SLO, Pismo, and Pinnacles in California

On our way down to Los Angeles to visit Sun-Ling's niece Nicole we stopped for a day of hiking in Pinnacles National Park which is home to 30 California Condors. Pinnacles is about 80 miles south-east of Saratoga and with a somewhat early start we were walking on the Condor Gulch Trail by 10:15 am. Yes it's called the "Condor Gulch Trail, but is it more than a name? [Regular readers will remember how excited we were in 2019 when we spotted a few Andean Condors in Peru.] Yes! We saw three condors (see pics below). Many thanks to the park ranger we met on the trail who explained how to distinguish a turkey vulture from a condor.

After completing the High Peaks Trail, we drove 2 hours south to SLO (San Luis Obispo) where we spent the night. SLO is more than a college town - Cal Poly. It has a functional, compact, downtown, complete with a county courthouse, art deco cinema, Spanish Mission, and a doctor's office designed by Frank Lloyd Wright. Not to mention a Costco with a gas station on the way out of town.

Twenty minutes south of SLO is Pismo Beach and the Pismo Beach Monarch Butterfly Park. SL's sister recommended we stop here and check out the butterflies. After seeing only a few monarchs in Santa Cruz we were mesmerized by the thousands of butterflies at Pismo Beach. Wow!

At the trailhead parking at Pinncles we first saw several acorn woodpeckers...

... and then the acorns they stash in holes they dig out in pine trees. Sun-Ling and I walk up into the Pinnacles (crazy rock spires) on the Condor Gulch Trail.



Ridgewalking on the High Peaks Trail.

Condor!

Condors!

A couple of "strenuous" sections of the High Peaks Trail.

Sun-Ling is in fine form!

What a view as we begin to head down to Bear Gulch Cave.

The rock formations are golden in the late afternoon sun.

Walking under boulders in Bear Gulch Cave.

The Kundert Medical Clinic in San Luis Obispo was designed by Frank Lloyd Wright. The very cool Art Deco Fremont Theater is across the street from the SLO County Courthouse.

We strolled by the Mission but did not go in.

The Monarch Butterfly Grove atPismo State Beach was amazing with 22445+ monarchs in the grove that day.

A short video of the monarchs flying around.

And if that video does not play, click here.