- Harbor seal at La Jolla
Thankfully Christopher took us to see the harbor seals at La Jolla (Pronounce: La ‘Hoya’). I say “thankfully” because I suspect he’s getting tired of visiting the seals every time an out-of-towner flies into San Diego. They are wild seals that gather on the beach and rocks along the shore where people can see them up close.
It was my second visit to admire the seals. I was happier this time because of Ms. Canon Rebel’s longer lens. Now you could see the whiskers on the seals. You could see more than blobs on the beach.
Barry noted that it smelled intensely of fish. As a fisherman, he approved.
We discovered that approximately 34 babies–or pups–birthed since December. The seal-protectors ashore name the pups. You can introduce yourself to Shadow, Misty, Frost, Peace, Seashell or Tide. If you can figure out who is who.
Then we were on to Mount Soledad, followed by at least six restaurants of various ethnicities. The boyz visited the USS Midway, an aircraft carrier active from 1945 through the first Iraq War. It is now a floating US Naval Air museum. Kathy opted to visit a coffee shop instead. She is more attuned to seals than military history.
We visited Chicano Park with its fabulous outdoor murals. Someday–maybe tomorrow, maybe when we’re back in snow-covered Upper Michigan, I will post a handful of these murals for viewing pleasure. By then, I will be waxing poetically about our visit to San Diego.
We also drove out to a foggy Coronado Island along the Pacific Coast and walked out to the beach, saddened by those killed in the tsunami in Japan. The waves against Coronado Island were tame, but folks were advised not to swim. We saw no swimmers.
Today, we shall meet Seunghye and her parents who are visiting from Korea. We’ll go out to lunch; perhaps tour a museum or two in Balboa Park. Tonight the clock will Spring Forward and then another three hours shall disappear tomorrow as we travel east toward Michigan.
Hope you enjoy the seal photos!
Larger view of seals hangin' out on beach next to pier
Nursing baby...also known as a "pup"
Hello, fellow...
Green and blue waters; seabirds
Don't fall in, Paws
Tidal pool filled with sea anemone
Seal pup count. Look, they name all the babies.
Wouldn't it be nice to pet this guy? Except you're not suppose to disturb the seals. It upsets the nursery.
Seal tracks...out to sea...
Lake Superior Spirit 
OH THANK YOU!!! I’m sitting here crying!
AW!!! that first photo is stunning! We love seals too and make sure we stop on the Kaikoura coast in NZ to watch them whenever we are in the area. Who on earth can get sick of seeing them? Not me!!!
Oh my goodness ! This certainly makes my one Nova Scotia harp seal sighting seem like small potatoes. I think you and Ms. Canon Rebel did a great job.
Wonderful! Most fascinating to me were the seal tracks out to sea. Never thought about what their tracks would look like. Sort of like the poles of a cross country skier. But not. Enjoy meeting your son’s soon to be in-laws. That will be fascinating too! No hurry to come back here…going to snow again soon…
Can’t thank you enough for more incredible photos of these endearing creatures – I love them so, and miss them immensely. We used to be able to see them every day. Does one tire of seeing them, hearing them, observing their intelligent, remarkable habits? I doubt it. Ohhhh, I can smell the fishy smell. There is nothing like the salty fishy smell of the Pacific and its life! And I also miss the amazing tide pools. One could stare at just one of them … all day. Your trip has gone so quickly. I wish you joy upon meeting Seunghye’s parents today, and hope that you will discover much in common, in addition to the mutual love for your special human offspring. I’m betting you will 😀
Ohhhhhhhhhhhh, how wonderful!
Knowing you are in California, I guessed seals right away. The portrait closeups are my favorites.
Wonderful pictures – it’s been many years now since I’ve been in San Diego, so it was especially fun to take a tour with you. The warm sun felt so good on my back!
Your photos of the seals and pups are fabulous – love the balancing act and the “seal prints.” The water and anemone are great, too. I’ve stayed on Coronado Island several times. Once we biked across the bridge to San Diego. Safe trip!
Oh my goodness! How adorable! I love love love that first photo; the seal looks so content. And how cute is the nursing baby! Thanks so much for this sweet sweet post! (I’m full of repetition and exclamation points today! Can you tell how much I enjoyed your photos? 😀 )
I love these photos, but then I love seals!
🙂
I’m with you, Kathy, going to see the seal nursery would never get old for me! Wonderful pictures!!! The first one has so much personality! If my daughter moves to California I will definitely visit!
Sharing your lack of interest in military history… We have the Submarine Force Museum in our town – I saw it once while chaperoning a field trip when my son’s class went to see it. Mostly I forget that Groton is the so-called Submarine Capital of the World. In spite of the submarine base and submarine builder in town… In spite of the fact that my husband, father and grandfather all worked at Electric Boat for a time. (The grandfather during World War II.) One weekend when Tim’s cousin brought his family to visit us from New Hampshire, the historic ship “Nautilus” at the Submarine Force Museum is what their son wanted to see. No guest had ever expressed an interest in it before…
I’m glad you’re having a great time!
Been thinking about you…all day yesterday as you met the in-laws…and today as you fly across country. Safe travels!
Those seals are SO adorable!
Remember, time is a human invention. Darn clocks!
Enjoying your vacation in the San Diego area. One of the best places on Earth. I would have opted for the USS Midway myself as that period of time when my father went to war, fascinates me. Than again, I love to watch and photograph wildlife. Their view of time which is measure in sunrises and sunsets would be so much better to follow than mechanical hands on a clock face.
thanks for this post, im going to be back in La Jolla (well, Del Mar) in less than a month and i cant sit still, im so excited to see family and have a break. your post really lifted my spirits 🙂
Glad you all liked the seal pictures. I loved them, myself. Loved how you could see them up-close instead of far away. Tinkerbelle, enjoy your trip to California. Glad to lift your spirits! Say hi to the seals from all of us if and when you see them…
OHHHHH the sea pups are so darn cute…..
Aren’t they adorable?? 🙂