Bathing Optional

Big Sur Coast

Continents

Continents

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Big Sur, taken from the original Spanish name for the region, is a 50 mile stretch of Californian coastline sometimes called the most beautiful meeting of land and sea in the world.
The entire lenght of Big Sur coast is filled with coves and cliffs, beaches and mountains. Highway 1 hugs the winding coastline cliffs the entire way!
Dramatic mountains end at the ocean.
California Highway 1, a fantastic coastal drive the entire way.
A view into the distance shows coastline curve in and out creating innumerable coves.
Sunset along the coastal drive.
Sun setting behind a mass of clouds.
Our first nights camping area, Andrew Molera Beach and State Park. Great place away from the more mainstream areas along Big Surs coast.
Waterfall somewhere along Big Surs coast.
Birds flying over Point Lobos waters.
Birds taking it easy on Bird Rock in Point Lobos State Park.
Trees at Point Lobos.
More Point Lobos scenery.
Birds are not the only wildlife to be spotted at Point Lobos.
Point Lobos rocky shoreline.
Seagull.
Double falls somewhere along the Big Sur coast.
Surfer at Molera Beach.
Look up the coast.
Highway 1 along the coast crosses several bridges of this style. Bixby Bridge, this one, is one of the more famous.
Another beautiful view up the coast.
During our trip we also made sure to get into each of the great State Parks that dot the coast. Here, Ashe stands on a giant fallen redwood during one of our hikes.
Forest stream and trail bridge.
Some of Big Surs waters are deep blue and others are this kind of light and transparent green.
In the distance, Big Surs historic lighthouse on Point Sur rock.
Highway 1 can be seen winding along these treachorous cliffs.
Another of the hikes we did brought us high up Big Surs cliffs.
View across hills and into the deep blue ocean.
View at redwood grove treetops on our way back down the trail.
View of Highway 1 from high up above.
Hilltop trees.
About halfway along the Big Sur drive is Pfeiffer Burns State Park with its amazing McWay Falls which fall over 80 feet right onto the beach.
McWay Falls
At the southern end of Big Sur the scenery changes. This coast near San Simeon lacks the huge cliffs.
Seals taking a break along San Simeons beach.
Above Big Surs southern entry town San Simeon stands the historic and fantastic Hearst Castle.
Cattle grazing in the lands surrounding Hearst Castle.
Casa Grande, the main house of the Hearst Castle complex is William Randolph Hearts venue for showing off an amazing collection of European art that he collected throughout his lifetime.
This guesthouse at Hearst Castle isnt too bad either.
Guestroom.
Grand fountain topped with a statue at Hearst Castle.
Castle terrace.
View through columns to the Neptune Pool beyond.
The Neptune Pool is one of the more impressive sights at Hearst Castle.
Marble statues surround the Neptune Pool.
Another statue by the Neptune Pool.
Terraced staircase.
Another marble statue in the Castle garden.
Persian tiles.
Palm with one of Casa Grandes towers.
Detailed facade of Casa Grande.
Around the back of Casa Grande.
Inside Hearst Castles main drawing room.
The Castle is full of doorways and entrances like this one.
Lamps inside the Castles private movie theater.
Indoor swimming pool.
Swimming pool ceiling decorations.
Floor tiles with gold leaf.
Another guesthouse, Moorish style.
Garden pond.
Our second night in Big Sur we had to sleep in our car because all the camp sites were fully booked. We were rewarded for our troubles with morning views like these as we had to park high in the hills, off the highway.
The next day we did some more great redwood hikes along the Big Sur coast.
One of our favorite hikes was in tiny Limekiln State Park, named for these 150 year old limekilns hidden amongst the redwoods.
Limekiln Park also had these great falls.
Redwood trail.
Maciej inside old redwood stump.
Another of Big Surs great coves.
Our hike at Garrapate State Park took us through a great valley with wildflowers and cacti.
Clear waters down below.
Maciej along the Big Sur coast.
One of the most beautiful coastal regions was in Point Lobos State Reserves.
Craggy rocks at Point Lobos.
China Cove at Point Lobos.
Looking south down the Big Sur coast.
Another look through the trees.
With views like this, driving back the way we had come was a good time.
Sunset colors over Big Sur.
Oceans rocks with sunset colors.

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