The final leg of our journey travelling down Highway 1 from San Francisco back to Orange County turned out quite different to what we planned due to the highway being closed just south of Big Sur as a result of a landslide. The intention was to drive this lovely section of the California Coast stopping in two places overnight, and frequently along the way, to take in the sights. We had to adapt and do an out and back trip to Big Sur from Pacific Grove so we could experience the beautiful scenery along this section of the Coast. I was particularly keen to see the waterfall that falls onto the sand at a beach, McWay Falls, just beyond Bug Sur.
We didn't arrive in Pacific Grove until about 7.30pm and while we knew the area was known for the Monarch Butterfly from October to March, we did not know that there were also deer. We found that out as we were driving to our accommodation and spotted two females in a grove of trees by the roadside. We then spotted a mother and baby resting in the long grass in the yard behind our motel room, saw another mother and baby on our sunset walk and a male just outside a house on a street we took when leaving town. What a treat!
There is a picturesque road called 17-Mile Drive that has been marked as a tourist trail for which you pay an entry fee, get a map of the sights and you follow the red dotted roads as they wind their way down the hillside to the coast, passing beautiful mansions, golf courses, and wending its way through lovely forests of trees around the Pebble Beach area. We stopped off at many of the points of interest to admire the views. Unfortunately, once again it was a bit overcast but the abundance of pretty wildflowers lent colour to the scenes even if the sky was a moody grey and the ocean not the pretty blue it would have been under sunny skies.
From there, we joined up with Highway 1 and made our way to Big Sur stopping to admire the dramatic coastline along the way, from high up on the cliffs. The road clings to the hillside in many places with sweeping views of the Pacific Ocean and once again, the wildflowers were so pretty against the backdrop of the sea and rocky shores. Bixby Bridge is a must-see on this trip, one of the most popular photo opportunitues and a marvel of engineering as it straddles the canyon carved by Bixby Creek. It was hard to get a parking spot but we managed it and took our photos and videos. We continued on, stopping at Partington Cove to walk down a steep hill to admire the deep blue water which was beautiful. On the way back to the car, we saw more pretty wildflowers dotting the hillside and walked over a small brudge to watch a little stream snaking it's way to the sea.
The parking to see McWay Falls can be difficult as it is limited in the State Park but fortune shined on us and we snagged the last available space. By the time we got back to our car after our little walk to the Falls which were absolutely beautiful, there was a very long queue waiting for a spot.
On our way back to Pacific Grove we stopped in briefly at Carmel-By-The-Sea and decided to return the next morning for coffee, a patisserie treat and a better look. After dinner we had a stroll along the beach to see the sunset which wasn't spectacular because of cloud cover, but there was a sliver of colour to enjoy.
Much to our delight, Dean and Jo decided to travel up to Morro Bay on the Saturday to meet us so we arrived there in the afternoon after we had explored Carmel-By-The-Sea with its very picturesque shops, houses and gardens, and also hiked a beautiful trail in Point Lobos State Park through the Cypress Trees. Although we had started the day with the usual grey sky, by the time we reached the trail, the sun was shining again and the sea was a glittering deep blue.
When we reached Morro Bay, it was windy and cool so we donned our jackets and met up with Dean and Jo who were watching a female sea otter in the harbour right near the jetty, with her baby resting on her tummy. These creatures are so cute and we stood and watched for quite a while.
After checking into our accommodation, we returned to the waterfront for a very nice seafood meal before driving to Bluff Trail for a walk along the cliffs to see the sunset. This was a beautiful walk and we enjoyed it immensely, especially the company!
We were up early to grab a coffee and a bite to eat before setting off for the Bay once more to see the sea otters as the best time to catch them is in the early morning or late afternoon. We were not disappointed as there were around seven in the harbour just in front of Morro Rock. We spent an enjoyable hour or so watching them groom themselves and roll around in the water. One had wrapped itself in kelp to hold it in place while it slept, clever!
After that we ventured further north up the coast to Elephant Seal Beach which of course was the place to see these giant animals. They have the most amusing call, which I can only describe as sounding something like someone farting in a pipe, a description that the grandchildren found very amusing when I shared my thoughts. After a foggy grey start to the day, the sun was out and the sky very blue and so more beautiful coastline to admire while we watched the antics of the seals.
Lunch was in a beach front restaurant in a little place called Moonstone Beach. Al used to be in a band called Moonstone so he was quite chuffed with that. We had a wander through some lovely shops in quaint little Cambria and then it was time to be dropped back to our car at Morro Bay to make the drive back to Irvine and our last night of holidays.
There were tears from me of course the next day when we made our goodbyes. Dean and Jo probably won't be back to Australia for another year and it was hard to leave them. We have had the most amazing trip, enjoyed every minute but all good things must come to an end of course and we were looking forward to getting home again.
