Big Sur, Big Seals

We left the Riverside Campground and Cabins without any regret this morning. We piled everything in the car, using a wagon to carry it down an endless ramp to the parking lot, and as we left reflected that if this was the worst choice we’d made on this itinerary, that proved that it was a pretty darn good road trip.

We enjoyed the usual Highway 1 scenery.

We stopped off at Pfeiffer Beach. Despite the same name, this is Forest Service land, not state parks, and so dogs were welcome.

Highway 1 usually washes out every couple years or so when there is a major rain, so CalTrans has been making an effort to create tunnels through the most problematic areas so that the road is not closed for months at a time.

We stopped off at San Simeon to watch the elephant seals. Years ago, when we first did this drive, the colony had only recently settled in at the beach there and we could actually go down and walk among them. Now there are herds of people as well as marine mammals, and the beach is quite sensibly fenced off to protect them. This is a good idea as some of the males can be pretty aggressive.

We drove through some lovely countryside up California 46 until we arrive at our friends Rick and Kathi’s house in Atascadero. They were lovely hosts to us as always. Rick cooked dinner.

Kathi and I chatted.

And we all four enjoyed a fabulous repast in the gazebo. Edie, meanwhile, mournfully look at her bowl as if to say, “I want what they’re having!”