BULLHEAD IN THE PINE TREES

January 02, 2021

Today's Seiko walk is generously sponsored by Brian, who loaned me his Bullhead Chronograph (he thinks I am going to give it back...) It's called a Bullhead because its orientation is unusual -- the pushers for the stopwatch function look a bit like horns.

Our early morning destination is Torrey Pines State Reserve Extension Area (a tediously-long title). It was still dark when we got there so we didn't see a sign saying it doesn't open til 7am.

We had enough moonlight to easily follow the trails which were rigorously marked on each side by posts and steel cables. Highly structured! Signs every 10-20 feet saying "stay out".

Perhaps with good reason at some points.

Here is the view to the west, and the peaceful Pacific. We could hear the surf all the way up on the mesa.

View to the east as the sun is about to rise, pouring its magic into the San Diego skies.

I try the Auto setting on my Sony RX10

Then the "Sunset" setting which enhances the red/orange spectrum I guess.

Mrs C shouted out "there's a coyote down there by the lone Torrey Pine" but the camera didn't find him, nor did I. Can you?

Hmmm. We are still not legal, and the sun won't rise for anther 20 minutes. Nice watch, isn't it? It dates to around 1976. Forty-five years ago?

The skies are coming more alive with colors, especially blue which is fighting for dominance over the orange.

The battle is stronger to the east.

Because the ocean's blue-purple dominates to the west.

I can imagine life out here in the pines. This house got there long ago, before the area was turned into a nature preserve.

My wife has a friend who lives over to the right in the big pines. I did a photo story on her house last year when we went to a Christmas party there.

We continued to walk until Mrs. C said "The sun is lighting the trees from the side, you like those shots." I do, so I took a couple.

Another house on the border of the preserve owns these two mighty Torrey Pines.

It's time to check off another photo obligation for our morning walks. Wildlife.

He was there in the previous two photos as well.

And this other bunny on the far side of the road was in place the whole time too. Listening intently.

While here's my daily bird close-up. He was providing a sad farewell song for us, as we prepared to depart.

Leaving the beautiful but excessively-signed Extension behind. The advantage of going here, compared to the main Reserve, is saving the $15 fee payable at the main place...

It wasn't quite time to go home, so we drove to the coast and got in some ocean viewing. That's La Jolla in the distance.

While looking at the water, I heard the rumble of a half-dozen muscle cars. I spun around but only fast enough to catch this nice Camaro, probably heading to a local Cars & Coffee meeting.