At The Backroads

Sea Dahlia, Torrey Pines State Reserve

I am sorry if I had been posting here about spring flowers one after another, I guess, all these wildflowers are giving me a spring fever . And to think spring is not really my favorite season, summer is. However, I see the unique beauty distinct to each season, and I actually make the most of each season’s surprises. Even though this is a hiking blog, but reality is, I love both hiking and ocean. I love hiking, because in hiking I get to see nature’s surprises and unfolding beauty which differs each day.

Mix of Spring Wildlfowers, @ Torrey Pines State Reserve

 However, I can forget about hiking once I am in the ocean and feeling the power of the waves. And to think I am not even a surfer! I just boogie board, like a child, I find tremendous joy in being pushed hard by the waves. Also, I get unequalled joy whenever I see fishes swimming by me. However, I do not like getting into the water when the water temperature is in the 50s. I prefer warmer water, which explains why my favorite season is summer . And summer is when the water temperature gets into the 60s, for some still frigid, but for me, good enough. And summer is when I get to do two things I enjoy the most, hiking and boogie boarding. Actually, add to that two, taking pictures of nature. The priceless bonus in hiking is the wonderful set of take home pictures that capture the memories I wanted to preserve. Though boogie boarding does not give me pictures, but nevertheless, I guess, it is always that child in me that will always seek for being with the waves.

One amazing and unique thing that I love about Torrey Pines State Reserve is that this is where I can combine all my simple pleasures, hiking and boogie boarding at the ocean. I usually start my day here hiking, enjoying the scenery at the top of the bluffs.

Carpeting Wildflowers at Guy Fleming Trail

We usually do not drive to the trailheads, instead, we park outside of the park. There are free parking on North Torrey Pines Road and on Carmel Valley Road. The East portion of the Reserve protects the grove of the rare Torrey Pine trees.

The Torrey Pines @ Guy Fleming Trail

Then, as you walk westward, the trail opens towards the ocean, with the North Torrey Pines State Beach below.

North Overlook @ Guy Fleming Trail

The west slopes are exposed to the sun, and the dots of pink in the above picture are ground pinks. Yes, they are so tiny wildflowers, but if you get a closer look, they look dainty, and beautiful too.

Ground Pinks

It is the west portion of the park that is carpeted with spring wildflowers right now. The shaded portion, where the groves of Torrey Pines could be found also have spots of wildflowers, but not in a lush carpet like in the exposed slopes.

Carpet of Wildlfowers

Mix of Wildflowers and the Ocean Below

After enjoying the scenery above, we would then hike down below, taking the Beach Trail or the Broken Hill Trail, both have access to the beach.

View of Flat Rock from the Beach Trail

Badlands and Carpet of Wildlfowers, from the Beach Trail

There are several overlooks such as the Red Butte, Razor Point (closed for renovation at present) and the Yucca Overlook at the Beach Trail. All of them have nice view of the ocean.

 At the Broken Hill Trail, there are coastal poppies that line some portion of the trail.

Coastal Poppies @ Broken Hill Trail

Sea of Gold by the Sea, @ Broken Hill Trail towards the Beach

Both trails at present are lined with sea dahlias and bush sunflowers.

Sea Dahlias

 Once at the beach, after being warmed enough exploring the top of the bluffs, it is time to enjoy the ocean and be with the waves.

Lonely Ocean, North Torrey Pines State Beach

Okay, I am just dreaming right now of boogie boarding, in fact, I haven’t boogie boarded yet. I am still waiting for summer, at present, there are more people just walking on shore than really getting into the water. I am just enjoying the wonderful sights of spring.

North Torrey Pines State Beach

Happy Spring again, everyone.

Gull In Flight

Pardon me if I will take a break from San Diego Backroads right now. Instead of featuring a place in the backroads for a place to hike, I will for this post talk instead about my experience with a sea gull yesterday. Yes, it was Valentine’s Day yesterday, and we spent our Valentines doing a leisurely hike at Torrey Pines State Reserve, which is not just a beach but a great place for a relaxing hike.

Beach Trail @ Torrey Pines State Reserve

There are 8 miles of branching trails on top of the reserve which protects the nation’s rarest pine, the Torrey Pines.

Torrey Pine Trees @ the Reserve

But this post is not about any of the trails above the bluffs, but about that one gull who caught my eye yesterday. My first experience with the gulls was not very good. I was naive then as to how gulls can quickly snatch your food away. I just bought then a sandwich and was carrying it with me. When I got to the beach, oh, the water and the waves called me. I decided to finish my sandwich first before jumping into the water. However, I could not eat my sandwich standing, so I decided to lay flat a beach towel on sand so I can take a sit and have my sandwich. I had to free my hands then from my sandwich, to grab the beach towel in my backpack. The moment I put my sandwich on top my backpack, freed the sandwich from my hold so I can grab the towel inside, a gull quickly dived in to take my sandwich! I got so shocked and scared from a sudden gull attack that I must have looked funny when I quickly docked down as if avoiding an air strike. My sandwich was too heavy for the gull that in about three arms length the gull lose its hold. But there came a lot more gulls to feast on a food one of them snatched. I felt guilty for unintentionally feeding wildlife, which is not encouraged at all. I ended up picking up my torn pieces of sandwich paper and put them into trash bin and yes, dashed to a Mexican taco shop nearby and bought rice, bean and cheese burrito, but finished the burrito right there and did not bring it anymore to the beach.

So, what I saw yesterday reminded me of that incident. I saw gulls happily fishing in the water, but I have not seen them actually eating a fish. Yesterday, while walking on shore, I saw a gull with a fish on his mouth. Since I do not have a video, I took a series of shots instead of how the gull swallowed the fish. I was not at a very good angle to take a picture, but I was afraid to move any further for I may scare the gull away.

Gull Eating Fish (1 )

Gull Eating Fish (2)

Gull Eating Fish (3)

Gull Eating Fish (4)

Gulls Eating Fish (5)

Gulls Eating Fish (6)

Gull Eating Fish (7)

Gull Eating Fish (8)

Gull Smiled After Swallowing the Fish

It is hard for me to believe that a gull can swallow the whole fish, though the fish was not really that huge. And further, I could not believe that the gull, after swallowingthe fish whole, went to the water again, probably to fish more?

Heading Back Into the Water

Waiting for the Right Time

I wonder what this gull thinks, food again?

Do you know that the larger gulls have a mobbing behavior? They are resourceful and highly intelligent birds, yet they attack in group to mob and harass would-be predators and intruders.

There are many types of gulls, I found this website helpful in knowing more about them:

1) http://www.chesapeakebay.net/bfg_seagull.aspx?menuitem=14376

2) http://www.pestcontrol-products.com/gull.htm

3) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gull

Gulls may look cute, but we have to remind ourselves to take care of our foods if we are at the beach, for the gulls can snatch your foods away. Even if they mostly eat fish, clams and shells, but they can take away your vegetarian meal too .