2025 Van Tour of the United States - Big Sur California

Beth and Mike are Nomads Again!   

 

In the words of the immortal Willie Nelson,

"On the road again
Goin' places that I've never been
Seein' things that I may never see again

And I can't wait to get on the road again"

Instead of our boat, Amy Marie, we are travelling the country in a Winnebago Travato Van named "Boomer".  Size wise, it really is very similar to our Ranger Tug R-27.  It sleeps two, has a refrigerator and freezer, a toilet and shower, a range and microwave, a TV, and a 10-Kilowatt Lithium Battery Pack that will provide power for 3 days while we are boondocking!  We love it!

Boomer loaded with Bikes and ready for Adventure!

Prior to starting our cross- country odyssey, we tuned up with 2 short shake down cruises to familiarize ourselves with the vans systems and their operation.  We were satisfied that it would be a good platform for terrestrial exploration, so we have initiated an open-ended drive to the east coast and back.  As always, Beth is the planner/navigator, and I carry the credit card and continue my quest to located and sample the best American Bakeries. 

We biked to the nearby Big Sur Lodge to use their free WiFi

Our first overnight stop was at Pfeiffer Big Sur State Park, located about 4 hours south of our home.  The drive took us through the San Francisco Bay Area, so we experienced urban driving at it’s finest.  Once south of Gilroy, the terrain opened, and at Monterey Bay we caught scenic Highway 1 down the coast to our destination.

Beth found a book she liked in the gift shop

Being optimistic, we arrived at the campground without reservations, secure in our thinking that we could snag a campsite cancellation.  After our year long Great Loop Trip, our tolerance for uncertainty is a bit higher.  Sure enough, we snagged a campsite for two nights!  You just have to have faith.  The back up plan was to ask for an “on-route spot”.  Select campgrounds, Pfeiffer Big Sur is one,  allow self-contained vehicles to park in Day Use parking areas.  This is available between the hours of 5pm and 9am.  If you arrive after the entry Kiosk is closed, you can self-register.  We did not need to invoke this option.

Bixby Bridge on the Way to Big Sur

Our arrival day was sunny and wind free.  Highway 1 follows the coast, in the narrow area between the sea and the coastal range which rises abruptly to over heights in excess of 2000 feet.  This time of year, the hills are a verdant emerald green as the grasses and other vegetation have come spectacularly alive as a result of ample winter rains.  This only lasts until the heat of summer and absence of rain turn the hills dry and golden brown creating a very dangerous time of year due to fire danger.  

Nature’s pallet consists of the blues of sea and sky, the green of the hills, the gold of California Poppies, and the white of clouds and the surf breaking on the rugged coastline. The air is heavy with the moisture of the sea as the waves end their long journey across the Pacific Ocean by battering the rocky shoreline of North America’s west coast.

The view from the outside patio at Nepenthe Restaurant near Big Sur

No trip to big Sur would be complete without a visit to one of the area's many fine restaurants.  We selected Nepenthe which sits almost 900 feet above the blue waters of the Pacific Ocean and offers spectacular views up and down the coast.  We scanned for whales as this is the time of year they migrate back to their summer feeding grounds in the Pacific Northwest.  Lunch was prepared with all locally sourced ingredients.  It was good, but not spectacular.  The view is the big attraction.  Arrive as close as possible to their 11:30 lunch opening to get a good seat.  There is also a cafe on site which offers the same view with a less expensive menu.

One of the treats was watching how fast the weather changed.  Between the time we were seated and when we left, the fog started to form, first in patches, and then merged and crawled up the hill slowly consuming the view until it reached our level, to continue its climb up the ridge to our east.  Poof, the view disappeared and was replace with white cotton candy.

Apple Pie a la Mode for Dessert - With the newly arrived Fog in the background

Eight miles south of Big Sur the road remains closed due to the landslides that occurred in January 2023.  The highway department is hopeful repairs can be completed by the end of 2025.  This is important to know if you plan to continue south on Highway 1 below Big Sur.  There is a detour through the Salinas Valley which we will be taking as we intend to visit San Simeon next.