Route 1 - California coast

Friday 18th September 2009....


A sad early morning as we pack up and leave the beautiful apartment that we've had the pleasure to stay in during our four days at Ghirardelli Square and head off on the final two legs of our journey..but first we fulfill a lifetime dream for Jim by driving over the Golden Gate Bridge...we stop off at a view point across the bay for a final photo shoot of San Fran and then drive back across the bridge and take the slip road for California Highway 1..this is the coast road and what a magnificent coast it is!!...lots of crashing waves, surfers and fabulous vista points to stop and take pictures...

Jim had the bright idea of hiring a soft top Ford Mustang and ride down the Big Sur with Beach Boys music playing loud, but it looks like everyone else has the same idea, every other car is a soft top Mustang, well I counted 9 then gave up. So we are glad that we kept faith with the Dodge.

Most of the day continues like this...until around 3.30 when we reach The Big Sur and close in on our overnight destination Ragged Point...just a few miles before that however is a famous eatery called "Nepenthe", around for 60 years and famous for it's stunning cliff drop view (800 feet), the "Ambrosia Burger" and an hangout for ageing hippies!!..it doesn't disappoint...that hippy vibe is still there, the burgers are stupendous and the view even more so. Nepenthe means 'medicine for sorrow' in Greek mythology (Ne..not, penthos..sorrow) the view certainly would be a salve for ones grief..food is consumed, souvenirs are bought and it's on for the last 20 miles or so to the Ragged Point Inn, Ragged Point, which again is famous for it's views...

They're right..the views and sunset are magnificent...the hotel is more a "motel"..clean, fairly comfortable, but a little overpriced for what it is...however we are all tired out and appreciate the bed, the TV and an early night...it's been a long tiring day and Arnie in True Lies sends us off ready for a good sleep...