CALIFORNIA COAST JANUARY 2017 - 6

SUNDAY, 8 January

Today was the worst for weather - strong blustery winds, and rain. Due to the weather we enjoyed breakfast at our lodging. Then we started a drive South through 17 Mile Drive to see and photograph the iconic Lone Cypress Tree. I almost needed to add bricks to my pockets as the wind was blowing at about 28 mph while were trying to photograph.

BRACED FOR THE WIND

 Luckily we could stand in a protected area. 
 

LONE CYPRESS 1

LONE CYPRESS 2

STORMY SEAS

ROUGH SEAS

We continued the drive past Pebble Beach Club House and Golf Course 
 

PEBBLE BEACH LODGE

and exited near Carmel. We did not visit Carmel, but continued South to the Pfeiffer Big Sur area and a view of McWay Falls. 
 

McWAY FALLS

This Falls is 80 feet in height and falls directly on to the Beach. The flow of the falls on this day was most impressive. We estimate the wind here was maxing out at about 40 mph!!

We continued our drive South and turned around at Lucia, a small hamlet to the South. After turning around for our trip back to Monterey we stopped at Nepenthe for a light lunch and a warming drink. The Nepenthe has been there since the mid-60’s and is known for its deliciously prepared meals, and its fantastic view of the Big Sur Coast on a clear day. My family visited it often while living in Monterey. Regrettably there was no view today due to the weather. We all enjoyed the nice fire in the fireplace while having a bowl of chowder, and hot tea, coffee, or chocolate. During the drive North we noticed a couple of small mud slides which the highway maintenance crews were busy clearing.

Along the drive we saw and photographed some natural tree sculptures -

GNARLY TREE - What do you see?

LONE SCRAG

TREE ART

Back in Monterey we relaxed a bit before going out to a nearby Chinese restaurant for our last repast together. It was a great feed, and fun to be sitting as a group around a round table.