We walked along the Bear Valley Trail from the Point Reyes National Seashore Visitor Center toward the ocean, four and a half miles away. After passing through thick pine forests, we crossed a divide and the trail opened up into open grasslands dotted with scrubby bushes. Off in the distance was the shining Pacific, our destination. A slight movement on our right, about 15 yards off the track, revealed a resting bobcat. We remained as quiet as possible while this magnificent animal washed itself, looked around, probably saw us (certainly smelled us, ugh!), squinted into the light, turned around a few times, and disappeared as it lay back down in the tall dry grass for the remainder of its interrupted midday nap.

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