December 30, 2017

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It delighted me to see others sharing my love of mile 11. The Whale Watching signs brought them in. It's rare to see more than 2 cars at either House Rock or Cape Ferrelo view points. 10 cars and some 14 people parked at Cape Ferrelo December 30, including plates from Washington, Texas, and New York. Elusive though the whales were folks curiously questioned the well informed volunteers. Who, by the way, happened to be a fellow Coast Watching couple. The weather invited a good time and the low tide kicked it up.I'm getting cut off from accessing a little more of mile 11 due to the ocean throwing more 'path' blocks (boulders, log jams, etc.) in my way but I trudge on.I miss the seastars but as I mentioned I did see an odd totally black pisaster about 6 inches across. I looked it up and according to someone on the internet starfish color is determined genetically. If true, the black isn't due to it's physical condition or diet. He's just diverse.News on the vegetative front screams on. Since the 'view restoration' project (aka tree removal) on House Rock viewpoint the Sitka Spruce have rebounded with a vengence. I have 2010 photos of regrowth 3 feet high which now tower 3 - 4 times my height. Also, I'm anxiously watching to see what will become of those plots where they have come back impossibly thick. Those trees' growth is quite different from those on the perimeters. They are maybe only 4 - 5 feet tall and squeezed in 4 per square foot. All for now