Big Sur

From the opulence of Pebble Beach and Monterey, it was literally a breath of fresh air returning once again to the forests and wilds surrounding that is known as Big Sur. This former 'Hippie' enclave is a heavily wooded and mountainous area, with many Redwoods lining the cliffs of the Pacific Ocean. The town itself is a decidedly subtle and isolated commune filled with writers, artists and popular culture. The mountainous terrain and lack of property available for development seem to have kept Big Sur relatively unspoiled with the bulk of the residents comprising of the descendants of the original ranching families, artists and writers, along with some very wealthy home-owners. It truly is a beautiful area and we reveled in our campsite, right alongside the gently flowing Big Sur river. Showering was replaced with river bathing after which we literally danced into the night around a raging bonfire. The following day we meandered along the coast, passing over pristine bay's and generally soaking in the awe-inspiring natural scenery before stumbling upon the mindblowing 'Elephant Seal Beach' filled with hundreds of bizarre, barking Elephant Seals.