Saturday, November 22, 2008

On the Island

We made it to Anacapa Island, at last! The wind finally cooperated, letting the boat out of the harbor, and although there was a swell, it was smooth sailing all the way there and back.
Close to the California mainland, yet worlds apart, Channel Islands National Park encompasses five remarkable islands (Anacapa, Santa Cruz, Santa Rosa, San Miguel, and Santa Barbara) and their ocean environment, preserving and protecting a wealth of natural and cultural resources. Isolation over thousands of years has created unique animals, plants, and archaeological resources found nowhere else on Earth and helped preserve a place where visitors can experience coastal southern California as it once was ~ courtesy of www.nps.gov/chis.com
It took the captain of the boat 4 attempts to unload all the kayaks and passengers, he had to keep driving back out to sea, wait for the surge to subside and then go back to the ladder.
The Chumash Indians traveled to Anacapa in canoes called tomols, you can see evidence of their visits right beneath your feet. The tiny pieces of broken shell glittering in the soil are part of a midden, an archaeological site containing remnants of their culture. Twenty-seven archaeological sites mark the Chumash presence on Anacapa.
A cool,salty mist fills the air at Inspiration Point. Graceful gulls and pelicans soar above the foaming waves that surge across the narrow, rocky strait separating East and Middle Anacapa. Seven different species of marine birds nest on Anacapa, including western gulls, California brown pelicans, double-crested cormorants, Brandt's cormorants, pelagic cormorants, pigeon guillemots, and Xantus' murrelets. Twenty-two different species of land birds breed on the island and many other birds stop over during migration.
The Ranger station
The first lighthouse put on the island was in 1912, but it wasn't until 1932 that the Bureau of Lighthouses built this one in the Spanish Revival style containing a Fresnel lens.
Arch Rock
The Common Bottle Nose Dolphin escorted us home.



It was a spectacular day, we were sunburned and tired and hungry but we got the g.p.s. info that was so necessary (deadline is looming) and I got all these photos. Mother Nature treated us to a gorgeous sunset and my husband treated me to a big bowl of Albondigas soup at our favorite Mexican restaurant when we got back to town. I hope you had a beautiful weekend too...with or without dolphins chasing you home...


xxx Lori


23 comments:

  1. Now that was a wondrous weekend you had, in such a beautiful landscape, with all that history. Thank you for letting us share! The landing place looked a bit dangerous for my taste, though!Where I live, we had snow and sunshine, and that was beautiful, too, but we had no bottle nose dolphins chasing us. I can`t believe they are COMMON at your place!!

    ReplyDelete
  2. oh how beautiful! thanks for sharing. wouldn;t mind living in the ranger house for a while..wow. x j

    ReplyDelete
  3. what a beautiful beautiful place and those photos!! am awestruck - that landing sounds a bit nervewracking to me too but well worth it. used to dream about living in a lighthouse - what a place to do it in.. and those dolphins - always make me feel mushy inside.... thanks for such an uplifting post! what is albondigas soup? sounds like beans??
    xx

    ReplyDelete
  4. Wow, it looks and sounds like a totally wonderful place. My father had an old friend who lived in California when he went to visit him, they used to sail over to the islands on weekends - I think they were some of the best times of my dad's life! Very special seeing these pics of yours and learning more about the islands. Thanks so much for sharing.

    ReplyDelete
  5. Geli, It it one of the most beautiful places in the world I think and worth the sketchy landing! The dolphins are named Common, but i agree with you, they are anything but.

    Janelle, that's exactly what we wish for, but you can camp out there,great fun!

    thanks Val, C.I. is often refered to as the Galapagos of the north,its like no where else on earth.This landing is kind of easier than some of the others(there are 4 more islands)but yes, well worth it.If you'd like to see more photos you can go to my husbands site at www.chuckgrahamphoto.com, go to the gallery and click on Channel Islands National Park.
    Albondigas soup is like a mexican vegetable soup with little meatballs,lots of broth,yum.

    AV, that is so cool! do you have any photos of your Dad there? Its amazingto me, people come from all over the world to visit these Islands and so many people that live here have never been. But you know how that goes!

    Thanks everyone for great comments!
    xxx Lori

    ReplyDelete
  6. Wow, that place is great...just lovely...there was a place here in Tasmania that was voted best in the world, but that place runs it super close! Wish I was there!

    ReplyDelete
  7. Wow wow wow. That looks so amazing. You make a great virtual tourguide.
    xxx

    ReplyDelete
  8. beautiful, beautiful.. and those dolphins... (sigh!)

    ReplyDelete
  9. Thanks Miles for stopping by! I'm so glad you enjoyed this, It was hard to narrow down the photos I took on saturday(to post)it really is a beautiful place.Tasmania? theres a place we'd like to see too, heard about some of the wonders down there...

    Thanks Tam! p.s. Happy Birthday again,

    xx lori

    ReplyDelete
  10. So much beauty in isolation. The history is interesting. It makes one wonder how they must have lived there. Most things one can only guess at.

    The picture of flowers in the foreground and the station at the back is a pretty one.

    ReplyDelete
  11. Wow, that is really quite beautiful!

    ReplyDelete
  12. Thanks Karen, wish you could see it!

    Thanks Anil P for stopping by! and welcome!you made a good point this island was not inhabited,only visited because of the unavalibility of water. The others were lived on though.Glad you enjoyed!

    Hi Maria Rose, thank you for the nice comment and for coming to my blog!

    Thank you everyone for the lovely comments
    xxx Lori

    ReplyDelete
  13. I don't have any pics of my dad on the islands, Lori, just shots of him on the yacht sailing towards them. But it was so cool to get this glimpse into a world that played an important part in his life.

    ReplyDelete
  14. Oh Wow! What totally amazing pictures, they should be framed and sold off - you'd make a fortune.

    CJ xx

    ReplyDelete
  15. AV, it is really cool that you have great memories of your Dad, I'm sure he would find it pretty much exactly the same(the islands)now, if you would ever like to come see for yourself,I could be your guide!

    Thanks CJ,your a sweetie!

    xxx lori

    ReplyDelete
  16. Lori - how absolutely beautiful..and your wonderful commentary along with the spectacular photo is sheer perfection. You've made a bleak and foggy Friday turn into a sparkling bright one for me!

    ReplyDelete
  17. Me again! Lori, your name was chosen as the winner of a giclee print in A Very Useful Box for Boys post!! Just choose whichever one of my paintings you like best, message me with your addy and I'll pop it in the mail for you.

    (I'm still gazing in awe at those stunning photographs.....)

    ReplyDelete
  18. Tessa, wow! thank you so much! how exciting,wow! I am really flattered by your comment, YOUR photos are absolutely gorgeous and the same for your art. I am really thrilled to have been chosen. YOu should have seen me just now running around the house with my laptop showing my husband and kids your message! WOW! Thank you so much!!
    xxx lori

    ReplyDelete
  19. What a great post Lori, I've never ever heard of those islands but they sound and look absolutely spectacular I would love to visit there one day.

    ReplyDelete
  20. Thanks Mama,I hope you do get the chance, look me up if you do!
    xx Lori

    ReplyDelete
  21. I agree with Tam-you are a great virtual tour guide. Also when I visited last time you took us to somewhere else that was lovely!

    Word ver: amankenu-sounds like a friendly greeting from another exotic place!

    ReplyDelete
  22. Thanks Suzy! I'm so glad you enjoyed it. Amankenu to you too!
    xx Lori

    ReplyDelete
  23. This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.

    ReplyDelete

xoxo lori