Last Call for 2010

December 31, 2010: We awoke to this view of Catalina Island:
Cat and Mormon missionary boys:


























Saddleback is actually the two highest peaks of the Santa Ana Mountains:
Roadside nativity:
Snow on San Jacinto Peak:
The views at the Pelican Grill:
This Roman aqueduct transports golf carts from the club house to two golf courses:
The Pelican Grill is public but has the look and feel of an exclusive private club:


















































The BBQ prime rib sandwich and the spicy tortilla soup:













We checked out the hotel:

We went home via the PCH through Crystal Cove:
And Laguna:

Elephant Seals

December 30, 2010: The sun was setting by the time we left San Simeon, but we drove north to view the Northern Elephant Seal colony just south of the Piedras Blancas Lighthouse.

The "rock" in the center is an elephant seal:

The light failed so quickly that it was hard to see the seals and even harder to photograph them. They didn't particularly like the flash, which was of limited utility anyway. [You can click on the photos for a larger, better view.]