Day Three - Big Sur

Sept 18^th

The sun is out, it’s warming up! We decided to forget about the issues we’re having with the coach and take a day to just see the area. So after breakfast we took a look at the map and picked out a couple of things to do.

About 10:30 AM we headed out of camp and drove to the Brainerds Hardware to pick up a new Smoke Alarm and window squeegee with extension handle. We lost the old one when it was run over by a car at the park. We’ve only been able to wash the front windshield when we get diesel. 

Part of Pt Lobos State Reserve

Leaving the shopping center we went back to Hwy 1 South to Point Lobos State Natural Reserve - http://www.pointlobos.org/ . This is a beautiful park and is highly used by everyone in the area. The highway was lined with cars on both sides as far as we could see. Stopping at the Rangers booth we found out that dogs aren’t allowed in the park, period. So we decided to make arrangements to take the dogs to a babysitter on Monday, then we could go there and do some kayaking.

Perched looking for lunch

Caught in flight

Continuing further south we made several stops along the road to take pictures of the wild surf and rugged coastline on the lookout for sea otters and other wildlife. At one stop Tina spotted a Coopers Hawk and was able to get several pictures including one of the bird with outstretched wings, pretty cool. Leaving the hawk we stop at the California Sea Otter Game Reserve.

Dense Giant Kelp forrest

One thing we noticed is the density of the kelp beds, also known as “Kelp Forests”. Tiered like a terrestrial rainforest with a canopy and several layers below, the kelp forests of the eastern Pacific coast are dominated by two canopy-forming types, Giant Kelp and Bull Kelp. Most of the kelp we see is Giant Kelp which provides a perfect home for the California Sea Otter and also protect coastlines from damaging wave action.

The sea otter is a key species in the kelp forest ecosystem. Kelp forests provide food and shelter for all manner of marine life. 

California Sea Otter playing in the kelp (courtesy of California Department of Wildlife)

One of the sea otter's favorite delicacies is the sea urchin who in turn loves kelp. When present in healthy numbers, sea otters keep sea urchin populations in check. But when sea otters decline, urchin numbers explode and grab onto kelp like flies on honey. The urchins chew off the anchors that keep the kelp in place, causing them to die and float away, setting off a chain reaction that depletes the food supply for other marine animals causing their numbers to decline. 

One thing we noticed on the map was a road designated as the “Old Coastal Highway”, a ten mile section of abandoned road similar to the “Old Bluett Pass” Highway. This stretch of the old highway is the only significant veer for Hwy One away from the coast and was the original road used before the highway was constructed. Unfortunately it was closed off to traffic at the entrance while repairs are being made. Se we continued on towards Big Sur.

By now it’s nearly 12:30 and time for lunch so we stopped at the Big Sur River Inn. This place was packed, even the deck overlooking the river. I went in and asked if we could have lunch on the deck or patio with our two dogs. They had a “No Dogs” policy, though we were welcome to order a “To Go” lunch and take it out to the lawn and eat. We decided to pass and went back to the car.

A mile further on we came to the Fernwood Resort and Fernwood Grill (http://www.fernwoodbigsur.com/) where we could have lunch with the dogs. So we grabbed a table and ordered two of the specials – BBQ Ribs for Tina and Black Cod Tacos for me. While we waited, several people stopped by to visit with Punky and Wicket, they’re just so cute and friendly! Lunch was awesome, really good food!

The one lane road down to Pfeifer State Beach

Leaving Fernwood we continued South to locate the access road to Pfeifer State Beach. Two miles further on I pulled into a lay-by on the right and it turned out to be the entrance road to the beach. I pulled a quick “Uey” and got pointed down this one lane road that ran for a couple of miles down the canyon to the beach. We stopped at the ranger station and paid our $5 parking fee and parked in the upper lot.

We made it!

Starting out to the beach

With the kids on their leashes, poop bags, cameras and a blanket we headed for the trail to the beach. What a gorgeous setting with a small protected lagoon for the children, large jutting volcanic rocks with wave formed holes and several small coves. We walked along the beach for several hundred yards and selected a spot protected from the wind at the base of the cliff. 

Fishing from the rocks

Taking photos of the surf

We spread our blanket and let the dogs roam around a bit. They both started climbing the rock behind us intent on catching whatever lived in the nooks and cranny’s. Wicket became so fixated on one small hole that she sat there and stared into the crack for at least  fifteen minutes before we took them for a walk further down the beach. We took lots of photos and enjoyed the next several hours just hanging out with the seagulls, terns and pelicans that wheeled about above us.

Dogs "On the Rocks"

Eventually it was time to go home so we packed up all our stuff and returned to the car. Tina drove on the way home so she could experience the thrill of driving on a one lane canyon road and the fast pace set up on Hwy 1 – heh, heh. We made one last stop at the “Barnyard Shopping Village”, a really nice collection of upscale shops and restaurants with a large outdoor venue for events. In fact we got there during their “Octoberfest Celebration”. We stopped at Carmel Valley Coffee Roasters for a coffee and spent a half hour walking around checking out the shops. Very nice but we didn’t find anything we couldn’t live without, so it was back to the car for the final drive home.

The rest of the evening we spent sorting photos from the last two days, reading and watching tv.

To see all our photos go to:

http://picasaweb.google.com/mjdolanski