A Bloomin' Good Day 8 February 2023

The day got off to a slow start with having to repark the pod and pump up the tires. Luckily, it was a lovely, clear day, though a bit windy near the beach.

The campground is nice. There aren't a lot of trees or bushes to provide privacy but the sites seem nicely spaced so we don't feel we are so close to of the next-door folks. Some premium spots have a nice view of the beach, though the campground is much higher than the beach so I'm more sure there is direct access from the sites. Once all the chores were done, we walked through the campground and along the paved trail. Of course, the views are typical beautiful California coastline. 

We decided not to sit on the beach to eat lunch since it was windy - no need getting sand in our food. Our picnic table was fine. 

We had for reservation for Ano Nuevo to see and learn about elephant seals. When I got the tickets, I thought it was much closer to where we were camping. The 40-minute drive there gave us an opportunity to enjoy more of the California Coast and to see the Mustard Super Bloom this year. 

I don't ever remember so many large expanses covered in yellow flowers. Truly spectacular.

The elephant seal tour was great. We'd done the tour 30 years ago. We were impressed by the increased number of elephant seals. We were told that Mexican and American protection has helped the population increase from 200 to 250,000. Rookeries are along the western coast from Baja to Point Reyes. We learned a lot about the elephant seals' habits, mating, pupping, molting, and migration over the 2.5-hour, 3.5-mile tour. Our guide, Karen, truly loves the elephant seals and was very knowledgeable.

We got back to the campsite in time to take a short bike ride. The Coastal Trail runs alongside the campground. We went north about 4.5 miles along the multi-use trail to Pillar Point. We turned around and rode into the sunset as the temperature seemed to plummet. Pretty, but like most California sunsets, not that colorful.

We splurged on a fancy dinner. Denis found a Michelin-star chef from Peru who has a small chain of Peruvian restaurants. La Costanera is in Pillar Point. The location and view might be enough to attract some folks but the food really is the star of the show here. We followed the server's advice on every dish and had a delicious meal. We were treated to a b-day dessert along with a glass of Cava. 

Open Table Review: We weren't sure what to order so we relied on our server to recommend favorites or things we shouldn't miss. We mostly stuck to seafood. Everything we ate was beautifully presented and delicious. The twice-cooked octopus was extremely tender and the potatoes complimented it nicely. The scallops were perfectly done. The mixed ceviche was delicious. We enjoyed being introduced to new vegetables and tastes. I would be remiss in not mentioning the homemade potato chips that come to the table - light and crisp. After trying 5 of the small plates, we skipped to dessert. We chose the pannacotta, another wonderfully executed offering. The restaurant and upstairs room are large. I worried about feeling like I was in a dining hall but we sat next to one of the large windows that overlooked the water, which was very nice. I was surprised that, given such a large room, it wasn't noisier. We never had to raise our voices to hear each other. We will definitely visit again, and next time, we've promised ourselves we'll order entrees.