McEwen Farming and Family Stuff

Tuesday, 26^th August

Further down the track of Highway 1

Without planning, we found this ideal motel right on the beach at San Simeon, southern region of Highway 1 . Actually, `resort` would be a better description. Our room opened onto an inner garden and swimming pool. Palms outside each room gave the garden a tropical feel. This morning we had our breakfast outside with the sun warming our backs. Following breakfast, I left Ian to walk on the beach. Just a short walk across the road and I was paddling through the edge of the breaking waves. Sun shining, blue sky and I thought I was in heaven. But the best was still to come.

I noticed hundreds of seagulls circling over the sea. Hundreds more on the beach watching and waiting, for what I did not know. I observed, there was far more bird life than on our beaches at home. I turned to return when I noticed a spout of water. Is it really? A whale. Yes. Then it breeched! I was really excited, was I really seeing whales close into the beach? Well, 400 metres from the beach, still at times even closer. I walked along and talked to a young man who had binoculars. He told me he thought there were 3 or 4 playing in the shallows or resting from travelling. The birds were circling the whales as they were probably stirring the fish and other food source, for them. After looking through the binoculars for a closer look, I hurried back to our room, packed the car so Ian could see the whales. We saw one. We snapped photo after photo hoping that we would catch a photo of the whale on the surface and we were lucky. Thrilled with the privilege of seeing these giants of the deep.

We travelled on further down the coast, and spent time on the beach – had a swim and my favourite – `a sit on the beach’ and a read. Tomorrow, Los Angeles, here we come. In a few hours `The End`

Not quite – anything could happen tomorrow.