louinator59 cross-posted this post in Photography Lovers 4 years ago


Morro Rock A Volcanic Plug

This is one of the most serene, tranquil, wonderful spot on the Central California Coastline. Join Lou and Tammy to experience Morro Rock a volcanic plug and a great look at Cayucos Bay.
Morro Rock is an idyllic backdrop for Morro Bay, it is the last of the (Nine Sisters) extinct volcanic peaks along Highway 1 from San Luis Obispo.

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The 581-foot (177 m) Morro Rock is one of 13 volcanic plugs (remnant necks of extinct volcanoes), lava domes, and sheetlike intrusions between Morro Bay on the north and Islay Hill on the south, all in San Luis Obispo County.

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My wife, Tammy, has been saying for years that she wanted to go back to Morro Bay and I always shrugged it off. You see the last time we were there was back in 1982 and the rock at that time, to me, was a big rock. Excuse me, I was young and a no nothing then. My focus was getting my family started and walking around a rock just was not that fun.
Back to today, this trip was a revisit trip to Pismo Beach and not to Morro Bay. Yet we arrived to find the drive on beach was closed for the bird mating (first time in history). The pier was closed, and the town was packed with people. To me the risk of social distancing and being packed into that town was not safe, so I agreed with Tammy and we went to Morro Bay.
On our channel you will find we documented our trip rather well by make many 15 min videos about the experience. Just like this one.
Now, being older, bolder, and wiser, we returned to Morro Bay to find a vacationing paradise. Tammy’s instincts were dead on, this place was amazing. Men – Listen to your wives, God gives them great incite.
We stayed at the Blue Sail in which is close to the strand and with great views of the Harbor and Morro Rock. This hotel gets the top rating in my books. Booking was easy, the price was reasonable, and the service was extraordinaire. They made us feel safe and their surfaces were very well sanitized and maintained. The staff communication of COVID19 expectations was very good. The Blue Sail Inn is a re-book when back in the area again.
In this video we visit the Morro Rock and unravel the volcanic history as well as find some unique spots in Morro Bay. The 581-foot (177 m) Morro Rock is one of 13 volcanic plugs (remnant necks of extinct volcanoes), lava domes, and sheetlike intrusions between Morro Bay on the north and Islay Hill on the south, all in San Luis Obispo County.

It is composed mostly of dacite, an igneous, volcanic rock, and partially of petrified bird feces, which have compacted into the plug over the years. It is a groundmass of plagioclase, with amphibole (hornblende), biotite, pyroxene (augite), quartz, and glass; phenocrysts of plagioclase, amphibole and often quartz. Its silica (SiO2) content can range from 63 to 69 percent.