Big Coast, Big Waves, Big Scenery, Big Sur

Part 1

We left Santa Barbara in glowing sunshine and headed up the dramatic Highway 1; Gladys our sat nav took us on an alternative route via highway 154 and through Los Padres National Park, very dramatic and breathtaking views. We took numerous blurred photos and images to try and capture the beauty but I guess you just had to be there.

The Big Sur is equally stunning with mountains ascending to our right and sheer ocean drops to our left; amazing. Arrived at Lucia Lodges c 3.30 in the pouring rain. The accommodation consists of 9 cabins built in the 1930s on the sea rock face 400ft above and overlooking the ocean. I’m sure the view will be spectacular if their wasn’t so much damn rain and mist, maybe tomorrow.

We’re the only residents here which is fantastic; just us, the ocean, some bottles of merlot, the ipod, and a cabin which is currently -5 degrees! So we’ve decided to plug the ipod into the portable speakers sit outside on the veranda wrapped in blankets and chill for a while in what has to be the quietest location we’ve experienced.

Because this place is so remote that means no TV, telephone, mobile or internet signals so we’ll finish this tomorrow in Monterey.

Part 2

Well the sun duly came out and we discovered that we were right in the middle of a twitcher’s paradise; hundreds of humming birds filled the red hot pokers in front of our cabin and then several birds of prey also descended onto our roof and the nearby pines. We think they were large buzzards, but not being avid bird watchers we weren’t totally sure, either way they looked very commanding.

We travelled up to Carmel, and then across the 17 Mile Drive, both extremely scenic, big surf, big seas and some lazy sea lions basking on the beach. All very picture postcard.

We arrived in Monterey late afternoon and then we walked into town to meet Jan, a friend of Andy’s from myspace; we went for a few pre-dinner drinks and then enjoyed a great meal of crab linguine, chicken linguine and the requisite Merlot. Think we’ll have an early night though as the quietness of last night threw us both somewhat and we both had a restless night.

Tomorrow we’re off to Santa Cruz for the night and then it’s the final leg - 10 nights in San Francisco!

Song for the day: The Thrills - Big Sur

Nina & Andy x0x0

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