Archive for the ‘a week in California’ Category
a closer look at trees (days 48, 49 and 50)
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One of the natural history lessons learned during my trip to California concerned the oak. On a trip to ‘Safari West’ near Santa Rosa, our guide pointed out the scarred trunks of various trees. The bark was embedded with acorns! The Acorn Woodpecker places the acorns in holes in the bark of these trees, storing them for a later source of food. The storage trees or ‘granaries’ are used over and over through the years!
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acorns planted in a ‘granary’ tree by the Acorn Woodpecker
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Perhaps as a result of seeing so many new tree species in California, I have looked more closely at the trees I see in Street View as I cycle ‘virtually’ along the Cornwall coast. Identification is usually difficult since the images do not show details. However, occasionally a leafy branch is close enough to see the leaves clearly. So far, I have seen the Common Ash, the Field Maple, and the English Oak. In the image below, you can see the lobed leaves of the English Oak.
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lobed leaves of an English Oak along the road to St. Anthony (image from Street View)
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map showing distance travelled (map from Google Earth)
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7-48 November 21, 2013 30 minutes 3.0 km (from Mawgan to St. Martin)
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November 26, 2013 ‘oak on Fords Hill’ Jane Tims
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7-49 November 23, 2013 35 minutes 3.0 km (from St. Martin to Helford)
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November 26, 2013 ‘maple and oak near Helford’ Jane Tims
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7-50 November 25, 2013 30 minutes 3.0 km (from Helford to St. Anthony-in-Meneage)
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Oak and Ash along the road to St. Anthony (image from Street View)
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Copyright 2013 Jane Tims
California #3 – the Pacific Ocean
When I went to California, I wanted to do four things: see my brother and my sister-in-law in their new home, drive over the Golden Gate Bridge, see Star Trek Academy (or its eventual location) and stick my toe in the Pacific Ocean. The first three were easy, but seeing the Pacific and touching it were two different things. We saw it almost immediately from the plane. Then we walked along Fishermen’s Wharf, watched the boats bobbing in the quay, walked among the Bay fish at the Aquarium and travelled on the Bay Cruise around Alcatraz and under the Golden Gate Bridge twice. Beyond the Golden Gate Bridge, I experienced some of the power of the Pacific Ocean. As you cross under the Bridge, the water turns very choppy and churns and twists and swells.
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Once we got to Calistoga, my brother gave us his car for the day and my son and I headed across the winding roads of the Calistoga hills. Thanks to our GPS and my son’s piloting skills, we reached the coast with little problem. The waves were gorgeous – big white breakers on a blue ocean and a blue sky in the background. Surfers were riding the biggest of the waves. However, we couldn’t seem to find a way down to the beach that wouldn’t wreck my knees, so we contented ourselves with the view. Then we ate at the ‘Tides’ restaurant, at a seat near the window directly over the water. It was so close we both felt as though we were moving!
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Our last stop was at Goat Rock. After a snail’s pace and a harrowing descent of very twisty roads, we reached the beach, but after reading the signs (they said it is the most dangerous beach in California for undertows), we decided to content ourselves with walking in the deep sand. As we turned from the ocean to return to Calistoga, I wondered why I was not disappointed at not getting my feet wet. The answer … I intend to return again and I’ll poke my toes in then!!!!
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Since my son has all our photos, I will share some photos and my painting of the Atlantic Ocean (Lawrencetown Beach) from my visit this spring with my other brother.
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November 16, 2013 ‘Lawrencetown Beach, Nova Scotia’ Jane Tims
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Copyright 2013 Jane Tims
California #2 – loving limes
Since I am a botanist, it is no surprise – one of my favorite experiences in California was seeing the vegetation. Lime, orange and lemon trees were everywhere. One of the best lime trees was in my brother’s yard. It had more limes than leaves! It was en route to their new restaurant, 1226 Washington, opening soon in Calistoga.
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Copyright 2013 Jane Tims
California #1
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Spent last week in California! The Streets of San Francisco. Trolleys. Wharves. Sight seeing boats. Sight-seeing buses. Alcatraz and the Presidio. The Golden Gate Bridge. Star Fleet Academy -well, the site where it will be built!
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Then to Calistoga in wine country. Tours of wineries, a cable car, a trip to an African Safari park, giant Redwoods, and The Pacific Ocean! Had lots of fun!
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My camera ran out of batteries, but my son took lots of photos, so I’ll be sharing these in future …
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Copyright 2013 Jane Tims
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