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My favorite camping area in Big Sur is Pfeiffer
Big Sur State Park. Most of the climate,
vegetation, camping and general area information on
this page is courtesy of the parks visitors
pamphlet.
The Pfeiffer Big Sur campsites, are located along the
Big Sur river in redwood groves, oak woodlands and
grassy meadows. Each Campsite can accommodate up to
eight people and two 32foot vehicles, and includes a
fire ring and picnic table. Since I like
to camp alone there is plenty of room for Homer and
I. (Yes my tents name is Homer) Running water,
restrooms and hot showers are located throughout the
campground within easy walking distance of every
site.
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The Big Sur River, one
of the 50 streams that flows down the mountains into
the ocean, plays a critical role in creating the
evolving landscape. This is especially true when
heavy rainfall causes th river to transport
tremendous volumes of soil, downed trees, branches
and other debris downstream. The relatively gentle
terrain within the park causes this debris to slow
the river to a gentle flow in low water periods.
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The sixty
foot high Pfeiffer
Falls, at the end of
Redwood creek, is not spectacular as falls go, but
is indeed a scenic highlight. A wooden platform at
the base of the falls offers a place to rest or have
a picnic.
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In the canyons beside the river, redwoods live side
by side with sycamores, black cottonwoods, big-leaf
maples, alders and willows. The above photos were
taken at high noon, but the redwood canopy is
so thick that the forest floor receives only soft
dim filtered light.
One of the bridges along the
Valley View Trail, which goes
through deep redwood forest to open oak woodlands
to hot, dry chaparral - all within three miles.
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Traveling
north on Hwy 1, heading toward Carmel,I came upon
this scene of what seems to be an Old Ranch, surrounded by a sea of
yellow. The scene was magnificent but being an
armature photographer I was again unable to get the
camera to see what I saw - If
any one who lives in the Big Sur - Carmel - Monterey
area knows the history of or has any information
regarding this scene, please drop me a line ( al@calif-journal.com ). It
would be greatly appreciated.
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Monterey Bay Aquarium This photo of a diver swimming past was taken at the world renowned Aquarium.
Monterey Bay Aquarium, which is located in Monterey, California, is one of the largest and best-organized aquariums in the world.
It includes a 10-meter-high aquarium for viewing California coast marine life and 1 million gallon aquarium. The aquarium, which is located near the large undersea Monterey Canyon, is also known world-wide as a research institution, especially in areas that deal with deep-sea marine life. Much of the biologic diversity and density seen in Monterey Bay is the result of cold and nutrient-rich water upwelling from the ocean depths via the canyon.
Sealife on exhibit includes stingrays, jellyfish, and sea otters. In addition, there is an exhibit featuring a kelp forest
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Yahoo! News Search Results for Big Sur Monterey Bay Aquarium
Thu, 08 May 2008 08:48:35 GMT
Park district nudges homebodies into nature (The Monterey County Herald)
That's not just some bug crawling on a plant stem. And that animal flying at sunset: It could be a bird or a bat.
Mon, 28 Apr 2008 08:48:06 GMT
Weather makes marathon magic (The Monterey County Herald)
The Big Sur coast and bright sun sure were friendly to the 10,000 participants in Sunday's Big Sur International Marathon.
Sun, 27 Apr 2008 08:44:43 GMT
Travels with Steinbeck (Tacoma News Tribune)
MONTEREY, Calif. – Old Margo seemed like a character ripped from the pages of a John Steinbeck novel. There was a story seething right under the surface, but darn if we would be able to figure it out.
Sat, 19 Apr 2008 22:17:56 GMT
Not all First 5 grants are helping poor kids (San Francisco Chronicle)
Scores of savvy San Francisco parents have tapped a pot of taxpayer dollars for everything from children's ice skating lessons and Monterey Bay Aquarium field trips to supplies for Halloween parties and chartered buses to the Jelly Belly factory in Fairfield....
Wed, 23 Apr 2008 15:01:04 GMT
Family & Self Digest (The Salinas Californian)
IN BRIEF Family Science & Health Day set at Hartnell Science and health take center stage Saturday at Hartnell College in Salinas. The Family Science & Health Day event, at 411 Central Ave., takes place from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Children can use a solar telescope, participate in physics demonstrations, learn about astronomy, visit the amphibian zoo, enjoy soccer activities and meet an astronaut, ...
Mon, 21 Apr 2008 16:32:52 GMT
The simple life in Carmel (Chicago Tribune)
CARMEL-BY-THE-SEA, Calif.—Own a home here? You won't have sidewalks or street lights. No street address or home mail delivery either.
Sat, 19 Apr 2008 05:32:27 GMT
Getting their hands wet (Register Pajaronian)
In a large, cool, darkened aquarium in a Mar Vista Elementary School classroom, 30 fish eggs hatched Friday, much to the excitement of the students who had been eagerly awaiting their arrival.
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