Trinidad, population a whopping 367, has a great little lighthouse on the hill and a harbor full of sea stacks draped with doey-eyed harbor seals just waiting to be photographed. The sun, which many days does not make its appearance until later in the day due to the heavy marine layer, poked out as promised by the locals, so we inflated the Sea Eagle and off we went.
It didn’t take long for us to spot harbor seals and the more we looked the more we saw, some perched on rocks that appeared to be no larger than their bodies. It looked to be quite the balancing act for some. Ok, everybody say ahhhh!
We were rewarded with calm waters for our entire time on the bay and the views were just breathtaking.
As the sun started to drop lower in the sky, we decided it was time to head back to the beach where we put in. We both happened to look up to the sky at the same time and, was it a bird, was it a plane; yes, it was a bird and a big brown pelican at that. What was most interesting and somewhat alarming was that it was heading straight for us and seemed to want in the boat! He landed in the water just outside our kayak and was very persistent, continuing to see how we felt about him coming aboard.
Finally, when he decided there was no hitching a ride with us, he moved on as the dinner bell started ringing for him and his friends. We rounded a sea stack and there in the harbor was the Jumpin’ Jack fishing boat cleaning fish.
A line of pelicans and other shore birds anxiously awaited their share. I think the wayward pelican mistook us for a fishing vessel. Even with a persistent pelican trailing us, kayaking the bay was an awesome experience!
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Paint Your Landscape 
How cool. You are truly getting to know the California coast. Hope you get to go to June Lake and Mammoth Moutain. Mammoth is the only REAL ski mountain in California besides of course Tahoe.. Enjoy… Hugs.. Linda and Dan
We are having a great time! We are finding there is so much beauty in this state.
Really enjoying all your posts on the N.CA coast. They’re going to be a great reference for when we do that stretch in the RV
Nina
Thanks! I figured you had already covered this territory. If you make it to Arcata, you will love their farmers’ market. We are looking forward to seeing you soon.
Oh, Lu, that’s hilarious! What very beautiful pictures you take. You really know how to get the best out of things.
Thanks but I think it is more the camera than me. I try to look at others’ photos plus read to learn more. It’s been fun.
Ahhh! No ride for the pelican? What a fun adventure. 🙂
Actually it was a little creepy for me because I know nothing about pelicans and they have long beaks with lots of teeth to puncture our little kayak!
Wonderful photos. Looks like you have a super day!
We did Marsha. Thanks for stopping by!
What great pix. I can hardly wait to go exploring up there. Just think! If you moved to Northern California, you could experience this all the time. Alas! I know there’s much more you want to explore. You two are great explorers. Thanks for sharing.
Thanks Joan, and yes, we do have a few more areas to explore. However, No. Cal is pretty special!
Wonderful images!
Thanks!
inquisitive ‘little’ fellows aren’t they, those seals. how do they react to people getting close to them? that pelican is amazing!
an inflatable kayak, who knew?
Those seals have the most precious faces! Their reaction to people getting a little too inquisitive is to slip into the water, checking you out with their heads just above the surface. The ‘attack pelican’ made me a little nervous at first because they have lots of teeth and, although our kayak is pretty sturdy, don’t know how it might withstand a pelican attack!
Trinidad, hmmmm… I never heard it til now.
I love it when animals are friendly, approachable and “star-minded”
I hadn’t heard of Trinidad either before we stayed there. It is a cute little town with a great bay. Arcata is the town close by Trinidad that we particularly loved.