Ever since my experience with the bison in South Dakota, I’ve been wishing that I had a pair of binoculars, so when I stopped in to REI in Santa Rosa to restock on some camping supplies, I decided to check out what they had.  I was advised by a very interesting gentleman with knowledge of photography, and incidentally, the most dashing handlebar mustache.  Although they didn’t have the ones he recommended in stock, I did end up getting them at another REI later in the day.

But Sir Handlebars (must remember to ask people their names) and I got talking about travelling and my trip, and he advised me to visit Morro Bay and the San Louis Obispo region, so I decided to stop there after my drive down the Big Sur Coast.  I camped for the night at the state park, and set off to discover the town the next morning in the fog.

What an UTTERLY charming place!  With the unusual Morro Rock on a spit of land reaching into the ocean, and a main street lined with shops, galleries, cafes, and even a brew pub, it a had a quaint upscale fishing village kind of feel, similar to many towns along the coast of Maine, and everyone I met was friendly and relaxed.

As I got a morning coffee at the Sun ‘n’ Buns Bakery, I couldn’t help but notice that this is also a very dog friendly town, with fresh baked treats offered here, and dogs welcome on patios at other restaurants.

I also let myself be tempted by pastries called ‘snuggles!’

Walking along the main street, I came across this interesting memorial.  The plaque reads ‘Thanks Nick, 1946 – 2008,” and it’s obviously a bronzed car bench seat and tools, but I haven’t been able to find out anything else about it.  I’m hoping that Nick was some local mechanic that told wonderful stories on this seat as he helped people out with their cars.

Down the road it seems that they’re planning to build a Maritime Museum, and already have a couple of displays in place.  Check out this Deep Submergence Rescue Vehicle!  Apparently the US lost a nuclear submarine called the USS Thresher in 1963 with all crew aboard, thus highlighting the need for a rescue vehicle for downed subs.  This vehicle, the Avalon, and it’s sister, the Mystic, were the only ones of their kind, and designed to be transported by air, land, on the sea, or under the sea, to wherever they were needed in a matter of hours, and would attached to the disabled sub to transport crew to either a surface ship or another sub.  The Navy deactivated the Avalon in 2000, and the Mystic in 2008, when they were replaced with a more modern system.  But how cool.

The Motor Vessel Alma was also on display.  In 1941, the Alma was a workhorse line boat, but was dispatched to assist the Union Oil Tanker Montebello that had been torpedoed and sunk by a Japanese submarine north of Cambria.  The two man crew rescued three lifeboats full of survivors and returned them safely to shore.  It continued doing various services for the Navy throughout the war.

After being charmed by the town for a while, I drove out to Morro Rock, still shrouded in fog, and discovered a group of otters hanging out near the shore.  With my coffee and new binoculars (also very handy on the Big Sur Coast), I spent the rest of the morning ottering.  There were a couple of mothers with little ones on their stomachs that were adorable.

I even managed to take this picture with my phone through the binoculars, but it’s obviously not the best image.  In lieu of a zoom lens, though, I didn’t think it came out too badly.

I walked around the rather mundanely named Morro Rock for a while, wondering about it’s formation.

And watched the surfers through the fog.

Unfortunately I could feel myself coming down with a cold there at Morro Bay, the second time I had been sick since I started my trip.  But if I was going to be under the weather, this wasn’t a bad place for it to happen.  I felt safe and comfortable there, so stayed a second night in the state park campground.  The sea food was also spectacular, and I can highly recommend the grilled blackfin and chips.

Having never even heard of Morro Bay before, I was so pleasantly surprised and charmed by what I found there.  I’d like to visit again for a longer time, though perhaps when there’s less fog, and when I’m not sick.  But if it can impress me under these conditions, I think it must be a special place.