Nice color, this cute little boat at Monterey has my name all over it... 
We had 1 full week on the west coast… Yippee! … but we cheaped out by staying at Econo Lodge at Seaside near Monterey… yucks! Horrible place, altho cheap… I dun wanna be there ever again! Run by a group of India Indians, the place is relatively clean but largely un-maintained….
One of the residents at Monterey bay
Well… but we were there for checking out Doug’s storage and visiting with family and friends… okie… as aunty Bean would say.. very cute … … and after 4 dreadful days at Econo, we move to stay 1 night at a campground run by Doug’s long time friend. What a treat that was!
Somewhere between Big Sur and Carmel ... and the Pacific ocean
This is my 1st time at Big Sur and staying at a campground! A little background info about this area… so I heard… from Doug and his friends… this is a aggressively regressive community… they stood firmly against fast food chains… so you will not find any big american brand names south of Monterey until you get to Santa Barbara.
Sitting at the edge... its a long way down
A spectacular coastline that is not tainted by the obnoxious golden arches… or anyone of those chains.. not even Walmart or Safeway or Starbucks!! Thats what I needed… a break from the temptation of cheap junk food and junk Coffee..
A wholesome breakfast at Deetjens' would set you up forever...
… and eat real food… I was told, you havent been to Big Sur if you havent got a breakfast at Deetjens’…
Our cozy room at Big Sur Campground
… and stay at the best cabin in a real 1st class campground! Wow! ..
Thats cabin 101...
Strong winds where blowing on our drive down to Big Sur Campground.. and just as we were visiting Don and Mieke, a tree fell and hit Don’s old place at the campground.. … shucks…
80mph wind touching down on Pacific ocean
No storm, just 80mph winds. .. this is definately unusual.. according to the locals.. It was just gusting out there.. and when balls of winds touch the ocean, it creates an area of spray and disturb water visible to the eyes. See this, was a wind landing spot…
High winds. Birds are grounded.
And see these gulls… do they look confused or what. They are obviously grounded for the day.
Doug at Paddington Cove...
Next on our plan after leaving Big Sur was to continue south to LA for the night, check in at Four Points hotel and return the car. Making some stops for sightseeing at Partington Cove and Morro Bay.
Me leaning on a rock... looks scary ...
On hindsight… some of my sitting on cliff edge or leaning over a rock… seems like dangerous business… Looks scary on picture, but it wasnt how I felt when I was there. .. strange ..
The Morro Bay rock and the estuary
Here the Morro Bay landmark! What else could it be! The lone rock sticking out … studies say that this is a volcanic cap… BTW.. this was Dougs’ stomping ground.
Not many beaches on this coast.
I just realize that there isnt much in beaches around this coast until you get down to Santa Barbara… Alot of cliff, rocks .. Some of the yellowish stone is low grade granite, and the green greyish stuff is unformed jade. According to Doug, if these green greyish stuff remained under earth pressure, it will compress and become jade in a matter of time. Too late, it surfaced and will not be jade anymore..
It was pretty much go – stop – go again … gawking stop really. The daylight was beautiful.. perfect for driving… . albeit too much wind… .. ok, by the time we made it to LA, we were pooped! … Naturally.
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