Tuesday, October 9, 2012

Fun with Alpacas, or, Wash Your Hands

The family was together this weekend for some Gator football, food and a trip out to the coast around Ventura.

The Gators won. Check.

We ate at a fantastic Mexican place and were treated to a beautiful sunset. Check


Drove towards Ventura and stopped along the way to see an Alpaca farm. Check???? Whaaa?

For some reason our family including the new one, Sammy, all have a fascination with these animals, so it was a given that we would stop.


Alpaca's are raised for their very soft coats which is sheared once a year and made into various products including yarn, blankets, stuffed animals.



We had a very "laid back" tour guide who actually took us up the hills and into the Alpaca pasture.




Where we were surrounded immediately by curious and hungry Alpacas.





Fortunately our guide, Bernadette, provided us with food we could feed to them, ala horse style - palm out flat, do not bend fingers.


And don't look them in the eye!  Apparently they don't like that, but we didn't notice any odd behavior when we did look at their eyes.  


They're kind of hard to miss they are so big.



Supposedly they don't spit like Llamas and Camels



.  Let's clarify that, they don't spit on The Boston Lady.  They know better.  Everyone else got a little Alapaca spray.

Baby Alpaca!  Less than a week old.




They also like to eat Mulberry leaves right off the tree and when Mr. T held a branch down he became quite popular.



After about an hour with these pretty creatures we got back in the car and headed for Ventura Harbor.

\
  We had a great lunch there overlooking the marina and then checked out the harbor areas part of the beach.  



Not as nice a further up the coast where we were the previous Sunday, but still exhilirating.

All in all a good weekend.  Make that a great weekend!















8 comments:

Chatty Crone said...

You are learning all sorts of things out there - I'm so glad they did not spit on you! LOL

Mullin Avenue Workshop said...

Ann,
This does look like a great trip. The apalcas are very pretty, such long eyelashes, especially on the baby. They look like pretty friendly creatures.
I love the colour of the ocean, in the beach pictures.
Brenda

Anonymous said...

The baby alpaca is cute as can be! So happy you had a good day out and about!

Patricia @ 9th and Denver said...

I bet it's hard to get all your ducks in a row after moving to a new place...cause it still seems like you're on VACATION. Only now...for you it's a STAYCATION!
I have to say...I've never fed an Alpaca before. That is a new one.
...also...what is the story of the truck?
I love those old trucks, looked like a '48-ish' Ford???.OR...a Chevy...hard to say I couldn't get a good look at the grill.
Did the sign say for Sale?
We would love to have something that vintage. The Honey wants a Rat-Rod.
...anyway, looks like a fun time and nice weather!
Pat

Razmataz said...

My sister in law raises alpacas...she had one that got Beserk Male Syndrome....this beast literally charged at you and knocked someone out. But the rest of them are real cute.

Mr. Connor said...

Quite an adventure ! More exploring of Califormia coming right up. How far was Ventura from where you are now ?

Olive said...

The baby one is too cute. I would love a sweater from their coats but they are extremely expensive.

~Lavender Dreamer~ said...

Aaahhh...that baby sure is sweet! And these are such unusual animals! I'm always amazed at them! Enjoy your week...keep having fun!