Archive for April, 2009

Postcard Shot of the Point Reyes Lighthouse

April 30th, 2009

Just in case you need inspiration to head to the Point Reyes area this weekend.

Photo courtesy of generationexe

Wildflowers Peaking and Mother-Calf Whale Migration

April 23rd, 2009

What’s happening in the park in late April 2009.

  • The rains means more wildflowers! Chimney Rock is in peak condition, with the yellow Indian Paintbrush coming in. The pastures at Bear Valley are purple with tiny Sky Lupines. There are rumors of dogwood flowering on Bear Valley Trail.
  • Poison Oak is also enjoying a banner year – leaves of three let it be – it can be a shrub or a climbing vine.  Also, I teach my son “If it’s shiny, watch your hiney.”
  • Last of the grey whales moving north, the third phase of the annual movement is the mother and calf pairs passing the Lighthouse; a couple of pairs have been seen each day over the past week.
  • The first string enclosures to protect snowy plover nests are being put up on the Great Beach; nesting activities have been observed, so far, no eggs.

These are highlights from the National Park Service Park Wavelengths newsletter. Photo by Pat Ulrich.

Photo: Sea Lion

April 16th, 2009

Great shot of a scooting sea lion across Limantour.

Photo courtesy of Jef Poskanzer

Busy Campsites, More Wildflowers, Bobcat Spotted, Last Weekend for Shuttle Photo

April 7th, 2009

What’s happening in the park in early April 2009.

  • Park campgrounds are extra full this week and next; about a 5% raise over last year.  Looks like folks are staying closer to home this year.
  • Some positive fish news: smolt trapping (one year old fish – ready to go to the ocean) found 144 coho in Olema Creek and 8 in Redwood Creek at Muir Woods!
  • Birders watching quail at Bear Valley also noted a bobcat at the Horse Ranch snacking on a mouse!
  • Wildflowers continue to bloom especially with the extra dollop of rain this week! Poppies and lupine in the fields at Bear Valley. Tidy tips just beginning at Chimney Rock along with Baby Blue eyes! Creamy yellow wallflowers fragrance the steps at the Lighthouse. Many species coming out.
  • Shuttle Bus service ends this weekend; Easter Sunday will be the last day of service for this years season
These are highlights from the National Park Service Park Wavelengths newsletter.

Point Reyes: Come for the Cheese

April 4th, 2009

point_reyes_bluePoint Reyes and the nice folks at the Cowgirl Creamery have made a cheese lover out of me (see a past post on the best grilled cheese sandwich ever).  So it was no surprise to see that two local cheeses on the SF Chronicle list of 10 iconic California cheeses. The two are the (1) Point Reyes Original Blue and (2) Red Hawk:

The only classic-style blue cheese made in California, Original Blue is produced by the Giacomini family with milk from their own cows. The four Giacomini daughters turned to cheesemaking nearly a decade ago as a way to preserve their West Marin farm. The rindless Original Blue has a dense, moist, creamy interior with threadlike blue veins; its flavor is robust, finishing with a buttermilk tang.

On the Red Hawk:

Made with cream-enriched organic cow’s milk from Marin County’s Straus Family Creamery, Red Hawk belongs to the category of smelly cheeses known as washed rinds… A ripe Red Hawk has the luscious texture characteristic of triple-cream cheeses and aromas of mushroom, earth and spice.

grilled_cheese_w_point_reyes_cheesesSo we have these two great cheeses and we now have grilled cheese sandwiches on the mind, so Morry Anne over at Fare to Remember comes to the rescue. She adds a hot dipping sauce to make a beautiful looking Hot Wing(less) Grilled Cheese Sandwich. Way to go!