Roundstonefarm Blog

I arrived at the B&B about 0600 this morning to do breakfast, as always. I got out of my car and saw a male Spotted Towhee thrashing around on the front fender  of a guests Honda SUV. This is the same Towhee that has been hanging around for the last couple of months. I’ve seen him with a female, but only off and on. Anyway, this guy is sorta strange in that he gets up on the guests cars side mirrors and fights with the bird in the mirror. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve gone out the front door and found him walking on  the hoods of cars and pecking at the bird in the windshield. He’s even come to the kitchen window and pecked  at it while I’m doing breakfast.  Again, going at the bird in the window. He really is pretty. About the size of a large sparrow, with a black hood and white spots on his shoulders and wings. He’s got a deep belly on him and has rufous flanks and red eyes. He’s a good looking bird!

So, I go over to the SUV and find out that his right foot is stuck in the crack between the hood and the fender. His poor leg was rubbed raw and bloody. I didn’t want to shake him up anymore than he already was so I grabbed him. Man did he holler! I stroked his head and he took a dump in my hand. It didn’t seem like he could bend his leg like we do our foot or hand when we humans try to extricate either from a tight spot. Perhaps the Towhee doesn’t have something like an ankle or wrist? Never thought about it. I’ll have to research it a little bit..

Well, what to do, for I didn’t want to just pull it out and maybe amputate the foot. So, I worked he and the leg down the crack toward the headlights. Just slipped it down to where the crack was a little wider. Lo and behold it worked! The leg and the foot just slipped right out without further injury. I held him a little bit and then opend my fist and away he flew. He flew into the lavendar out in front of the B&B and out of sight.  I went out a couple of hours later to see if I could find him, but didn’t. At least I didn’t find his dead body…so there’s hope. I really hope he’s ok, because I have gotten pretty fond of him and his  crazy antics.

As the president of the West Marin Lion’s Club and the 2010 chairman of Western Weekend, I am pleased with the outcome of the weekends events; especially Sunday’s parade.  June 6 started at 0630 lining the streets of Pt. Reyes Station for the floats that would occupy 20 to 90 feet of street surface awaiting the parade start. It took four of us  about 2 hours to line all of “A,” ”5th”, “6th” and “C” streets. Actually we were lucky in that the spacing seemed to just work out. The Wells Fargo Bank Stage Coach entered at the corners of “B” and “6″th. just as if we had planned it. The Coast Guard “Rapid Resopone Boat” ended up at the corners of “4th” and “C” streets. Again, just perfect. Someone watching would have thought that we knew what we were doing. 

There were plenty of riders to consider, so we kept all the horses sequestered on “5th” street and just fed them into the main line-up when appropriate. Overall, I think we did a pretty good job of placing the animals so that they wouldn’t get startled by sudden noises or back fires from antique farm equipment.

In total there were “54″ floats consisting of animals, antique cars and tractors, marchers, drill teams and bands in the parade. The parade started at 1200 p.m. and went till about 1:30 p.m. . People lined the streets. It was noisey, exciting and smiling faces was the norm.

There was plenty of food after the parade, for West Marin Senior Services had their Chili cook-off, pie and cornbread contest., while simultaneously, the Marin County Farm Bureau hosted  a chicken barbecue. People pigged out.  Natasha Jones and her band entertained the crowd while they ate and watched Halleck Creek Ranches “Cow flop contest.” Never did hear who won the $500 prize for guessing which number the calf would poop on.

Of course, the Western Saloon was wild. But, it didn’t get too bad.  Monday morning I had to go around town  to check out the trash cans and street litter in town. Well, the Green Team of West Marin Middle School did their job, for the streets looked great. That was money well spent. We payed the kids $15 a piece to clean up the trash.  And, with 20 of them there wasn’t any more trash than there would have been on a normal weekend.

It was a great weekend and I may do it again next year. Maybe?

A guest of mine told me that he saw two, young Great-horned owls in the group of Cypress trees next to the residence just above the Pt. Reyes Lifeboat Station. So, liking owls and thinking that there may be a nest I decided to drive out and check it out. Being Friday morning of the Memorial Day weekend, I had the road and Chimney Rock parking lot almost to myself. Once I got out of the FJ I heard multiple elephant seals vocalizing.  I was surprised to hear so many seals, for this was May 28 and I thought they were gone by now.  I walked over to the look-out to check it out and saw why there was so much noise, for there must have been about 30 elephant seals. Most were hauled out on the rock beach soaking up the sun. They looked like a bunch of hot dogs.  Of course I forgot my binoculars. Typical! After about 30 minutes I headed over toward the residence area to look for the owls.  Walking over I heard more vocalizing down by the fishing dock. So, I checked it out and sure enough I found a couple more elephant seals sunning themselves. Walking back up the hill, I caught a glimpse of something small and light brown below one of the rock outcroppings. It was a baby seal. It was tentatively heading toward the water.  I didn’t see an adult, but did hear one a little further back in the rocks. Finally the little guy/gal entered the water and swam around a rock outcrop. I didn’t see it again.

As I walked around the far side of the lifeboat station I saw about 15 more elephant seals, but this time they were only about 20 yards from me. They too were enjoying the sunny day. This group had 3 little ones in it. Man they were cute. They acted just like little kids in that they couldn’t sit still. They’d lay in the sun for a while and then get up and waddle over to one spot and then to another. All the fidgeting got them chewed-out from their moms, just like humans kids get chewed-out for rousting around when mom is trying to take a nap.

Heading back to the parking lot I gave the Cypress grove one last look. I must be living right, because just as I was about to leave I caught a glimpse of two fuzz balls sitting in a tangle of Cypress boughs. Man, they really looked like adolescents, adult size but still wet behind the ears.  I watched them for awhile, padded myself on the back for finding them and headed back to the FJ, totally satisfied.

Sunset Magazine’s May 2010 issue lists boat-in camping on Tomales Bay as one of its top 25 secret camping spots.  Well, thanks a lot, for if it was a secret, it’s not a secret anymore. But, being a local, I’ve got to admit that it’s tough to beat a paddle across Tomales Bay on a calm, warm day. If  it’s windy, forget it because you’re gonna work. If you don’t own a kayak or just don’t want to drag yours along, you can rent one at Blue Water Kayak (www.bwkayak.com) or Point Reyes Outdoors (www.pointreyesoutdoors.com). Both offer great guided trips (some with food) if you don’t want to go it alone. If you plan on camping on any of the beaches, you will need to get a camping permit from the Pt. Reyes National Seashore. You can get the permit at the Park’s “Bear Valley Visitor Center” in Olema. Check out their website at www.nps.gov/pore for more information.

Cindy Muldoon has been named the Superindendent of Pt. Reyes National Seashore and will start her new position in mid-May. Ms. Muldoon has been with the National Park Service since 1985  and has occupied varied Park  Service positions throughout the United States. She is currently serving as the deputy regional director of the National Park Service’s Pacific West Region. Ms. Muldoon replaces Don Neubacher whom, since February, is  serving as the Superintendent of Yosemite National Park.

Priscilla’s -  11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Wednesdays through Mondays (closed Tuesdays) 12781 Sir Francis Drake Blvd, Inverness, 415-669-1244, Cuisine: Fish/pizza ; Service: Friendly; Noise Level: Moderate; Recommended items: Fish tacos, crab enchiladas, pizza; Liquor selection: Beer, wine, soju, margaritas; Corkage: $10; Heart-healthy and vegetarian selections: Salads; Parking: Street and lot; Wheelchair access: Yes; Credit cards: All major

Summary: Nine years ago, Priscilla Levy bought the Gray Whale Pub and Pizzeria and renamed her roadside cafe Priscilla’s. Though pizza is still on the menu, the offerings have expanded to include everything from fish tacos, which are better than average, and fresh oysters to pastas and chicken pot pie.

Tanya Henry, Marin IJ,Wednesday, April 21, 2010 (for complete story visit www.marinij.com)

From March 1 through June 30,  Drakes Estero is closed to protect the breeding colony of harbor seals. The closure applies to kayak and canoe usage but is applicable to any other water sport users around harbor seal colonies in the area.

The east side of Hog Island in Tomales Bay is also a land resting area for harbor seals year round. Visitors are asked to stay at least 100 yards away from resting seals. Never pick up a seal pup that may look abandoned. Although they may appear abandoned, they are most likely waiting for their mother to return. Pups are about two feet long and weigh about 25 pounds and are weaned at 30 days.

For more information check www.nps.gov/pore

Since 1987 the “Inn at Roundstone Farm” has been a Bed & Breakfast Located Near Point Reyes. This Bed and Breakfast has a high rate of return guests that most could only dream of and this is not just because of the Acres of land that surround it or the Connemaras and Arabian horses that are raised on this same land, it is mostly because of the peaceful feeling everyone has from their stay.

If you have not visited Point Reyes this is your chance to visit a beautiful place but enjoy the comforts of a Bed and Breakfast. We will keep updating our blog here with information about “Inn at Roundstone Farm”, the savory foods & all the different things you can do while visiting us.