This guy was ruling the waves this afternoon at Drakes in Point Reyes. #microsurfer

9:38am - Anyone know what's going with all the loud, gun-shot like noises on the bay this morning? Are those hunters? Using bazookas?

High surf advisory starting Friday at 6am through the weekend. Very solid west swell with waves approaching 20 feet. If you go to the beach, stay away from the water, and let others know as well.

Local photographer and former park ranger Carlos Porrata has a photo show opening at The Dance Palace this weekend, the reception is at 1:00pm on Saturday. If you've seen his work, you know how amazing it is and how much he loves this place. This is a photo he shot this week of a Bobcat hanging with some Elk in Point Reyes. See you there!

https://dancepalace.org/events

"Officials with Point Reyes National Seashore will begin an experiment next week to reduce the invasive plant species on about 12 acres of national parkland, the officials said." Apparently they can't mow due to red-legged frogs being around and goats eat what cattle, elk and deer won't. The interwebs found this story mildly amusing and it's gone somewhat viral.

http://www.thedailymeal.com/pa

At the Palace Market this morning. I'm starting to see a theme here. (via Kathy Gower)

Elephant Seal frat party at Drakes Bay in Point Reyes. Quite the raucous crew. Lots of very cute pups out there too.

Spotted in town this morning. Just another day in Point Reyes. (thx RH)

12:49pm - CHP sitting by Perry's reminding people to drive slow and safe.

"Dewey Livingston knew by the trees and surroundings that this was Inverness, and more specifically Tomales Bay State Park, and the woman looked to be conservationist Caroline Livermore. We concluded the date of the photograph was circa 1950." Turned out to be the dedication of the Willis Linn Jepson Memorial in 1952. Read the original article, good stuff.

https://annetkent.kontribune.c

7:21am - Accident on Olema Hill, one lane closed. Take alternate route if you can. (Thx BE)

11:35am - There is a macaw that is in the eucalyptus trees near the "sand castle" (by the senior housing in Point Reyes Station). The hawks are going after it. (thx RH)

7:45am - Heavy, heavy fog this morning. Drive very carefully, plan for delays.

On a lighter note, I spotted this guy frollicking in the waves today out at North Beach in Point Reyes. Whales all over the place. And that's not a small whale, that's a big wave, be careful if you head out there.

Just in case you live way out in the woods and haven't heard this yet. The Golden Gate Bridge will be closed from midnight Friday night (tonight) until Monday at 4am. They're installing this nifty new moveable safety barrier and eliminating those brave dudes who drop the yellow cones in the holes. Kind of sad if you ask me. But hopefully safer for everyone.

http://www.sfgate.com/bayarea/

10:46am - Haven't heard official word yet, but it sounds like the Pygmy Sperm whale that they found on a beach in Point Reyes yesterday isn't going to make it. Apparently he was a juveline, poor little guy. This picture is from KGO via SFGate.
http://www.sfgate.com/bayarea/

Press Democrat has a story today about the challenges of cleaning up the now defunct Drake's Bay Oyster Farm: "Ben Becker, the national seashore’s marine ecologist, said he saw several hundred oyster strings on two wooden oyster growing racks during a snorkeling survey conducted from a 12-foot outboard motor boat this week, when the videos were taken."
http://www.pressdemocrat.com/n

"A pygmy sperm whale beached itself in the Point Reyes National Seashore on Thursday afternoon, according to the Marine Mammal Center. The 5- to 6-foot whale was alive at some point after it stranded, but its body was bloodied and it was unclear if the animal would survive." Please be respectful and leave it in peace so that scientists can examine it and learn what happened. A beautiful creature, very sad.

http://www.marinij.com/marinne

Surfer’s ring, lost on Bolinas beach in 1979, returned after 35 years. Remember, there's always hope...
http://www.sfgate.com/bayarea/

"Biologists who monitor the seal population recently spotted the first pup of the season born on the beach at Point Reyes. Most pups are born in January, and initially are about 3 to 4 feet long and weigh about 60 pounds. "

http://www.marinij.com/marinne

Photo by Kent Porter at the Press Democrat:
http://www.pressdemocrat.com/g

Point Reyes officially entered Spanish maps on January 6, 1603 when Sebastian Vizcaino sighted the headlands on the Roman Catholic feast day of the three wise men. Following Spanish tradition, the headlands were named after these religious figures: "la Punta de los Reyes" or the Point of the Kings. (thx EP).

http://www.nps.gov/pore/histor

A digital camera in black bag was lost on or around the Kehoe trail or parking lot Sunday, January 4th. Reward offered. If you've seen it or know anything about it, please leave a comment below. Thanks. (LL)

West Marin Mosquito Council meeting tonight. 7pm. Bolinas firehouse. Please attend to show the district that West Marin citizens still strongly support LOW toxic protocols for mosquito control.

http://westmarincitizen.com/an

Interesting way to memorialize your very special day. At The Old Western Saloon on the bar. Love the guy sitting on the stool. Maybe this was all Ken Fulk's idea. Photo by B.J. Martin.
https://twitter.com/bjmartin/s

Full moon rising! Look for it! "The January 2015 full moon is the first full moon after the December 21 solstice. In North America, we often this full moon the Wolf Moon, Old Moon or Moon After Yule. Astronomically speaking, the moon is full at the moment that it’s most opposite the sun in its orbit (180 from the sun in celestial or ecliptic longitude). For general reference, however, we can say the moon is full all night tonight, lighting up the nighttime from dusk until dawn." This picture is the same moon, tonight, in Italy.

http://earthsky.org/tonight/ja

Here's some inspiration for the New Year. A great post about how Colin Carpenter built this gorgeous, completely off-the-grid house in Inverness a few years ago. Living the dream.
http://tinyhouseblog.com/tiny-
Maybe Ken Fulk and Hidden Dragon should take some notes...

Hadn't dawned on me that people might even try: "Point Reyes Visitors Warned Against Collecting Shellfish At Closed Drakes Bay Oyster Farm Site"

http://sanfrancisco.cbslocal.c

The company plans to hold one last party to thank those who have supported them over the years. The potluck, which is open to the public, will take place Saturday from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. at Point Reyes Station’s Green Barn, at 540 Mesa Road.

New Year's Resolution: Where is the one place in West Marin you haven't been to in awhile (or ever) and are going to get to this year?

You could start here, what is the name of this spot?

Photo by Steve Bratman:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/d

Comet Lovejoy will be the first naked eye comet of 2015, so check it out tonight when you're celebrating New Year's Eve, the green glow is amazing.

http://www.slate.com/blogs/bad

WIND ALERT: NWS has issued a wind alert from 7am Tuesday to 12pm on Wednesday. "A fast moving...Cold...And dry storm system will sweep through the area late tonight and tuesday morning. Strong and gusty north to northeast winds will develop beginning tuesday morning through midday wednesday. Strongest winds are expected in the hills of the north and east bay. The time period of strongest winds will be between late tuesday afternoon and late tuesday night. Winds will gradually subside on wednesday."

Plan accordingly, be safe.

http://forecast.weather.gov/ww

So did anyone go? How was it? Star power in Point Reyes...

7:28am - Intense fog going over the hill and CHP at the reservoir. Drive safe! And it's a spare the air day...

Shaping up to be another epic day in Point Reyes. (Who sees the flying cloud bird?)

They said there were whales, and there were whales. We got to the Point Reyes Lighthouse around 8:30am and saw 11 whales in about an hour. Perfect whale watching weather right now.