Day 10 - The Departure

Peter Nilsson, scientist/ marine biologist team leader



Our morning was filled with team good-byes and the realization that we are all returning to different corners of our planet and most likely our physical paths would not cross again. Our team consisted of folks from Brazil, the Philippines, Japan, Mexico, and the UK. We were harmonious, tight-knit, and shared a great passion for the Monterey marine mammal study. We shared our many digital photographs in our last moments together on a CD that Anna burned for each of us. Anna also prepared delectable cinnamon apple pancakes along with our bacon specialist, Peter. One by one we each began our departure.
I had rented a vehicle coming north to Monterey and now going; returning south on highway 1, California’s coastal route of immeasurable beauty. One gem after another, Carmel, Big Sur, Cambria, San Luis Obispo, Morro Bay, Santa Barbara, Ventura, Malibu, Santa Monica, and lastly Venice. Our coastline is like a string of pearls. Special vistas include seeing the elephant seals on Cambria’s coastline, Montana de Oro in Morro Bay area, the marine protected sanctuary area of the Channel Islands off Santa Barbara and Ventura, and the surfers of Malibu. La Jolla, Sycamore, and Leo Carrillo are great campgrounds/ recreational areas in south Ventura that my Dorsey High students and I frequented often and are most accessible to LA folks. For my students, it was a first to camp outdoors, to be in a tent, and an intro to wilderness 101; which turned into a most anticipated annual event for over 10 years.
Driving home gave me time to contemplate this year’s curriculum and lessons in marine sciences, our conservation projects, and outreach stewardship activities.
Elephant Seals in Cambria