Thursday, July 29, 2021

As West as We can


It was an early morning departure from Seattle and typical traffic for a multi-metro area.  After a really slow McD's stop for questionable food we made it to Rialto beach. The early departure was necessary to hit the beach at low tide. Reading tide charts was a new skill to learn.  The fog was rolling across the sea stacks as we arrived.  Our goal was the "hole in the wall" a large sea arch but our pace was slowed by myriad rocks that needed inspection. So polished, so traveled, so potentially old. The tide started to come in but we had ample time  to explore the tidal pools.  Mussels, barnacles and limpets were plentiful.  We took turns touching the sea anemone with their sticky little arms, found some sea stars larger than my hand and to top it off Amy and the girls saw some sea otters. Merrick found a fist sized gelatinous blob, maybe part a bull kelp or a phytoplankton colony, tossing it to Ella created giggles for everyone.  She said every time somebody touched it, the blob suctioned more to her hand. Merrick spent  some time climbing the sea stacks before we headed back to our new pad, complete with tennis court and two friendly dogs.

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