Point Sur Light Station

The Sunday end of the weekend trip back home, was down Highway 1. I love the drive, there is so much to see. First stop was in Carmel, more on that in a different post, coffee was needed and then off down the road.

Coming around a corner, whales were spouting as they migrate along the coast. Even though they were far out to sea, it was incredible to see them and in the numbers that were there.

I figured they were enjoying the coast as well. Since it was getting late, it only seemed appropriate to watch the sunset over the Point Sur Light Station after all, we had spent a lot of time shooting the Point Pinos Lighthouse.

Point Sur is now a State Park with limited tours available, info at http://www.parks.ca.gov/ , I have taken the tour in the past. Do not let a foggy day stop you from going, the fog on the light is really special. The Lightstation is in the process of being restored and is really worth the visit and braving the walk UP the road to the top.

There is a beautiful beach with waves that roll as they come in, I think I could sit and watch for a long time.

The dawn photo is from a summer trip; I made my boys roll out of the tent before the sun and drive from our campground in the redwoods at Pfeiffer Big Sur, they did not appreciate the sunrise as much as I did. We watched as the sun slowly touched the hills and lit the rock with the light station on top.

Sunday, 1-18-09, the light house is having a whale watching picnic after the shorted tour of the light station. I would love to be sitting there

watching the whales again and enjoying the view of the lantern room from the hill top. Maybe

next time........

We stopped at Ragged Point for another cup of coffee.

And still managed to make back to Pismo in time for clam chowder at the Splash Cafe.

More photos from the trip and light station are here: http://www.carolsimages.com/gallery/7040786_pRGcf#450958475_f6gjW

And from the drive down Highway 1: http://www.carolsimages.com/gallery/7040511_5wVaT#450940091_hgDpi

And even more photos from previous trips: http://www.carolsimages.com/Travel/354080

Point Pinos Lighthouse

Back to the Monterey Trip


Saturday, January 3rd was a good day to sleep too late and then go for a drive to the Lighthouse in Pacific Grove. The Lighthouse is open for tours from 1 to 4pm Thursday to Monday, since it was 12:30 the best thing seemed to drive around to the beach side and take a look from that angle. The light was good and if you hurried, you could get a shot off with out a golf cart load of people.


Another photographer came up to see what we were looking at, turns out I had been to his gallery when he had it open in Santa Barbara. Dan Merekel, http://www.danmerkelmedia.com/stock/show-panoramics-page-1.htm , was shooting with his 6x17. He has some incredible night exposures on his website.


We had a nice visit with him and met up again when the gates opened and we could get closer to the lighthouse.

He went on to shoot the 17-mile drive Lone Pine, we took the lighthouse in the dark.


We were so busy talking, we forgot to take the tour, but the light house is decorated for the period.


It was built in 1855 and is currently surrounded by a golf course. Often your photos can include the local deer enjoying the greens.

For more information on the lighthouse http://www.lighthousefriends.com/light.asp?ID=30

For more of my photos of the Point Pinos Lighthouse http://www.carolsimages.com/gallery/7043046_BuyTw#451331321_ETASM