Scene in S.B.: Seals and Sonoma

“Just today we saw a juvenile humpback whale breach close to shore. The ocean is filled with extraordinary stuff; when we’re out here all the time, we get to enjoy it,” said Robert Lehmann as he watched over the Carpinteria Seal Sanctuary. Lehmann has been a docent at the sanctuary for five years and enjoys informing people about the seals. During the six months when the beach is closed off due to the birth of Harbor Seal pups, Lehmann and other volunteers deter beachgoers from walking on the beach and disturbing the animals.

Don Colby and Joan Regan of Sonoma walk up the trail at Carpinteria Bluffs Nature Preserve after visiting the seals and taking a look at the view. Colby and Regan are on a road trip to visit family in Palm Springs and decided to stop in Santa Barbara for a couple of days to see a cousin in the area. “We’ve been enjoying everything here,” said Regan. “We went antique shopping today, and tomorrow we’re excited to go to Lotusland.”