Back at it! This time seeking flowers! K and I returned to Carrizo Plain in late March 2016, after hearing that the blooms were in session. We got to explore more spots around the plain, including the bed of Soda Lake:
It was so squishy and fun to walk around. Like memory foam!
Wikipedia calls Soda Lake a “shallow, ephemeral, alkali endorheic lake.” Endorheic means that it does not drain into any other bodies of water. When there is water (if there is water), it only evaporates or seeps into the ground.
After that, we did some hardcore chilling by this field of yellows. The yellows were overwhelming, and this photo does not do them justice.
Next up was climbing the western hills to look out over the plain:
We were not done with our search for wildflowers, so we took a side trip to Shell Creek Road in Santa Margarita, where there was rumored to be prime viewing. Instead, we found a very entertaining troupe of cows, that slowly, silently, and surreptitiously came closer and closer to the car…until they were suddenly all there, staring…
Also from Valencia Peak. You can see all the trails of MDO snaking around. This looks out on Morro Bay.
View of Morro Rock from Black Hill!
Looking back from whence we came! View of Montaña de Oro from Black Hill.
We love the fog rolling in to the valleys… a common occurrence in this area!
In summary: