We have friends who have told us that Big Sur is one of their favorite places to visit. But, as with any story, it is just not the same unless you have lived the experience. We thought we might miss it. As of today, we have spent 26 days on the road, with most of the nights sleeping in tents along the way. It is not a luxurious life, but we enjoy it, and with the right equipment and plenty of firewood you can have a very enjoyable time. Last night, the kids told us they were homesick...they miss their beds, they miss their friends and they miss S’mores (their big fluffy kitty). To quote Nathan, “Mommy, at home, I always know where the bathroom is”. So, over a campfire we had a family discussion and took a vote. We would cut our stay at Big Sur and head home the following day.
What a beautiful day the Lord blessed us with on this last day of the coast. The sun shone bright, the fog stayed away and the water was a fantastic aqua blue. Take that combination and toss in some amazing boulders and whitecaps and you are destined for a fabulous family day at the beach. First stop was a viewing of a waterfall that falls a hundred feet into the ocean. I could stand there all day and look at this little piece of heaven on earth, the kids were not impressed. This was strictly a viewing area. What fun is looking at the water? They were ready to get in! So, back in the car we go and down the twisted and curvy road until we find a picnic area. After a quick lunch, we decide to explore and we are so happy we did. We discovered a cove just waiting to be explored, our own private beach. It took the kids seconds to find a mound of beached kelp being pummeled by huge waves. They had a blast playing king of the mountain. What a sight! All 4 kids standing on this mound just waiting for the next big whitecap, and as soon as they could see that it was going to be taller then them, they would come running back to shore screaming, giggling and almost collapsing from laughter, only to be back up on the mound again seconds later waiting for the next big wave. Clint and I sat back and watched with delight. After a few hours here, we decided we should head down the coast a little further to see what we could find.
Next stop, Sand Dollar beach. Though it is not sand dollar season and none were to be found, the kids enjoyed playing on the sandy beach. The waves were even bigger and their was a half dozen locals taking advantage and surfing the waves. What a sight to see so close. The cliffs here were lined with a mystical green granite that sparkled in the sun. We spent the next few hours building sandcastles, rock hunting and splashing in the water. Though the water was around 55 degrees, it didn’t scare the kids away and before the day was over, Kendall and Nathan had both gone under. Me(Rebecca), personally, my feet began to ache after just seconds of being submerged.
Our last beach excursion for the day landed us at a beach in San Simeon covered with hundreds of elephant seals. These animals, weighing around 4500 lbs were basking in the sun, covering themselves with sand and every once in a while barking loudly at their neighbor. We all had fun giving them dialogue and imagining the conversations they were having with each other. Next big stop...Flagstaff, AZ!
