“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~
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!
Sounds like a wonderful trip – such a beautiful part of the country! I hope we get to hear about it when it is over!
Absolutely stunning scenery Cindy. I knew you would be back on the road sooner rather than later. I look forward to seeing those big boys through your lens. Take care they can be aggressive. I’ve seen them on tv….
They open their mouth at you, show their teeth, burp in a very loud fishy smelling way, and then go back to sleep! 😉 They are sooooooo cool!
How close do you go to them?
Beautiful. Very envious. Looking forward to next post, Cindy.
I wish I could imitate the call of the enraged bull elephant seal! It was quite memorable!
Thanks for the memory from my trip to California. Monterey Bay and sea Otters in 1999. Glad they are still there.
I greater number then ever, at least they are a success story thanks to the efforts of Monterey Bay and The Marine Mammal Protection Act~
That’s good to hear.
A very beautiful place in the world! You really know how to have fun. I’m happy you shared this! _Resa xo
Cheers to you and thinking of you~
Another lovely trip with beautiful photos! Love the winding roads! 💗💜
There are so many undiscovered winding back roads in the foothills of Caly and my hubby loves to find them. So glad you enjoyed!
OOOOOO you got you a keeper there for sure! I really love a long drive like this! So much to see! 😀
I hope he reads your comment and it is very true! <3
This looks beautiful. Hopefully I’ll be able to make this trip myself one day 🙂
I do hope so and trust you will post when you do!
Honestly it will be a few years. But it’s on the list 🙂
The list is really the most important part, it gives you things to dream about~ <3
Love Cambria. Everyone should visit!
It has charm in spades, especially at Christmas time!
So lovely Cindy. Your pics make me wish I was there. 🙂
They do the same thing to me as soon as I leave! 😉 😉
You are blessed to have been able to go to such beautiful places. It’s always a pleasure to see what you have captured. 🙂
Happy you enjoy & cheers to you~
This is my favorite part of California. It’s so pretty, and your photos are incredible.
Yes, from the central coast up, Caly becomes wild and incredibly beautiful! So happy you feel as I do~
Beautiful images, Cindy 🙂
It would really be great to take a trip through those winding roads in the hills.
Thanks a lot for sharing 🙂
Your thoughtfulness is most appreciated. Thank you! I hope you do take a trip through this area and post about it. I would love to see it through your eyes~
Cindy, that road is so beautiful to be on. Thank you for the great images. Hugs! Veraiconica
Merci beaucoup mon ami~
Amazing!
Mil grazi!
What gorgeous photos!
Awww, so kind~
Cindy – How we would have loved to have had you and your traveling companions as our house guest when you explored the Central Coast of California. We were a stone’s throw [well, make that a couple of stones] away from where you were shooting. I’ve always called that area God’s country and still refer to it as home. Never has another place on earth touch my heart and soul the way the Central Coast did and continues to do so. Of the 12 countries I’ve had the privilege to live in and an additional 20 or so I’ve visited, the Central Coast still holds the top place in my heart.
I’ve been meaning to ask and keep forgetting, have you photographed The Blue Grotto yet?
Yes, I agree with all your sentiments. We were so close to moving to Cambria. Had a house selected. We were there for two nights on this trip and it was bitter-sweet as I am sure your memories are. It is so good to visit. I haven’t even visited the Blue Grotto. Can you believe it? I need too….so many places yet to explore! Hugs to you my dear one~ <3
I was heartbroken when we heard the Blue Grotto was destroyed in a terrible earth quake not long after we were there the last time – but everything seems to be operating normally. Your photography would be out of this world. Please, please – you must go. Well, maybe not must but it is one of the places I believe you would find truly awesome. I visited there many times before I met Tom because I was working not far from there [I didn’t want to leave when my assignment was finished]. I was always hoping the government would do something truly stupid so I could go back! I went back twice on my own and then Tom fell in love with the location and need I say more!
I trust your suggestion entirely, besides I’m already planning to go back, I am always planning to go back to Big Sur. Blue Grotto is #1 on my list. Merry Christmas to you and Tom! <3 <3
All work and no play makes for ignorance… I have grown out of touch with our own coastline – primarily because it has been all work. Learned a lot from this series, albeit working backwards! lol
Now, I am really comitted to try and get you to go on vacation. 😉 You seemed to like Canada? Big Sur cannot be rivaled and it is close? I want to see photos of your vacay! You rock my friend~
Klasse Fotos. LG. Wolfgang
Vielen danke Wolfgang! <3
Wow! What a breathtaking view! And I love the Hacienda Hotel architecture.
I am a big fan of hacienda architecture, especially the old stuff. I have an upcomming post on some real beauties. You are so appreciated my wonderful blogging friend~ <3 <3
Enchanted by the beauty of the scapes,loved the Christmas lights from above,look like a galaxy 🙂
I hadn’t thought of that so creatively, but you are right, it does look like a galaxy! Mil grazi~