Joan, Allison, and I are off for a long weekend in the Paso Robles wine country. But we didn't drive directly there. Instead, we drove up the coast, past Hearst Castle and San Simeon, to the Piedras Blancas elephant seal rookery.
At this time of the year, the sub-adult male seals return to the rookery for a month for molting, that is, to grow new skin and hair. While they are molting, they look pretty ratty, but they're actually quite healthy. The only fighting going on during this period is just for play, or maybe out of irritatation. ("That's my spot of sand." "No, it's my spot!").
Molting must be hard work. Most of the time, the seals just line up and sleep.
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