Pinnacles: 15 May, 2005

After another night in San Luis Obispo we stopped by the Pinnacles Natl. Monument SP on our way back to the Bay Area and hiked the High Peaks -Balconies Cave-Loop, ~8.5 miles.

Chaparral Ranger Station (West Entrance), Juniper Canyon Trail, backway around High Peaks, High Peaks Trail to Chalone Creek, Old Pinnacles Trail, Balconies Caves Trail, Balconies Trail back to West Entrance

The Pinnacles, from the trailhead:

She can see for miles and miles:

Montana d'Oro SP: 14 May, 2005

The next day we hiked in the Montana de Oro State Park, South of Morro Bay.
Possible Route: Dune Trail -> Hiedra Trail -> Ridge Trail
Andrea working her way along the Dune Trail:
ahh... the ocean and wildflowers:
There were ticks everywhere in the dunes, absolutely crazy. We played in the sand, had a crab almost bite Greg's big toe, and went back on an inland trail with nice views.

Down along the Californian Coast: 13 May, 2005

To avoid the house-showing-crowds in our flat, we escaped for a long weekend down the Californian Coast.

We went along Highway 1 by Big Sur, had a break in Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park, saw by accident the sea-lions beach near Hearst Castle, and stayed the night in a cheap Motel6 in San Luis Obispo, where we had a really nice dinner in a French Bistro type of place...