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| SCORPION RANCH LANDING ON SANTA CRUZ |
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| GIANT COREOPSIS - SUNFLOWER TREES |
On
the last day we took the boat trip and visited Santa Cruz Island, the
largest of the five islands that are protected by the National Parks.
The eight Channel Islands span 160 miles off the coast of southern
California and are home to over 2,000 species of animals and plants –
145 are found nowhere else on Earth.
We
had the most magical day, the weather was perfect, a calm hour and
half crossing and we chose Prisoners Harbor rather than the more
popular Scorpion Ranch landing. There were only 8 of us opted to join
a guide for a 4 mile round trip hike to Pelican Bay, which allowed us
into the Nature Conservancy property, the island is shared by them
and the National parks. It was a beautiful walk, flowers everywhere,
the endemic Island Scrub Jay and the highlight – the Santa Cruz
Island Fox. We reached the bay and the guide, Roy and I stayed above
the beach for our lunch, the others went down to the beach. I was sat
eating and noticed something at the back of me, and there was the
sweetest little fox I've ever seen. So tame, obviously smelled the
food and he stayed around us, sitting about 8 feet away from me. They
are the biggest predator on the island!
Our
day was complete when we saw two humpback whales on our way back to
the mainland – a perfect day!
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