North to Monterey on the Pacific Coast Highway

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We got our first glimpse of the Pacific Ocean just north of Morro Bay as we drove north on Highway 1, the Pacific Coast Highway. At San Simeon we saw the Hearst Castle on top of a hill in the distance, but didn’t stop to visit. North of San Simeon at Piedros Blancos Beach we saw a sign for elephant seal viewing, so we pulled off. There we saw hundreds(thousands?) of elephant seals lazing on the beach and a few in the water. The information board said that this time of year the beach is occupied by females and their young and it was their molting season. The males are at sea, feeding. There can be as many as 15,000 elephant seals on this beach at once time. The beach was covered with seals in both directions as far as you could see.

We drove through the beautiful Santa Lucia Mountains to Big Sur. This part of the PCH is full of steep ups and downs and twisty, tight turns. Kerry proclaimed it another adventure road. Most of the day we shared the road with a surprising number of bicyclists. Some rode alone, some in groups. All were grimacing on the uphills and zooming down the downhills.

Once we got to Monterey we found the fairgrounds where we’ll be camping for the next 2 nights. It’s parking lot camping, but there are full hookups and clean bathrooms. At $45/night it’s a bargain in Monterey campgrounds. After setting up and eating lunch, we piled into the camper and drove to the Monterey visitor center, where we got directions (incorrect, but due to road repairs) to the 17-mile drive along the coast and through Pebble Beach.

The ocean is stunning along this rocky coastline and the water color varies from deep to pale blue. We drove the coastal part and skipped most of the residential part. By the way, they now charge $9.75 to drive the 17 Mile Drive.

Tomorrow the Monterey Aquarium awaits us. It’s been on our list of must-sees for a long time.

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Photos

The Lone Cypress
symbol of Pebble Beach

Elephant Seals
on Piedros Blancos Beach

Piedros Blancos Lighthouse
from beach

bathing beauties
you can see evidence of molt

sweet dreams
young elephant seal

winding road
PCH through Santa Lucia Mountains

Rocky Coastline
from Willow Creek picnic area

lone surfer
near willow creek picnic area

same surfer
caught a wave

Pacific Coast Highway
near Big Sur

Sign at campground
monterey county fairgrounds

Kerry on beach
Monterey

waves against rock
Monterey

ice plant blossom
Not indigenous, but everywhere

Pt. Pinos Lighthouse
Monterey

Rocky Shoreline
Monterey

breakers
near Pebble Beach

beach critter
these are everywhere. I don't know if it's a ground squirrel or a marmot

bird rock
that's not white paint, folks

waves over rocks
near Pebble Beach

Comments

[Sara]

Awesome pictures! I'm so excited about your visit to the aquarium! Wish I could be there!

[peggy]

sure enjoying all the great photos. thanks

[Pat]

Wow
You got some wonderful pics! It is so breath takingly beautiful up that way! I know you are having a great time and the weather looks great too! Love you lots!