Tuesday, October 29, 2013, Elephant Seal Vista Point and Hearst Castle, San Simeon, CA, Exploring Cambria, CA

Another pretty day - another great drive. This time we headed north just above San Simeon to Piedras Blancas Light Station built in 1875. Unfortunately, the road was closed and the closest pictures were not very impressive, so we did not include them here. Still, north of San Simeon, we found the overlook for viewing Elephant Seals. They had just started gathering, so there will be many more in another month. There were hundreds. Mostly they just lay motionless, but then they would flip some sand on their back or raise up their head and bark. There were a lot of "cute" little incidents going on all over, but it was difficult to capture them in a picture - by the time you noticed something and moved the camera, they quit whatever it was and they were still again.

We stopped at the Hearst Castle Visitor Center. There was a museum and a gift store, restaurant and viewing area. It was strange seeing a zebra roaming the pasture below the castle. We chose not to spend the time and money riding the bus up the hill for a tour and settled for the view from below.

A remnant of the zoo Mr. Hearst once stocked on the ranch. At one time there were polar bears, elephants and other exotic animals.

We decided to check on the seals again before heading south and were rewarded with some more nice photo opportunities. 

Just south of San Simeon was the town of Cambria. Joani was in search of the shop housing Ephraim Pottery. I hope she is satisfied admiring it from afar due to its price tag! 

Cambria was in the middle of their annual Scarecrow Festival. There were 370 scarecrows on display around the town. Joani kept calling the town "adorable" and it really was pretty nice. Some of the scarecrows were very creative. My favorite was called "Cycling Through the Years."

This spectacular display was motorized. The tyke was pedaling the fastest. They slowed with each generation.  I liked the progression from a tricycle to a bike and back to a tricycle.

This was in front of the Catholic Church. I appreciated their sense of humor.

This town very much reminds me of Gatlinburg's Heritage Arts Trail - gallery after gallery showing local artists.

I am a huge fan of Ephraim Pottery. Until I visited this shop, I had only seen it in pictures.

Another personal favorite. (He needs to stop staring at her breasts!)

Shut the duck up...

David is flirting with the wrong gal!

We drove by Morrow Bay on the way home. It was getting late - we will have to explore this seaside town on another day (that's the advantage of an extended stay.)

Morrow Rock