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Published: March 28th 2006
hwy 1
our 1st pull offTruly one of the most spectacular roads in the world, Coast Highway One wends along the California coastline. At times, it dares the ocean to pluck it away from its delicate perch and dash it into the frothing waves. In other places, it softly floats along the shoreline, and you seem to merge with the ocean and pelicans as they gracefully breeze by.
This is Californias' first scenic highway, it was dedicated as such by Mrs.Lyndon B. Johnson at the famous Bixby bridge on Sep.21,1966. The official span of the scenic highway was designated as running from San Louis Obispo to Monterey.
The range of vistas along the coast is extraordinary from soft white sandy beaches in the south, the coast undergoes some remarkable changes, as it proceeds north. Just after the Hearst castle near Cambria, the coastline changes and becomes rugged and jagged, with furious waves pounding at the old rock shoreline. Here, for thousands of years there was no one, except for a few bands of hardy native americans who rarely ventured out of the moutainous ranges to trade shells and other items.
Up into Big Sur the road, meanders like some fantastic carnival ride. Though infrequent
Hwy 1
Our first pull off strands of redwood tree and chaparral areas, one rarely sees houses, and more infrequently buisnesses. at times it appears as raw as it has always been. The scenic highway designation ends at Monterey, where the beaches are again calm and white and sandy. This is one of the costliest roads on the planet to maintain, and provides the opportunity to see some the greatest views of land and sea anywhere.
"This is the California that men dreamed of years ago, this is the Pacific that Balboa looked out on from the Peak of Darien, this is the face of the earth as the Creator intended it took look."-Henry Miller.
We're gonna try something new with the blog. Adam and I will both have a chance at writing on our adventures. I shall name it She Said He Said.
She Said:
We just got to my friend Nate's in Pacific Grove. Its a neat little town on the Montery Peninsula. We arrived here after we took a couple days driving the scenic Highway One through Big Sur. Highway 1 is amazing! It has the most unbelievable views! We spent 2 nights sleeping on the side of the
hwy 1
Dinner at our 1st pull off highway in little pull offs (despite the sign at the beginning of the drive that said "No sleeping on side of highway. Next 72 miles.").
There are pull offs every 1/4 mile or so. There is so much to see. Its hard to decide where to pull off to take in the view. Every place equally beautiful. We stopped at 2 places that were just unreal! One was Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park. There was this water fall that falls onto this white sandy beach with aquamarine water of the ocean all around. Seriously, WOW! I kinda felt like the "you are here" star on a map, you know. Like, it was a picture of a scene from "the Beach" and I was just looking on, not REALLY there. Its hard to explain I guess. I could have stood in that one spot, watching the fall all day.
The other spot was Partington Cove. Adam heard of some bouldering there. It was a nice hike down. The trail took us over a stream to a wooded path that led us through a tunnel. That led to this little cove. Lots of Kelp beds. The waves slammed into
hwy 1
view from our kitchen at our 1st pull off the rocks. Freaking me out. But, VERY PRETTY. You just have to respect the ocean, and know your boundaries.
We ended the Big Sur tour by stopping at Point Lobos. Its where Robert Louis Stevenson based his "Treasure Island." He called this the "most beautiful meeting place of land,sea on earth." We walked around for a couple hours. Then headed to Nates, just 15 mins. away. Pacific Grove is known as the butterfly capital of the world. Its a small town, lovely victorian-style homes. From Nates apartment (which is so cute, and totally beachy on the outside-love it) is within walking distance to the water. Last night we could hear the seals barking. It was really cool. Its always good to see Nate. The three of us walked around a bit then had a hung around the apartment. We'll be here a few days. Today, I sit in front of the idiot box so far, enjoying every moment.
He said:
******************** ADAMS' COLUM *******************
Hello EVERYONE!
I just wanted to recap our travels thus far for your reading edification.
When traveling west bound expect a fairly steady head wind, and larger vehicles
would do well to reduce there speed for better mileage as well as making a real effort to ease on the throttle. If you a looking for the cheapest fuel, as we were, ARCO will usually have it in the western states but is poor quality and, as I believe, may in fact not give you fair mileage but it is often 15 to 20 cents a gallon less then anyone else. It can also turn into kerosene if it sits for a long period. We have a carbed Chevy 454, but a fuel injected motor would make better use out of any fuel you get.
Joshua Tree is a great place, even for the non climber there is a lot to do and see. Hidden Valley Campground offers a positive vibe and awesome views with an elevation of aprox: 4100 ft. Unfortunately the only downside to J-Tree is its national park status. The National Park Service is on a mission to hog tie and complicate there visitors any way the law will allow. They are an obvious example of big governments wasteful spending as they drive around in new Chevy Suburbans making sure to use there entire budget
for the year so next years is even bigger. The U.S. Department of the Interior is made up of the NPS, National Forest Service (NFS), the Bureau of Land Managment (BLM), and one other sub department I can't recall at the moment. The BLM and NFS does a great job and is responsible for the majority of the land, but the NPS just does not get it. Your typical NPS employee is nothing more then a glorified hall monitor and tour guide for the pathetic. They are easily replaced by sign posts and drop boxes, (iron rangers). They want to be outdoors-men but lack the independent experience necessary to understand their effect on OUR GREAT OUTDOORS. That effect is discouraging wilderness visitors and sterilizing the natural landscape w/ more paved roads for the sightseeing masses. I am all about access but a dirt road , I feel, would limit these areas to those who REALLY WANT IT. Hey I have a motorhome as my only means of motorized transportation and if I can't access a portion of a National Forest or Park I am OK with that, it just means I have to scout on bike or foot not boohoo
to the U.S.D.I to pave it for me. It all comes back to the "WALK THE LINE AND DO NOT STEP OFF" attitude that makes people not want to go near the line to begin with, and rather stick to the city thing on their time off. Our national forests were set aside because we (as Americans) were getting a little soft and needed rugged spaces to toughen up. That's just the way it is. Despite the preservationist thinking of the U.S.D.I. and especially the NPS, limiting the land to such a degree only prevents the masses from being good stewards of the land. You first have to get out in nature to realize our place in it and ultimately understand the value of preservation. I don't mean to go on a rant, or wait a minute, maybe I do. Thank God for blogs, and our soldiers and veterans for the freedom of speech.
Moving on. San Diego is cool, I thought about moving there when I lived in Phoenix even though I had never been in Calif. and in hindsight am glad I didn't. No particular reason though. Better climbing awaits up north. In Chatsworth I met some
fellow climbers who gave me good info. The most notable was a well Cali. traveled dude probably in his mid 40's named Guy. He pointed us to a few areas in the Sierra Nevada we checked out and has kept us posted via email. He is a wealth of great climbing info and travel logistics.
The Sierra Nevada is beautiful, rivers, lakes, mountains, pines, redwoods, and boulders. Can't wait to explore the central and northern areas in the future.
Highway 1 is without a doubt time well spent. I was unsure at first after hearing by locals the road was steep and twisty, but anyone who has driven into the tight folds of West Virginia would view "The 1" as a fairly tame short stretch of road with some parts likely able to land a small plane on. I am sure that the coast of Oregon and Washington rival the Big Sur area (though it would be hard to beat) though without all the fame and I hope to be there soon, but first South Lake Tahoe is beckoning.
With a climbing season from April to November, endless free camping, and a huge lake at 6227 ft.
Lake Tahoe offers a ton of climbing and photo opportunities. We will meet my folks there May 5 through 12 and my dad and I will be gunning up some classic multi pitch trad routes in the Lovers Leap area and bouldering with Leah in the Bliss areas, maybe even get MOM on some 5.3, 5.4 topropes.
Well thats all for now, keep checking in with us for more rants and raves and remember "Home is where you park it". Thanks for reading and God Bless.
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Melissa
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Well as if i wasn't jealous before. I love the new pictures. I find myself get excited when I see you've added something new. Keep those pictures coming. I'm glad to see your enjoying life. Hope to meet Adam sometime.