The Scenic Route

The good news is we were able to swing out to the coast and take Highway 1 most of the way home; the bad news is we happened to catch it on a foggy day, with the fog getting thicker as the day went on.  Still, what we saw was pretty breathtaking even under less-than-ideal conditions.

When we first hit the coast, at Monterey, the day and the view both looked perfect.

 
A little further down the road, the first picture was taken looking south and deeper into the fog, the second picture is looking back toward the north at the vanishing blue.

The fog was its own brand of scenic, almost eerie.
 Because you are following the coastline in and out of these little promontories, we occasionally get a clear view.  We even managed to get a half-shot of the Bixby Bridge here!

                       
In and out of the fog.

Yep, still pretty spectacular.

                          
You can see how the road hugs the coast.

Everyone appreciates the view.

  
A little further down the road, as we’re approaching San Simeon, we start to notice lots of unusual wildlife: elk on the inland side of the road . . .

elephant seals on the ocean side.

          
Apparently this particular stretch of beach is a popular place for them to hang out, breed, birth, etc.

Last but perhaps oddest of all, right before we pull into our campsite, we look up the hill and see this!

Tomorrow: Hearst Castle!