“with my favorite ally” up the central California coast. Lyrics: Anythony Kiedis
We are taking a short 4 day road trip to check out some of the few places where Northern elephant seals mate, fight and give birth in the US, on the central California coast about a 7 hour drive from The Holler.
On the way we stopped for the night in Ojai at a Hacienda Hotel built in the 1920’s.
It is a Wallace Neff paradise for people who enjoy Hacienda architecture.
The Christmas ligths make for an especially lovely scene.
We are now in Cambria California, on the southern edge of Big Sur.
Today we are searching elephant seals.
Gray whales are also migrating and sea otter live here.
Cheers to you during our elephant seal expedition in California’s Big Sur~
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They are lovely pictures, Cindy.
You are a lovelier person Ranu! <3 <3
You had me at Sea Otter. If you can photograph one ( or more) that would be awesome,
Enjoy your trek 🙂
Today my attention was fully commandeered by the elephant seals! WOW! The otters are incredible though too but easiest to photograph at Monterey where they come very close to shore~
The views are nothing short of spectacular, Cindy, and you know, I really like Spanish architecture too. Did you ever fine any seals ??? 🙂
Oh about a thousand, fighting, controlling beaches, creating harems, adorable juveniles. We spent all day with them. Just SPECTACULAR creatures. Stay tuned~
I love the look of the hacienda, A reminder of peaceful times and the area is beautiful..! great captures 🙂
Yes I love the tranquil appeal of the hacienda too~
What a fun trip.
We are having a blast, but I ate too many chocolate chip cookies!! 😉 😉
Enjoying your beautiful photos. Have a safe trip!
Merci beaucoup!
Gorgeous! love that boardwalk 🙂
The tides are super low and the boardwalk leads you to them. Harbor seals, egrets, Great Blue Herons, tons of anenomes, gorgeous!
Wonderful photos Cindy 🙂
So happy you enjoyed & cheers to you!
What a lovely road trip. Thanks for sharing it with some of us who are freezing! 🙂
Your photos are fabulous!
Awwww so kind, stay warm and snuggle by the fire! My thoughts are with you~
Have fun. We used to take the kids to see the elephant seals…gotta start doing this with the grandkids now. That hotel in Ojai looks fantastic!
Oh yes! There are so many more now, it is remarkable. Total population here is the biggest I have ever seen it. Most are off shore, but I bet there were a thousand or so scatterd along the Big Sur area right now. INCREDIBLE!
Beautiful pictures <3
Muchas gracias mi amiga! <3
I’ve been on that boardwalk many times, usually staying right across the street on Moonstone Road. Beautiful country. This time of year, that whole area is enchanted. Have a great time!
Yes this is where I am now as I type! The White Water Inn. It is so lovely. We watched the sun set from the front porch~
We usually stay at the Fireside Inn and do lots of dining and window shopping in town.
i like your pictures. bravo.
So glad you do & thank you too!
oh to be with you on the trail…. beautiful beautiful countryside!!
Well I am glad you are along virtually. You make the trip better! <3
I am definitely enjoying your roads trips as they are giving me ideas for when I begin mine. Happy Monday.
I think you and your hubby would love a road trip throgh Big Sur, some of the prettiest scenes in Caly. Cheers to you and hope you go~ <3
Love those stairs with the tiles on the fronts! 🙂
One of my favorite features of Hacienda style! Glad you like it too~
Breathtaking! I love the mountain shot. 🙂
They were lovely because we just had some rain so they were greening up. Happy you enjoyed them too~
We live six kilometers from mountain ranges. Every morning I see them bathe with sunlight. Glorious. 🙂
Beautiful Cambria — your photos are exquisite, and how nice you didn’t have fog. I look forward to seeing the fascinating elephant seals! 😀
Oh my gosh! The Ellie exceeded my expectations. I have seen them here before, but they are spread all up the Big Sur Coast and are super active, fighting, sparring, moving in and out of the water. The mamas should be giving birth soon now….
Your view of the twisting road reminds me of the road from Granada to Salobrena, Spain and from San Juan to Barranquitas, PR.
Thanks for the photos (and the memories)
Roads trigger memories don’t they and I know you have a lifetime of awesome ones. Ever think of posting some pics of your years in Europe and your many visits to PR?
All my pics are on paper. I would have to take pics of my pics. I never owned a scanner. But now you have planted a seed in my mind. You’re just a little trouble maker aren’t you?
Take care,
Wally
I was beginning to think you were back in Europe seeing all those winding roads – never did I imagine California quite like that. Not sure why but it’s lovely to see otherwise. Best of luck with your elephant seal spotting – looking forward to your captures!:)
We saw hundreds of them today! Males fighting, adorable juveniles, pregnant mamas, a whole lotta action so please stay tuned to see these amazing creatures!
Can’t wait to see all those magnificent beasts!
Truly lovely to see as I freeze my derrière off, up here in Maine…..
Oh I am reading about the big chill with more to come, stay warm and safe!
Looks like a lovely hotel.
Old Hollywood used to go in the 30’s through the 50’s. It has that old time charm~
Great images, as always, Cindy. Haven’t seen the Big Sur for ages… Have a great trip. Looking forward to seeing more photos of the Big Sur. 🙂
It is a pretty remarkable area isn’t it. I try to get here every two years or so for my Big Sur fix!
Stunning! Now I want to go traveling!
Oh I hope you do and post the photos too!
Thanks for sharing Big Sur in photos!
Thank you more for the appreciation~
This is a lovely drive!! I love the California Coast Line 🙂
I do too, so spectacular!
YES, indeed 🙂
I hope you find them, and they find you.
Just don’t fall in, whatever you do.
😀
I found them!!!!!!!!!! WOO HOO! 5000 pound 15 foot males and petite 3500 pound 12 foot females!!! Hundreds and hundreds and the males were downright cranky & rude! Awesomeness!!!
Smile
That road looks as if it offers adventure! Good luck with finding the elephant seals and any other sea creatures.
Thank you for your luck, it is working!!!! <3
So many things to add to my Bucket List Cindy. I need another lifetime to get through it all. 😊
Beautiful scenery. Simply stunning.
Susan 💖
Nope, if I can do it, you can too! The world is our oyster!
I truly like that idea. 🙂
Thank you for this interesting invitation…! Beautiful!
I am so glad you are coming along, wait to you see the elephant seals WOW!
That is interesting trip to see the seals and it looks like you had wonderful scenery a long the way. I love the view of the edge of Big Sur..
Yes, Big Sur is a really unusual and special place. I keep going back and back…..
California is so beautiful! I love the colorful buildings there! Hugz Lisa and Bear
So glad you do too my friend and hugs to you & Bearchild~
Very pleasant trip, love the pictures 🙂
So happy you do!
Beautiful! I’d love to be there right now. 🙂
I wish you were, tomorrow we head further north in Big Sur to see more of the maginificent elephant seals. I’m am happy you are along virutally though. It makes the trip better~
I love that part of California… well, there are so many beautiful areas in our state, aren’t there? As a tile buff I enjoyed seeing the steps going up into the hotel.
Yes to both points the tiles on stairways and the beautiful parts of Caly!
So beautiful. Have a wonderful trip.
I am enjoying your book which I bought on Amazon! Excellent read~
Been on the road and done that trip a few times myself Cindy. I just never landed at the “Elephants”.
Happy and safe journeys my friend.
Xo Sheri
The elephant seals didn’t come back to these beaches until the mid-80’s after the marine mammal act had made an impact!
What a beautiful scenic and TY of taking me along through your photos.
It makes it so much more fun to have you along!
Beautiful scenery, Cindy. My first thought was “purple mountains majesty…” from ‘America the Beautiful’ with the purple ridges on the horizon. California is so rich in gorgeous landscapes. Hope you find your seals!
Found ’em by the hundreds! Spent all day with them all up the Big Sur coast~
Looking forward to seeing them in the next post! 😉
That’s the place to be, Cindy….(sigh – from the snow-covered grounds of Virginia).
I will not tell how the weather is, and I know how beautiful VA will be for Christmas~
Love the pics of the road through the mountains. Awesome … and gotta love that area along the Central Coast.
It is darn hard to beat beautywise anywhere I have been~
That is not just a road trip, that’s a road trippin! Amazing views. Good luck on your hunt for the elephant seals, whales and otters. When you see them, just shoot them! Cameras only of course my dear! 😀 Love your road trips!
Love that hacienda architecture — reminds me of living in Texas! I didn’t know we had elephant seals here — do an update, okay??
Next few posts you are going to see elephant seals of every age, shape and size being very active fighitng for territory, harems and getting ready for birth. Amazing sights~
Right now would really love to join you! Time out from the “rat race!”
I wish you come on down and join us, you would love the ellies and so would Wolfie!
Good luck on your expedition. I enjoy being reminded of my visit to California.
There was a little town near the sea where the trees were also wind bent.
Best to you and yours this month and Happy New Year!
Carmel I bet on the 17 Mile Drive?????
Nope – A little wind blown tourist town though…
I know I wrote about it – maybe not by name.
We had to walk down about two maybe three stories of sand path to get to the bottom where the beach was.
Looking up on the cliff this one tree looked like a bonsai but it was really quite full grown. Just wind bent. The town reminded me of a town here called Lititz, PA – though no beach. Full of touristy shops though.
Cool Hispanic architecture, cool trip…….. cool shots. Wanda 🙂
So happy you enjoyed & cheers to you~
Lovely, lovely, lovely, as always!
We live in a beautiful world as you know and prove so very well!
Oh, my goodness! The photos are very beautiful, especially the one with the woods and meandering road.
Gorgeous shot of the coast!
Meri beaucoup~
Thank you for sharing these fabulous pictures! 🙂
Thank you more for appreciating them!