Point Lobos
Nice daytrip down to Monterey, Carmel, and Point Lobos today. I think it was in the high 90's at home, but Point Lobos was cold and foggy. Lots of poison oak there, as usual. We took two of the little semi-loop trails: one of them past China Beach to Bird Island; and the other one through the Allan Memorial Grove (of Monterey Cypress). Lots of cormorants on Bird Island today. I was wondering about the orange lichen-like goop on some of the cypresses.
Rosemary Donlon writes:
Lace lichen is often found growing on the cypresses: it is not parasitic and does not harm the trees. The surfaces of the trees closest to the direct salt spray are often covered with a bright orange growth. This is Trentepohlia aurea v. polycarpa, a green alga which is rich in beta carotene, giving it a bright orange color. It, too, is nonparasitic and can be found growing on rocks and downed wood along the trail.
Later, we saw a bunch of sea lions and a few otters from Fisherman's Wharf.
Sure is pretty down there. Every time we go there, we ask each other why we don't go there more often. It's only an hour away, after all.
Photos to come.
11:51:35 PM
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