Tide Pools in Gloom

I checked the tide schedule earlier this month and marked today on the calendar so the girls and I could go check out the tide pools after school.  It was a really low tide and we were all looking forward to it.  There was a little spattering of rain on the windshield when we went to pick up Eliza at school, but we didn't let that get us down.  We drove over to Cabrillo National Monument, down the steep, winding road to the tide pools, and got ready to explore.

We always have so much fun here!  I need to make a point of going more often.

Audrey is still so slow cautious.  Better safe than sorry though, so I practiced my patience (it still needs work), and held her hand or encouraged her to take some of the safer steps on her own.

Eliza having fun, running and climbing to her hearts content.  I swear she is more sure footed here than on our own sidewalk.

Some of our first finds of the day were these nudibranchs.  The pink ones are Rosy Nudibranch and the white/iridescent one is another kind of Nudibranch (maybe a Spanish Shawl?).

Ever watchful of her step, I hardly got any pictures of Audrey looking at the camera this time.  She was also looking for anemones to poke (we're working on being more gentle with them).  As always, they are everywhere so that slowed her down too.

Eliza was all to happy to pose for me though.  She is always fascinated by the caves and all the crabs that reside in them.

A keyhole limpet was another great find.

My favorite find of the day was a Brittle Sea Star.  We only saw 3 of its legs, as it was mainly under a rock, but it was really cool.  The other 2 legs were on the other side of the rock and we watched it for a while hoping it would come out, but it didn't.

Listening for the ocean.

We saw these little guys as we made our way back to the beginning - found out later they are Brooding Anemones.

Lastly, a sea hare.  Not much to look at (really just a brown blob with antennae) but it was the first time we had seen one.  Apparently they are usually "shy" according to one of the rangers, but this one was right out in the open.

Happy to report that the rain held off while we were there.  It ended up being a perfect time to go.  One of the rangers said he's never seen so many creatures in one day (he saw an octopus earlier in the day and lots more stuff than we did).  The girls were happy and didn't even complain about their cold, wet feet.  We got cleaned up and ate dinner at home, then enjoyed some yummy hot chocolate!