…or more commonly, simply, Point Lobos, lies just a few miles south of Pacific Grove on Highway 1.  The website for the park quotes artist Francis McComas, who found the area to be  ‘…the greatest meeting of land and water in the world…’  Hmm.  Well, it’s very pretty indeed.  Point Lobos was established as a part of of the  California State Park system in 1973.  The park derives it’s name from the rocks that lie offshore of Punta de los Lobos Marinos.  Los Lobos Marinos…that’s a curious phrase, sea wolves.

The image above, shot looking north from the headlands overlooking Whalers Cove, was recorded at about 12:00 PST on March 30th, 2009, using the Nikon D700 and the AF-S NIKKOR 24-70mm f/2.8G ED lens at 28mm.  Exposure was f/16 at 1/125s, ISO 200.

There are a number of excellent trails in the park.  Each trail blends views of the shore and the ocean with an encounter with the flora and fauna of the headlands.  My favorite areas are Cannery Point in the north-central section of the park, and many points around the Allan Memorial (cyprus) Grove, and Cyprus Cove on the western edge of the park.

The image above, of a daredevil otter lounging in the surf between North Point and Cyprus Cove, was recorded at around 19:00 PST on March 31st, 2009, using the Nikon D700  and the AF-S VR Zoom-NIKKOR 70-300mm f/4.5-5.6G IF-ED lens at 300mm.  Exposure was f/11 at 1/500s, ISO 800.  Handheld.  This otter had a remarkable ability to sense a big incoming wave and drive for the bottom just an instant before getting pummeled.

The image above, of a California Gull perched on the rocks at sunset, was recorded at about 19:00 PST, March 31st, 2009, using the Nikon D700 and the AF-S NIKKOR 24-70mm f/2.8G ED lens at 70mm.  Exposure was f/16 at 1/1600s, ISO 200.  Handheld.  A patient subject.

The image above, shot north from Cyprus Cove, was recorded at about 19:00 PST, March 31st, 2009, using the Nikon D700 and the AF-S NIKKOR 24-70mm f/2.8G ED lens at 24mm.  Exposure was f/11 at 1/30s, ISO 200.  Yes, I believe I might be in the market for a couple of acres in the area.  What?  No, you’re kidding!

It’s just me here – no HP!  And, as you can see by the grim determination of the artist, that holding up the WhiBal card is no funny business…