The California Coast is only about 600 miles from Paulden to our favorite area, Big Sur. We usually stay at San Simeon State Park, then take day trips north and south. Just north of San Simeon is Piedras Blancas beach. Each winter elephant seals come here to give birth and to breed for the next year. It’s a loud place where big bulls are fighting for harem rights to mate. Babies nurse for about 3 months and are so fat they can hardly move.
Just north of the “birthing beach” is the Point Piedras Blancas Lighthouse. There is a great trail around the headlands, but you can’t get out to the lighthouse. Lone bull seals are scattered along the beaches, waiting ’til they are big enough to compete for the harems.
Driving up the coast you come to Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park. A short trail takes you to an overlook of the falls. This is a beautiful spot, with an old water wheel, bridge and trails.
One of our absolute favorite places to spend a day is at Point Lobos State Park. It is a 2-3 hour drive north of our camp, and just on the edge of Carmel. There are numerous trails along the coast, as well as through the Monterrey Pines on the headlands. The weather here is often stormy, with big surf to watch and photograph.
The surf and sea are amazing, but just inland the land consists of beautiful hills with huge vineyards and great oak trees. The oaks are dispersed along the hillsides so you can see the individual trees (and not just the forest). In late afternoon, the angle of the sun produces wonderful downhill shadows.
We are starting to get restless to head out for the coast, but it’s desert flower time and then I’m off to Tanzania in mid-April, so the coast may have to wait ’til fall. So much to see, so little time…
msummersphoto 