The View from Cerro San Luis

Summit View, originally uploaded by ParsecTraveller.

Most SLO residents flock to Bishop Peak, the mountain you can see in the distance in this photo. Few, however, make the trek to the top of Cerro San Luis, a prominent peak with a large "M" on it's southeastern side (the "M" stands for Mission High School).

Cerro San Luis has absolutely stunning views from the top: Morro Bay, Los Osos Valley, the Irish Hills, San Luis Obispo, Cal Poly, Edna Valley, Pismo Beach, and even the Santa Ynez Mountains 70 miles to the south.

With the recent torrential rains, every creek and gully on the mountain was flowing, and some of the fern-covered rock walls were dripping with water. Also, early spring wildflowers are starting to bloom, with species such as johnny jump-ups and California poppies.

Cal Poly Nights

Cal Poly Nights, originally uploaded by ParsecTraveller.

Night settles in over San Luis Obispo, California.

Early Spring

Early Spring, originally uploaded by ParsecTraveller.

The johnny jump-ups are starting to bloom on the Central Coast of California. With abundant rainfall and mild temperatures, it's looking to be a great spring for wildflowers. Winter's not even over yet and we've had at least 17 inches of rain in San Luis Obispo.

Gravity - Caught in the Act

Gravity - Caught in the Act, originally uploaded by ParsecTraveller.

For years I have wanted to capture the parabolas the show up when a ball bounces to the ground. With a 39-cent light-up bouncy ball I was able to do just that.

A Break in the Storm

Light on Cal Poly, originally uploaded by ParsecTraveller.

Storms pounded California all last week, and the wild weather made for wild photography conditions. In a break between storms, the Sun kept poking through the clouds over San Luis Obispo. I got this photo after 80-mph winds blew over my camera and nearly smashed the lens...thank goodness for lens caps!

How's the weather in your part of the country?

Poly Canyon Cascade

Poly Canyon Cascade, originally uploaded by ParsecTraveller.

Brizzolara Creek is flowing like never before today because of the 6 inches of rain we got this week. The soil was already wet when it started to rain on Monday, so the additional precipitation quickly filled up the creeks.

In the summer, Brizzolara Creek is little more than a few muddy puddles at the bottom of a ravine, but today it flows swift and fresh. This waterfall is located just before the Cal Poly barn.