[CINC] San Miguel Trip...

[Joel E. Justin]

All,
 
Saturday was the last SMI trip of the year. We couldn't have asked for better conditions. Sunshine all day with mild winds (10-15 mph - even on SMI!). And the sea was relatively flat as well. We had about 40 day visitors on board with George Roberts and I as VIPs. Catherine French was onboard in an "unofficial" capacity with her daughter too. The trip out only took 3 hours. The most interesting marine life we saw was a group of sea lions in the gap between SRI and SMI doing a very good porpoise imitation. They were in roughly the same place doing the same thing on the return. Other than that, only a few dolphins and no whales.
 
Ranger Ian Williams met us on the beach along with VIP Scott Schreiner (he camped from Monday to Saturday and had glorious weather the whole time) and we offered 3 hikes for the visitors. George took the largest group (~20 people) to the Caliche Forest. Ian took a group of 8-10 to The Brooks Canyon overlook, and I took a group of 8 to the Nidever Adobe and the Cuyler Bluffs. Since we have 4 hours on the island, no one was going to be rushed. George easily got is group to the Cabrillo monument, thru the campground and a stop and the Lester Ranch and Ranger Station before heading out the the Caliche Forest. I had 2 people head back after the view from the bluffs. With all the time we had, the rest of us headed for the Abalone Midden. We were going to turn back there, but one gentleman who had been on numerous SMI day trips was interested in going on. The other 5 headed back and I told him that we could try to get to Harris Point, but we would turn back once we had an hour before boarding time. He was a good hiker and we easily made it to Harris Point. We arrived back to the beach at 3:15 in plenty of time.
 
We departed 20 minutes early (it doesn't take too long to skiff 40+ people) and visited Painted Cave on the way home. There was a bit of a swell rolling in, so we only went into the first "room". But regardless of how far in you go, it's always a treat! With days like this, it's obvious why IPCO runs these trips in the fall.
 
Joel...
 
  		 	   		  
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