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August 3, 2004
Riding Around America: Channel Islands National Park
Click here to view the photo gallery.
Today Sherri and I went out to Channel Islands National Park which is just off the coast about 12 miles. We started out this morning around 9:00 am on a boat run by Island Packers. It was gray and chilly as the boat cut through the ocean and we saw several pods of dolphins swimming alongside and jumping through the air. Eventually we arrived at Anacapa Island, one of the smaller ones in the chain, and got off the boat.
We had over three hours to explore the relatively small island, which was the perfect amount of time. We took a volunteer-led walk around the island and learned about some of the plants and animals of the island along the way. The guide likened the Channel Islands to the Galapogos and it's easy to see why. The island is a beautiful, undeveloped preserve containing 1400 unique species and is home to a large population of endangered brown pelicans.
The guide made sure not to forget the island's cultural history also which was nice. A native American group called the Chumash used it as a hunting ground and it has been used for a light station throughout the 20th century. But even apart from the natural and cultural aspects of the islands, the aesthetic value is priceless. By the time we reached the western tip of the island the weather had cleared and we had a beautiful view of the other islands in the chain. The photos in the gallery barely do this place justice.
During our stay we had a nice conversation with Bill, the law enforcement ranger on the island, who answered all of my questions about the lighthouse and foghorn. He even showed us around inside the keeper's quarters which is his personal residence. We were literally walking around in his living room! He also mentioned that, where it not for the fear of disturbing the pelicans, he would have let us climb up to the top of the lighthouse.
At 2:00 we headed back down the cliff to the dock to take in the "underwater diving video". For this, three divers went into the water in the cove with a video camera and swam around underwater, telling us what all the plants and animals were as we watched it on three big televisions. I can't even begin to explain how amazing this was. In all the national parks I've worked in and visited I have never seen or heard of a program like this. It was, hands down, the most unique interpretation I have ever seen. It felt like we were almost right down there with him as he pointed out fish, lobsters, sea urchins, kelp and even a shark. I think my mouth was hanging open the entire time. It was one of the most effective and well done tours I've ever seen.
Eventually we had to leave the island but not before cruising around the back for a close up of the sea lions and a gigantic stone arch which stands offshore. It was an experience that I can only hope to explain through the photos, which don't even begin to do the place justice.
On the return trip we briefly questioned the wisdom of consuming beer on a boat pitching and rolling across the channel, but in the end threw caution to the wind, and ended the beautiful day with two cold ones.
Posted on August 3, 2004 at 11:28 PM