Wednesday morning we left Cambria and headed up Highway 1 along the coast to Pacific Grove. The drive along Highway 1 was one of the expected highlights of our trip. Highway 1 is one of the iconic scenic highways in the U.S. It runs along the coast, often high above the coastline, offering scenic views of the rocky California coastline below. The official speed limit along this narrow two-lane highway is 55 miles per hour. With the switchbacks and steep climbs cars rarely reach speeds in excess of 35. There are frequent turnouts along the road so that slower moving vehicles can allow faster cars to pass.
Bixby Bridge, built in 1932, along California Pacific Highway
Joey had warned us that along Highway 1 we would encounter large RVs driven by inexperienced drivers (Cruise America). We didn’t. I guess those folks are more likely during the summer months. We found Highway 1 to be lightly traveled. When we stopped along the road to take in a scenic vista or to take a short hike, we most often encountered European tourists.
Along the way we stopped at Salmon Creek. Sam had mentioned that there was a waterfall about a quarter mile off the main trail. It was good that Sam gave us detailed information as the side trail was poorly marked. A crudely marked post with a rock on top was the only trail marker. We worried at one point that we’d get off into the woods, get turned around and have to be rescued. That would have been unfortunate because cell phone coverage along Highway 1 is rare. At Salmon Creek there is none.
The waterfall at Julia Pfeifer Burns State Park empties directly into the ocean. It’s a small waterfall, but unique.
Our next hike was at Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park. The park is best known as the only location along the west coast where a waterfall empties directly into the ocean. It is a beautiful site. At one time the property was privately owned. The foundation of the former residence is still visible. It would have had fabulous view of the waterfall from the master bedroom.
The stretch of Highway 1 from Cambria to Pacific Grove offers few opportunities for food or fuel. We stopped at Nepenthe for lunch. Nepenthe is a well known restaurant set out on a point high above the ocean. It was a cool, rainy day and our host at Nepenthe seated us next to a large, open fire pit. The smell of the wood smoke and the warmth of the fire was perfect. While we were dining wisps of clouds blew in around the restaurant and on into the hills. It was like dining in the heavens.
View up the coast from Nepenthe
Shortly after we left Nepenthe we came to a scenic turnout shrouded in fog. But off in the distance a bit of sun was apparently peeking through because we were greeted with a soft, fog rainbow. Instead of appearing in sharp bands the color bands in the fog rainbow were wide and soft. By the time I pulled my camera out, the rainbow had disappeared like the phantom bridge in Brigadoon. But, since I had my camera out, I took a quick picture of a gull. My brother, an avian aficionado, always complains that there aren’t enough birds in my pictures. So this bird is for you, Dave.
One can never have too many birds in one’s pictures. Right, Dave?