Mindful Monterey Closeups

Moving north up the California Pacific coast from Morro Bay, the rocky shores of Monterey Peninsula would become an ideal place to “kill time” before checking into our next Air B&B destination in Aptos, California. Having little incentive in “playing tourist” to visit the famed Cannery Row/Monterey Aquarium today, we instead embraced moments of spontaneous discovery as we drove slowly along the beachside shoreline. I would thus capture several of these moments in closeup camera range.

TV SHOW IN TAPING PROGRESS

Passing Lover’s Point Park, a large crowd had formed to watch the taping of “Big Little Lies”, a popular HBO series. These pictures captured my sense of the visitors excitement in watching the anticipated arrival of stars Nicole Kidman, Reese Witherspoon, and Laura Dern, in contrast to the tedium of watching the film crew/cast extras lazily standing around. How odd that so many involved in the show seemed oblivious to the surrounding buzz surrounding them.

Parking at a desolate headland near Point Pinos Lighthouse for a picnic lunch, I spotted some mule deer munching grass on a nearby golf course unafraid of my human presence as I approached them for closeup photos. Nearby seagulls then posed eagerly for me in hopes I would throw them a sandwich morsel.

Being curious to walk along these irregular, rocky shores and tide pool formations, an exciting maze of rock shapes and colors captured my photo interest. Mindless searching for the perfect rock became a pleasurable way to “pass the time.”

The arrival of spring along this weatherbeaten shoreline of Pacific Grove State Marine Park sparked my interest today as brightly colored colored wildflowers bloomed amidst cool, ice grass formations. Returning now to the town center , I spotted a magnificent red bougainvillea cradling the front porch of a rustic home.

“The moment one gives close attention to anything, even a blade of grass, it becomes a mysterious, awesome, indescribably magnificent world in itself.” – Henry Miller