Sunday, April 19, 2009

Sunset Beach SP, Watsonville, Ca

Sunday: (04/19) We left Tulare about noon, caught Highway 198 West through Hanford and Lemoore stopping at Harris Ranch at highway 198 and I5 for a late lunch. I had the chicken fried steak and lou and Dawn shared liver and onions. Everything was excellent as expected. After lunch we continued on highway I98 through Coalinga to King City. We stopped at Safeway there for a couple of things including water. We then continued on taking Highway 183 to highway 1 to Sunset Beach State Park just North of Watsonville. I haven't camped here in about 38 years and it's changed some, for the better. We're only here for the night but will probably return since it's so close to home.

No Wood Gathering Sign
The sign above was at the entrance to the campground but I always ignore such signs. We like to camp together so we often gather in parks.

Our Campsite At Sunset Beach Strawberry Fields Forever
Our campsite at Sunset beach CG. The Watsonville strawberry fields right behind the park.

Gopher Snake At Sunset Beach Lizard At Sunset Beach
While I was settling in with the RV, Dawn was talking to some birds in our camp and almost tripped over a gopher snake. We watched the snake for a while. It was digging out a hole, either it's own or one where it hoped to find dinner and didn't mind our being there so close at all. It finally got the opening big enough and disappeared into the hole. Here is a video of the snake. I may have to change the video format for easier viewing. Video Of Gopher Snake Digging.

Lou and Dawn fixed cold chicken, ramen noodles and a fruit salad for dinner. It's been rather warm today so cool food is in order. While they prepared dinner, I walked all around camp trying to find a place to leave the money for the site. No iron rangers in any of the campgrounds. At the entrance station, a mile or so back, there was one just past the ranger hut that wasn't open. The signs said "pay at campground ahead" but no specifics. I finally found a host in the last , farthest campground. So many people really need to take a signage 101 course. It was a nice walk though and dinner was ready when I returned.

Monday: (04/20) The ranger dropped by while we enjoyed our morning teas. We learned why the snake was crawling into the hole. Evidenly, in a couple of weeks a bunch of little snakes will probably emerge from the hole along  with the big snake. Around that time of each year, the rangers get lots of reports of rattle snakes all over the campground. of course, there are no rattles, just a bunch of little snakes.

I fixed sausage, egg, and cheese muffins for breakfast then Dawn and I took a walk up over the big sand dune (mountain) that separates our campsite from the beach.

Ladybugs A Lady At The Beach
Lots of lady bugs both in the bushes and on the beach. i guess they take vacations as we do.

A Clean Beach Bird In The Surf
It's a nice clean beach, white sand, no rocks and no debris. Many birds enjoy it.

Flower Delicate Purple Flowers
There were lots of interesting and different flowers on the walk up and down the hill and in the sand on the beach.

Yellow Beach Flowers Yellow Flower On The Beach
Yellow flowers on the beach.

California Golden Poppy California Golden Poppies
I also got an opportunity to get some pictures of the California golden poppies. They are lots of them here but no where near as many as we saw on several hills along highway 198 coming here. Unfortunately, there was no place to stop as we passed those fields.

Beach Bouquet Vivid Blue Flowers
A bouquet of flowers on the beach. Vivid blue bush.

Lou relaxed in camp chatting with a bird watcher that drove over from Gilroy for the day.

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