Exploring the Coast - by Ruth Ann Angus

2013 and 2012 Columns

 

January, 2013          Tour of the Towns - Morro Bay

 

Living on the Central Coast affords us great opportunities to experience a myriad of things to do and places to see without the cost of traveling. Let's take a tour of the towns of the Central Coast and we'll start with my town, Morro Bay. Famous as the town with the "Rock," Morro Bay has lots more to offer. Whether you spend a day or a week in this small town by the bay, there is something for everyone here.

     

December, 2012      Holiday Goose

 

In merry olde England the Christmas table contained many delicious platters like plum pudding, roasts, codfish cakes, peas porridge and fruit pies. But the epitome of the holiday dinner had to be the main course, the Christmas goose. I suspect that this bird was the domestic variety, grown solely for the purpose of consumption, although wild geese have been and still are hunted in order to grace the holiday table.

 

November, 2012      Birds of a Feather

 

I nearly creamed two wild turkeys who were trotting up the road from the State Park. What's the matter with them? Don't they know this is the season for serving them with cranberry sauce and stuffing? I'm not sure wild birds would be as tasty as the domestic variety. These birds look rather lean and lank. I have to wonder how they have been doing living life in town.

 

October, 2012         An Edna Valley Road Trip

 

Do things like small family-owned wineries, spectacular scenery, and a bit of history interest you? Then you want to come along on our road trip through the Edna Valley. And unless you own a real gas guzzler, this trip should take less than a tank of regular.

 

September, 2012      History, Hiking, and Tasting

 

September and the harvest is happening. Days are getting shorter and by late afternoon there is coolness in the air. But this is a great time to hop in the car and go on a road trip. We're not going too far — we realize gas prices have climbed so we want to conserve a bit.

 

August, 2012            Farm Stands of SLO County

 

The yearly Mid-State Fair always reminds us that San Luis Obispo County is primarily an agricultural area. So this month I take you on a journey along back roads to a few places where you can enjoy the rewards of the efforts of many of the county's farmers – a visit to farm stands.

 

July, 2012                 Fireworks!

 

Independence Day comes around once a year and often affords us a three or four day weekend that calls for a mini-vacation. But the great thing about the Fourth of July holiday is that you don't have to travel to enjoy it. With the price of gas higher than the moon, staying at home is the best choice for a wonderful Independence Day Weekender.

 

June, 2012               Far Out Wineries Tour

 

Touring the Westside wineries of Paso Robles will introduce you to the newest American Viticulture Area in California and will delight you with tastings, scenery, and the warmth of the people.

 

February, 2012         Elephant Seals of Piedras Blancas

 

Whalers and sealers hunted them for their blubber. By the end of the 1880's they were thought to be extinct. But a small colony — between 20 to 100 individuals — managed to survive and took up residence on Guadalupe Island, off Baja, California. All of the elephant seals on the West Coast of the continent are descended from this group.

 

January, 2012          Morro Bay Winter Bird Festival

 

The 16th Annual Morro Bay Winter Bird Festival takes place January 13th through the 16th, 2012.  Our keynote speaker Saturday, January 14th will be Jon Dunn, presenting a program on the diversity of Wood Warblers of North America. Jon is one of the primary experts on field identification in North America and is a tour leader for WINGS Birding Tours.

 

 

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