Saturday, July 21, 2007
Point Buchon Trail - [CROSS-VIEWING ]
<--- click on image to enlarge
Point Buchon Trail,
just south of Montana de Oro State Park,
itself just south of Los Osos, CA.
© Abe Perlstein
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I had the good fortune to explore Point Buchon Trail the fourth day after the official opening seven days prior. The trail itself is a one to one-a-half-mile loop. It's relatively flat and easy walking (not including the dip down from the parking lot to and away from Coon Creek on the way to the security entrance).
Spectacular scenic vistas and a wide diversity of flora and fauna are in abundance. Must sees: 1) a gigantic sink hole open to the ocean below; 2) sea caves along the expanse of beach by outlet of Coon Creek (Try to get to this spot in late afternoon when the light is good and the tide is low. Walking into the caves is both extremely dangerous if not impossible during any time but low tide.); and 3) the cove just before you reach Point Buchon itself (marked by a pole with weather instruments on top) where a thriving kelp forest, beautiful off-shore rock formations, and sea otters frolicking in the gentle waves are likely to be observed.
The majority of Point Buchon Trail is situated on PG&E land adjacent to the Diablo Nuclear Power Plant some miles to the south (not visible from the trail). To enter the trail, you must divulge your full identification to security guards at the checkpoint just up the hill from the Coon Creek Bridge. Parking is in a dirt lot at the end of the road that winds through Montana de Oro State Park, just south of Los Osos, California. There are restrooms there and at the security entrance. There is no water along the trail.
Point Buchon Trail is open Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays from 8:00AM to 5:00PM only. Everyone is instructed to return to the security area by 4:45PM.
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[NOTE: red/cyan ANAGLYPH versions of the following CROSS-VIEWING stereo pairs are featured in the previous post.]
1) Click on images to enlarge.
2) View stereo pairs straight on and from a distance of about 2-feet from your screen.
3) Cross or converge your eyes a bit until you see three virtual images. [NOTE: If you don't cross or converge your eyes enough, you will likely only see the two images as they appear on the page. If you cross or converge your eyes too much, you may see four images.]
4) With all three images in your line of sight, continue holding focus on all three while throwing your gaze upon the center of the three images. The "virtual" center image will appear fully three-dimensional.
If at first you don't succeed, be patient and try again. The dimensional rewards are well worth the effort.
Comments are welcome at ap3dguy@Gmail.com.
Remember: click on images to enlarge.
Indian Paintbrush along entrance road to Point Buchon Trail, just south of Montana de Oro State Park, itself just south of Los Osos, California.
© Abe Perlstein
Coon Creek Bridge, spanning Cook Creek, along entrance road to Point Buchon Trail, just south of Montana de Oro State Park, itself just south of Los Osos, California.
© Abe Perlstein
Abandoned cabin situated in a thicket of poison oak, as seen from Coon Creek Bridge, along entrance road to Point Buchon Trail, just south of Montana de Oro State Park, itself just south of Los Osos, California.
© Abe Perlstein
Algae and decomposing seaweed in the Coon Creek "estuary" area, Point Buchon Trail, just south of Montana de Oro State Park, itself just south of Los Osos, California.
© Abe Perlstein
Blooming Dudlya, on the cliffs above the caves along the Coon Creek beach area, technically in Montana de Oro State Park, itself just south of Los Osos, California.
© Abe Perlstein
Blooming Dudlya, on the cliffs above the caves along the Coon Creek beach area, technically in Montana de Oro State Park, itself just south of Los Osos, California.
© Abe Perlstein
California Poppies and bluff-top dirt road, just beyond the southern boundary of the Point Buchon Trail, just south of Montana de Oro State Park, itself just south of Los Osos, California.
© Abe Perlstein
California Poppies and coastal scrub, just beyond southern boundary of the Point Buchon Trail, just south of Montana de Oro State Park, itself just south of Los Osos, California.
© Abe Perlstein
California Poppies form an interesting juxtaposition to the Diablo Canyon Nuclear Power Plant warning sign at the southern boundary of the Point Buchon Trail, just south of Montana de Oro State Park, itself just south of Los Osos, California.
© Abe Perlstein
Looking back at Point Buchon from the access trail back to the entrance of the Point Buchon Trail, just south of Montana de Oro State Park, itself just south of Los Osos, California.
© Abe Perlstein
Looking toward the entrance area from the section of trail stretching from Point Buchon, Point Buchon Trail, just south of Montana de Oro State Park, itself just south of Los Osos, California.
© Abe Perlstein
