 

There were placards along the path that informed visitors of various sites and features that could be seen from the viewpoints. One such placard described some of the noticeable differences between sea lions and seals.

Seals are generally smaller in size, have ear holes but no external flap on the ear. Seals are much quieter and when they do “speak” it is more of a grunt sound. The front flippers are smaller than the sea lion. The sea lion is generally larger is size, have small external flaps on their ears and much larger front flaps which means they move along the sand or racks a little easier. However the main difference is the sea lions are much more vocal than the seals. Their barks are louder and more consistent than the seal.

After some time we decided on returning to our van which was about a mile away by this time. We did not want to have to drive through San Diego at rush hour as we returned to our campsite.

We marveled at the great time that we had and what a joyful day it had been exploring a short distance of the beautiful Pacific Ocean coastline. The day did not cost us anything except for fuel to drive us to and from the area but the memories of the day will last forever!

Editor’s note: Longtime Los Alamos photographer Gary Warren and his wife Marilyn are traveling around the country, and he shares his photographs, which appear in the “Posts from the Road” series published in the Sunday edition of the Los Alamos Daily Post.

Surf & Birds: Another stretch of the coastline was occupied by several sea gulls and other birds as they were in constant motion along the rocky shore. Photo by Gary Warren/ladailypost.com

Snack Time: The birds were flying in groups and occasionally one would dart toward the ocean water and come up with a snack. This bird carried his snack a little farther away before consuming the catch and coming back for more. Photo by Gary Warren/ladailypost.com

Seals and Sea Lions: Seals and Sea Lions can be seen up and down the west coast and they are always entertaining to watch. This larger herd of seals and sea lions were congregating near the rocky shore as some napped and others played both on shore and in the ocean. Photo by Gary Warren/ladailypost.com

Sunning: This herd of seals and sea lions were gathered close together as they often do while they snoozed by the shore. I found it interesting that the rocks along the shoreline look very similar to the sea lions and seals next to the rocks. Photo by Gary Warren/ladailypost.com