Just the night before, my friend called to ask if I wanted to go see the tall ship as it sailed in. We both had to wake earlier than our usual times. It was worth it. We arrived just minutes ahead of the Coast Guard escorted entry of the Hawaiian Chieftain tall ship, its rigging comimg into view out beyond the first rock breakwater. Lots of people with videocams and cameras were there to watch its entry with gun salutes and smoke coming from the ancient cannons. Two surfers swam out in the water after the Tall ship passed by. We drove back to get one last shot before the docking, the grand Morro Rock making a great back drop. After watching the docking and first visitors boarding the ship, for free on the first day only, we had some coffee and a tour of a very beautiful local garden shop before our own tour of the ship. On board I met one of my friends and his son and girlfriend. We had a nice visit. It was very interesting to see such an antique sailing vessel. Afterwards, we ate a good fish & chips lunch at the Bayside Cafe at the southernmost wharf for fishing vessels with a panoramic view of the estuary looking towards Los Osos. It was a warm sunny restaurant nearly filled to capacity. It is just below the Museum of Natural History, located across the street from the golf course, where we also visited and talked with Laddie the docent in the museum's visitors gift shop. There's a creative bronze sculpture of an American Indian surrounded by a Falcon, Bear, and Fisher bird, by Mark Greenaway as you walk to the museum's entry that has a sweeping view of the upper bay and Morro Rock. Now onto my little Tall Ship album:
Hawaiian Chieftain photo album with slideshow.
BTW, the weather stats for the three cities as we drove around this day were: Atascadero: 45/58; Morro Bay: 52/59; and San Luis Obispo: 46/60 to give you an idea of our inland, coastal, and coastal valley weather. We toured our own backyard via Hwys 41, 1, and 101 in a spectacular triangle of beautiful green and winter colors after rain that morning with fog lifting to a sunny mild day.