Big Sur
Christy and I walk out to the beach while the girls still sleep. Kicking through sand while sipping my coffee, I'm the picture of contentment. It's 7:00 a.m. and the parking lot is getting busy. Gaviota State Beach is the last bit of public-access coastline before you hit Hollister Ranch.
"The Ranch" is one of the more exclusive and closely guarded stretches of coastline in California and contains a half dozen amazing surf spots. Access is strictly controlled. About the only surefire way to gain access to the lineup of spots like Big Drakes and Lefts And Rights is from the water.
So the parking lot fills up early and we watch groups of surfers drag their Boston Whalers to the end of the pier where a huge crane is located. With the air of folks who have done this a lot, each group rigs their boat to the crane, lifts it up over the railing and lowers it to the water below. It's quite the operation and it looks like an adventure. The less-equipped surfers inflate Zodiacs for a beach launch, a slower and colder option.
We pack and say goodbye to Gaviota. By 9:00 a.m. we're cruising past the endless vineyards near Santa Maria, now golden with the turning of the season. Morro Bay is sunny and offshore and you can see why so many surfers were interested in The Ranch. The surf is booming. We head further north, passing the gorgeous coastline near Cayucos and dodging in and out of the fog bank hugging the coastline.
But by the time we make the first climb of the Big Sur coastline, we know we're in for a stellar day. It's warm -- probably near 70 -- and the fog has mostly lifted. The coast is clear and we slowly head north, stopping frequently to take photos, going for a short hike near Jade Cove, taking our time. It's 3:00 p.m. by the time we get to Pfeiffer Big Sur State Park, but there are plenty of campsites left. We pick an awesome one down by the river and take a short hike upriver before making burritos around the camp stove.
Foggy hillsides near Buellton.
The wonderful coastline of Cayucos.
Cayucos.
San Simeon State Beach, just down the hill from Hearst Castle.
The Big Sur coastline is booming with sets that are way overhead, and every little mysto setup is firing my imagination. Imagine living on this little stretch of private coastline.
As the fog begins to lift, we take a short break just north of Ragged Point.
Looking south back towards Ragged Point.
This is quite the setup.
A few miles south of Whalebone Rock.
San Martin Rock.
Looking north toward Jade Cove.
There were two guys surfing this jumble straight out front, but it looked rocky, cold, and super gnarly.
Hannah, doing her usual pout at the beginning of every hike we take.
Christy and Sydney tease Hannah as she sulks.
The bean on the walk out to Plaskett Rock.
The lovely Jade Cove, where you can find semi-precious jade rocks on the shore.
The view up the coastline from Jade Cove.
Plaskett Rock at Jade Cove.
Jade Cove, with hang gliders just visible in the far distance.
Christy and Hannah in front of Plaskett Rock.
More Plaskett Rock shots.
The walk back to the car.
Near Kirk Creek.
Lucia, California.
Lunch break at Lucia.
Pfieffer Big Sur State Park, just a bit north of the town of Big Sur. It's a great campground with a river, redwoods, and sunny hills surrounding the park.
Our campsite by the river.
The river is really not much more than a creek, but it's still pretty.
Hannah, at the end of an incredible day.
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