Devil's Punchbowl

At first, I was a wee bit disappointed. What's there to see if everything is covered in sea grass? Nothing! Slimy, slick, nothing. Apparently I was feeling a bit pessimistic that morning. That did not last long. Nor will this blog. I've go lots of catching up to do!

Just a few of the sea plants available for viewing... There were also sea palms and calcareous algae; the pink almost coral-like plant.

What's that? A purple sea urchin? No way! That's pretty radical...

Ohh neat more sea urchins!

Hey there are a lot of them...

Like a whole lot. To the point that they might be excluding other tidal life. Hm.

These particular echinoderms have little suckers, like their other echinoderm cousins, seastars and sand dollars. The suckers latch onto passing debris or whatever they can get to cling to. They feed mostly on algae  or whatever they scrape up, the 'mouth' being on the attached bottom side.

There were as ever, some more chitons...
Black Katy and Lined,  and... drum-roll please!
The Giant Pacific Chiton (Cryptochiton stelleri), also called the Gumboot chiton, no doubt because its as large as your shoe. I thought it was dead.

Otherwise I would not have touched it.

This industrious snail...

Would like you to support the snails. I think this is funny. You might not.
Another isopod! Yay!

Brilliant little Potentilla brightening the beach, an oyster catcher, and what do you know, some cheery Mimulus!

You're probably dreaming giant green anemones by now... The color is so striking, it sucks me in every time.

There were signs all over about how you oughtn't approach or disturb the seals... When I see these signs I get a little sad because I've never really seen the animal the signs prohibit you from interacting with. 

But what do you know...

From far away, I dismissed it as a log floating in the the tide. Until it poked up it's head.

Not just one either.... Lots of harbor seals! I was very very very giddy. It was precious. I squealed with glee, multiple times. 

They became aware of my presence... 

They came over to investigate...

They quickly got bored with me and went their way.

They're so damn cute!!!! I'm sorry if that sounds wildly feminine, but too bad.

And we can't forget the beautiful land/seascape. 

This is why its "Devil's Punchbowl", the arch above leads into this bowl(below), where another arch lets in sea water. Doubtless its quite dramatic at high tide in a storm, but its pretty bland with the tide barely coming in.

Splendid ancient root structure

An overlook, the very middle being the Punchbowl area. A lovely time was had, to be sure. Now on again on again, lickity split!