Here are some photos from our just-completed California trip, these are all from the Monterey Peninsula. This is the Point Piños lighthouse.

Ellen wanted to be sure to visit this subtle John Denver memorial on the beach there, marking the place where his plane went down in the ocean. Ellen still mourns him, her favorite musician.

Lots of these on the beaches, a Western Gull.

A Stellar’s Jay in the Monarch Sanctuary wildlife area near the lighthouse.

Some kind of Ground Squirrel living in the rocks along the beach.

California Sea Lions covering this small rocky island just off the coast.

Atop another larger rock were lots of Cormorants, not sure which species.

The often rocky coast has many views like this.

One spectacular view is of the Lone Cypress on the 17-mile drive through Pebble Beach golf club. We visited the club lodge for a quick look around and a bit of shopping for my brother, who’s a golfer.

Another place for great views is Point Lobos State Park, a few miles south of Monterey.

There we saw this California Quail.

This is either one or two Sea Otters, the image is a bit confusing!

These are definitely Brandt’s Cormorants, one male showing the bright blue throat patch they only have briefly during mating season.

And finally we have a seal basking on the rocks, not sure which species it is. Monterey was a great place for nature, and we also enjoyed Fisherman’s Wharf for lunch, and a great Italian restaurant in Carmel for dinner. More pics soon.