Driving Highway 1

Photo credit: Josiah

Yesterday (Tuesday) we drove up Highway 1. We started the morning in Pismo Beach and ended in Pacific Grove / Monterey — winding up and down mountains, crossing bridges, and feeling as though we were hanging on the edge of the earth. Everything about the landscape up the coastline is larger than life. The ocean seems vast...the surf pounds with what seems to be unfathomable power...the vistas are breathtaking...the trees and forests are rich, green and dense...the mountains are beautiful. We made many stops along the way, taking a full day to make the 150 mile journey. 

Our first stop was Morro Bay, to see Morro Rock, a volcanic plug that rises almost 600 feet out of the water. We drove right up to it and had a look around (since it's connected to land with a causeway) and found a few sand dollars. 

Then we headed back to the mainland and stumbled on a pretty little playground that was vacant and just waiting for some little climbers!

Next stop: Cambria. It's famous for its Moonstone Beach, a beautiful pebble beach where people sometimes find jade and moonstones. We opted for a more rugged part of the beach where we could look in tidepools and clamber on big rocks. 

It was hard to know where to cast one's eyes. Down at the colorful rocks and pebbles in the crevices? (They mesmerized me!)

At the interesting shapes the water had cut into the soft rock? 

At the lovely coastal landscape?

The boys learned it probably was wisest to keep one's eyes on the waves. The abnormally huge one that hit just as I took this photo ended up drenching them! 

Also in Cambria we stopped by Linn's Bakery Cafe for an olallieberry muffin.

Olallieberries are relatively specific to the region. Yum! 

Outside the cafe... 

Okay, yes, I shared. We split the muffin four ways.

Then it was on up the cliff-y, coastal drive for an hour or so. 

Personally, I found the views—like this—to be unbelievable. 

Others in my uncultivated party were less impressed.  :)

And this one missed most of it altogether!

 

Our last stop en route was Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park, where we took a trail to see McWay Falls.   

What a beautiful, wonderful day. We're so thankful to have had the chance to spend it this way together as a family!