Point Loma/Cabrillo National Monument

above: San Diego as seen from Point Loma.

 

Point Loma is a peninsula that rises 422 feet above sea level at the mouth of the San Diego Harbor and contains the Cabrillo National Monument. My friend, Rick, suggested visiting the site to get a great view of San Diego. The view was spectacular but, we also got a history lesson and an afternoon exploring the tidal pools along the shore.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Juan Rodriquez Cabrillo is credited with being the first European to set foot on the west coast of what is now the United States. He came ashore in 1542 as part of a Spanish expedition to find a route to Asia and the spice islands, to find gold and to claim land for Spain. The Cabrillo National Monument was established in 1913 to commemorate his life and exploration.

 

 

left: Juan Cabrillo Statue.

 

When we arrived, we were immediately drawn to the viewing station by the visitors center that faces the harbor. Being a clear day, we could see the harbor, the city and the mountains miles inland. The “see forever” view was captivating and the activity of boats and planes from the Naval Base and commercial airport was enough to entertain us all day.

 

 

 

We were treated to an “air show” by watching the fighter jets making regular loops around the sky and even saw a submarine on its way out to sea.

 

We stopped in at the visitors center just in time to catch a film on tidal pools and it being low tide spent the next couple of hours exploring what we had learned from the film, what a great school day opportunity!

 

 

left: Watching a sea anemone.

 

 

 

 

 

right: Searching for crabs in the crags.

 

 

 

 

 

 

left: A ranger gives a lesson.

 

 

 

 

The rock and sandstone cliffs also provided some climbing activities for the Dudes to use up some of their boundless energy. Gooseneck barnacles clung in clumps to the exposed rock and we found anemones and hermit crabs on both exposed rock and in small tidal pools.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

right: Exposed anemones closed up and camouflaged.

 

 

 

 

left: An open anenome.

 

 

 

 

 

 

right: Goosenecked barnacles.

 

 

 

 

Granny and Grandad and Cousin Ann, who came with us, seemed to enjoy it as much as the Dudes. Work on their ranger badges required them to visit every part of the park so we also stopped by the Point Loma Lighthouse built in 1855, whale watching viewpoint and the museum.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

above: Point Loma Lighthouse                 above: Ann and “Granny”

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

It was a full day of activities and we still didn’t see everything but, it was an enjoyable day in sunny Southern California.

 

above: The Lighthouse stairs.

 

 

 

i found a little starfish
in the tidepool by the sand
i found a tiny starfish
and put him in my hand

an itty-bitty starfish
no bigger then my thumb
a wet and golden starfish
belonging to noone

i thought that i could take him
from the tidepool by the sea
and bring him home to give to you
as a loving gift from me

but as i held the starfish
his skin began to dry
without his special seaside home
my gift to you would die

i found a tiny starfish
in the tidepool by the sea
and i hope whoever finds him next
will leave him there, like me!

and the gift ive saved for you?
the best gift i can give
i found a tiny starfish
and for YOU i let him live