Carmel & Moss Landing, CA (3/13 & 14/2020)

Officially known as Carmel-by-the-Sea, the town most call Carmel has historically been home to artists of all stripes...poets, authors, actors, painters, etc, etc.  Several actors, including Clint Eastwood, have been mayor of Carmel.  It is a small town, less than 4000 residents, but has for some time attracted a trendy crowd of both residents and visitors.

Carmel actually began when California's second mission moved from Monterey in 1771.  Mission San Carlos Borromeo del Río Carmelo is now a Basilica and the most authentically restored of the old Spanish missions.  Father Junipero Serra, considered by many as the "Father of California", is interred at the mission per his request.

Carmel has some coastline, but it isn't the attraction like others in the area.

The day after visiting Carmel, I drove to Moss Landing, a small marine-oriented village of about 200 people.  The town is located where Elkhorn Slough enters the ocean, creating habitat for much wildlife.  Although wildlife was pretty sparse on the very windy day I was there, I did get a few photo ops.  In particular, sea otters were quite active.

And there were a few shore birds that I don't often see.

Long-billed Curlew

Long-billed Dowitcher

 A flock of dunlins hunkered down behind some grass to shield themselves from the strong winds.  One dunlin walked away from the group while the wind blew his "collar" up.

Moss Landing's beach is popular for surfing, maybe because there are few rocks along here.  There are some nice dunes that other area beaches don't have.

As the weather started to turn, I drove back into Monterey and made a quick pass through Cannery Row.  Since I am not much of a shopper, and the rain had set in, I did not stop.