Tule Elk

    Late last year enjoying the beauty of Limantour Beach at night, I was surprised (and frightened) by the majestic appearance of two Tule Elk that appeared out the mist and darkness onto the trail before me. They too were alarmed by presence. A stare down, although as I recall, mine was prefaced with an "oh shit!", as I thought that the sounds I was hearing from the surrounding bush were rabbits. The elk much more formidable than I weren't too threatened by my cowering (my head could see the back of my ankles) and as quickly as they had darted in, they were, with gallant leaps, gone.

   The population of the elk had nearly disappeared from 500,000 in California to just 28- not 28,000 but 28 by the late 1800's. Today, the once nearly extinct population has repopulated to 4,300, spread throughout California to 25 herds. Point Reyes benefited by an addition of a small herd from San Luis Obispo in 1978. These elk took well to their new protected surroundings (Point Reyes is the only national park with tule elk) and their numbers grew to over 500.  Unfortunately since 2012, the population has decreased to just under 300, due to poor water management/drought and property lines claimed by the farmers reducing the available water supplies to the elk.

    In the area near Pierce Point Ranch, freely roaming elk can be found within the 4.5 mile trek (mostly uphill).  We found them within 2 miles of the misty, lovely vistas and impressive was this sightly. Both lovely and serene. I wondered where the big males were and Dexter later said that they were near me (near as a relative term but we weren't close enough to startle or threaten the elk. If the elk move away from you, then this is when you should know that you are too close), beneath the hill that I was standing.  Dexter counted about 35.  It is interesting to note that the distance between Pierce Point and Limantour Beach is nearly 9 miles. Tule Elk live only in Califronia.

public file photo

 

It's The End Of The Middle

   Holidays were nice. I had time to shop. A lot of time really. A great stress reducer. Awesome. Always some concern about not getting the boys enough/getting them too much/what the hell to get them??. That worked out too. Always admired the Cupps Christmas, and so we just want to follow their lead, leading with love and backing this with stuff. In a small house, it's difficult finding places to hide big things. Maria's desk in Oliver's closet. Dexter's desk tucked way under Oliver's bed (necessitating lifting the bed with a sleeping Oliver in it on Christmas eve to drag the item out) and Oliver's WiiU was fortunately easy to hide.

   And we stayed home for the first time making for a very relaxed lazy day.  Missed roommate/ neighbor/ niece Cailin! A visit by Sis, Traci and Kevin, and Ryland made for a good break in the middle of the day.
Brother Mike made it out later the next evening.

   New Years (30th/31st) we went to Santa Cruz, staying at the now expensive (but still fun at least) Beach Street Inn where we had a cool view of the beach, a kitchen and a bathroom where the boys and I could create the death scene of Spock from the second Star Trek movie. Have to say that as good as Dexter was as Kirk, Ollie as cameraman, that guy that played Spock...really aced the gig.  They only agreed to do it if we did the bit in one take, although we had to do two because they messed up the first one.

   A friendly family of seemingly ten were in the next room to us, and they had a great time, were too considerate of us for we spent 12/31 inside. I couldn't roost the family out of the room- at least we were able to wake up Maria!  Time at the arcade, in the water day and night and observing with great admiration the sea lions along the pier.

   Subsequently the rains have been somewhat heavy and it's been cold at night, and the energy bills...well, it's always good to have something to work on.  Over the break we were able to catch up with various friends and family and for this I am always grateful.  Also watched a Doctor Who Christmas episode, "Last Christmas".  Best wishes for a solid 2016 everybody!

tug of war with Ryland

kooky by catnip

Maria wanting NO part in Dexter's creative gift wrapping for his brother

Brother's reaction,  This is very inappropriate.

 

And dolphins! (maybe Orcas)

Will the kidding ever cease?

Wearing my Hero / Zero t-shirt on Christmas Day

Before Stepping Forward, A Little Look Back

I waited before posting most of these pictures but let's mark how cool this year was in many ways because of fun times with Perry, wonderful Amelia, and on Christmas Day, a little Ruby.

Mike's super cake (one of many)

for the eyes and the cheeks. (like her cousin, smiles are the norm)

in Santa Cruz, more later...

Cai took Dexter and I (and Mike) to a Warriors-Kings game. Her work has a spot in a room above the game with incredible food options. This is just the dessert table, between refills. I'm sure room veterans can tell who the guests are by whoever takes home a  popcorn bucket filled with macaroons and cookies (me). Oh yes, the Warriors won by a large margin after a slow start, with Stephen Curry scoring 17? points in just three minutes.

We Like Our Neighborhood!

           Stepping into December with the big construction project next door, we can take a moment or two and appreciate where we are.  Yes, we are going to lose sunlight- how much it's hard to determine at this point but we'll have solid neighbors providing safety and rescue personnel for the boys to look up to. On the other side of us is a friendly family with similar sensibilities, Kelly and Peter and their boys- they arrived in October. next to them are Linda, her daughter and big dog, the quirky bearded George and Rick next to, and rounding out the corner are Roy and Erin.  It's a nice bunch, a solid community. We love being here.

             Some rain has landed but the area still waits for a renewal that water from the skies can bring. On this one morning it made for a pleasant respite sitting in Bicycle Coffee in the Oakland warehouse district. Additionally just a short walk from our home is now a sweet little outside cafe along the water.  A mile and a half from us near the beach by Kathy and Bob sits a great Peregine Falcon flying from the top of light fixture to light fixture in search of something to munch on I suppose. Impressive. We've got the transport + commute options down, and O's school is a bike ride, even an easy walk away.  Hoping for a market that is of the quality of Le Beau in our old neighborhood, and we'll be really set.

                I'm learning how to do some home projects/repairs (wouldn't exactly call my efforts seamless or professional quality but very functional!) and not many people can be as proud for changing one sink washer as I can. But I can.

           

           

And for Oliver's ego, here's a picture of Ollie making a particularly spectacular catch. It's amazing what can happen if you just close your eyes and hope. So kids, keep hope alive!

Currently the World's Climate Change Conference is in session. Let's see what comes out of this. Maria and I talked about looking into the possibility of installing solar panels sometime next year (after the construction project next door is complete and seeing what our good city allows)