On the way from the mainland several Dall’s porpoises were seen slowly milling, one with a white dorsal fin with a racing stripe. They did not engage in bow riding today. On the initial hike a raven perched on a nearby post suddenly departed and took a snake, flying off into the canyon with it clutched in its talons. Continuing, I hiked from the upper camp to the mountain and on to Smugglers’ Cove. The next day, after waking from a dream of Newsom hiding in the cafe booth wearing a white baseball cap, I was all alone at upper camp. At the surf near the dock, a large harbor seal perused the kelp forests. Later I changed campsites, as ravens circled above on an updraft. Back at the water, a sea lion swam past, traveling east. The next morn I woke to a dream of a snake with the stamped skull, and headed out to bathe in the ocean. I waited near the pier, watching for the ferry, hopping on for the ride to the dock at Prisoners’. There I observed an albino sea lion, hiked to Tinker’s Beach, and discussed cetaceans with the naturalist guide on the trail. Later I returned to Scorpion side for a beautiful sunset atop the lookout rock. The following day, I recalled a dream of standing between two orcas who pulled me through waist-deep water across the channel. They delivered me to an old rustic mainland town with high cliffsides where I visited my cousins. Hiking out to the cliffs, I suddenly realized my ring was lost somewhere on this uninhabited island. Making the call out to Saint Antonio, I repeated the hike back to Smugglers’, hopeful eyes scanning the trail the entire time. Arriving , I rested at the table as burly ravens squawked and parried. I then swam, ate, and watched the sunset. When returning, a ranger requested I move back to the original campsite – OK. There I woke to the dream of the rustic bed & breakfast; KK asked me to get a chocolate popcorn caramel ball on my way to the Pacific Northwest, so she could offer it to guests at the B&B. Of course! I slept in until late morning as flute music played in a nearby camp. In recollection, I searched the grass and the ring was recovered from the ground at the upper campsite! That night I walked the trails in the light of the full moon, as a warm wind pushed across the cliffs. On the water, night-hunting pelicans dove into the moonlit surface. Further out, a strange vessel hovered in the bay; divers landed at the beach, scanning the area with flashlights to investigate. On the return from the Island humpbacks were encountered bobbing on the spring tide; the mother and calf stayed on the surface in these choppy waves. Anacapa towered on the horizon as wave spray heaved into the vessel from substantial pitching and rolling.
