Day 5 - Big Sur, Julia Pfeiffer & Andrew Molera

Amy is trying to kill me. Really she is. She looks so sweet and innocent but don’t let that fool you. The day started off as it usually does with a hearty breakfast and we hit the road heading south to Big Sur. Our first stop was at Big Sur Park where we hiked UP A MOUNTAIN! The view was beautiful once we reached the top. Then we had to hike down the mountain to find a waterfall. The only issue with hiking down a trail is that you will have to hike back up it. A few hours later we are back in the car heading south again. On our way to Julia Pfeiffer State Park we stopped near a lookout where several cars were parked. It turned out to be some sort of trail that went to the ocean. It was breathtaking. One trail took you through a tunnel to a hidden cove. The other trail took you to a beach where there was quite the wave action.
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Don't know how I didn't get wet taking this picture

Amy in the surf

The hike down was easy enough, the hike back to the car was so much fun. I finally make it and we are off again this time to Julia Pfeiffer State Park. This is an easy park, easy trails, gorgeous waterfall and views of the ocean. We hiked and had lunch. This time instead of a seagull begging food this time we had blue jays surrounding us. They were quite bold, jumping on our table to take food.

Worth the drive & hike

Lunch break over we head back north and our next stop – Andrew Molera State Park. The first hike is fine, it takes us to the beach where we watch the surfers and take a hundred pictures of the waves hoping one will turn out.

Surfers at Andrew Molera

The next hike is where the adventure begins. Should we take the easy trail back to the car or try the bluff trail. We pick the bluff trail. Not bad once you climb up to the trail. It follows the bluff and has wonderful views of the ocean and beach. Where I made my mistake is when we came to a trail with a significant climb and Amy says“should we take it?” I say “why not”. OMG – the trail climbed and climbed and the grade was significant. Finally it ended and at the end it was a crappy view. We turned around and then had to walk down the trail. A few slips but no falls and we finally make it back to an easier trail which takes another hour to get us to the parking lot.

Back in the car we head home into the mist. It was cloudy when we started out this morning, sun came out at Big Sur and stayed out all day until we left Molera heading back to the cabin. About two miles south of the cabin the highway is down to one lane where part of the road fell into the ocean. I’m sure that was a fluke and the rest of the highway is fine :/ As we approach our road we find most of it blocked by emergency personnel – a huge tree or trees have fallen on the highway. It was right in front of the llamas – I hope they are alright.

Finally back at the cabin, I look through my pictures and it is just as I thought – the pictures of the high surf and waves did not turn out. The ocean was silver, the waves were blue, the wind blew back the top of the waves to form a lovely mist and of course none of this appears in my pictures. I really have to read the manual when I get a chance. Tomorrow Amy says we can hike anywhere that I want to. How positively Machavellian of her. She knows I am incredibly stubborn and will ignore all my aching joints and pick some ridiculously difficult hike. Well, if I do collapse and die on a trail, it is a beautiful place to die.