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California Pacific Coast 31. 12. 2016 - 4. 1. 2017

At Cholame after crossing the rainy Central Valley and Coastal Range.

Nicer weather on the other side of San Andreas Fault Line.

Approaching the coast on Highway 101.

Morro Bay and Morro Rock.

The last sunset in 2016.

A secret camping spot in Montana de Oro State Park not too far from the coast.

Sunrise colours.

Cliffy coast of the "Mountain of Gold".

Sandstone cliffs.

Hiking trail in Coon Creek.

Plenty of lichens.

Trees are growing mostly in the valley.

America the beautiful No. 1

Sand Dunes Bluff on the other side of Spooner's Cove.

More sand dunes.

Hottentot-fig (Carpobrotus edulis) likes the dune sand.

Dune Poppy (Eschscholzia maritima) as well.

Turkey Vulture.

California is a homeland of surfing.

Eucalyptus tree forest in the park.

Tho Morro Rock ... is a volcanic plug.

Panorama of the Morro Bay with the rock and the spit.

The town with an iconic and pleasantly looking smokestacks of Morro Bay Mutual Water.

Hello my friends.

Pismo jazz was for Hillary.

Moonstone Beach ... because moonstones were gathered here in the past.

This is not an office!

Western Sanderlings waiting for waves.

And synchronously picking up what waves bring.

Long-billed Curlew

Interesting sandstone formations.

And this time more micro-scale tafoni.

Close to San Simeon in the evening.

Pier in San Simeon.

Hearst Castle is a main tourist attraction. I didn't go there.

Piedras blancas Beach is a breeding place for elephant seals.

A fresh offspring.

Bloody seagulls are eating placenta.

Alpha males are guarding their harems.

Scratched from many fights.

A younger challenger with much fewer scratches.

Another one waiting for his opportunity.

Females have much easier life.

Piedras Blancas lighthouse.

Still relatively flat and low coast.

Cabrillo Highway

At Ragged Pont the Big Sur with high cliff coasts begins. Aloe arborescens plant is not native to California and originates from South Africa.

Abundant forest vegetation in Salmon Creek.

Salmon Creek waterfall.

There is a small settlement here and there as for example Gorda.

A place that became my camping spot in the evening on that day.

Drizzle, cliffs and ... california ground squirrel.

Sand Dollar Beach and Plaskett Rocks.

Time for a lunch despite lousy weather.

Washed-up kelps, which are here so abundant that form form underwater forests .

Serpentinite with weathered jadeite? minerals.

Camaldoli Hermitage is a monk community high up in the hills of Big Sur. They offer rooms for desolation.

America the beautiful No. 2.

Mc Way Cove and Saddle Rock.

Remnants of Waterfall House, which was a part of Saddle Rock Ranch. The Ranch was established by a wealthy family that was attracted to this rugged but nice place.

A hidden camping site on the other side of the waterfall.

Forest in McWay Creek Valley.

Another waterfall.

Pfeiffer Beach begins with a warning.

Red and white sand.

Purple-coloured sand comes from purple-coloured sandstone.

What are they taking photo of?

America the beautiful No. 3.

America the beautiful No. 4.

America the beautiful No. 5.

Point Sur island and tombolo.

America the beautiful No. 6.

More coast along Cabrillo Highway.

Garrapata Beach ...

.. is, fortunatelly, a public property.

Point Lobos State Reserve close to Monterney

Wind-shaped canopies.

Pinnacle Cove was closed due to strong winds.

Winds were on exposed sites reaching 100 km/h.

Cozy hostel in Santa Cruz after a heavy rainfall next morning.

Several renovated historic 1870's Carmelita Cottages.

Fog at Bonny Doon Beach.

Artificial tunnel?

Pigeon Point Lighthouse has also been turned into a youth hostel.

Birdie with a natural wig.

The 19-day journey came to an end back in San Francisco. Four national parks, the highest, the lowest, the hottest point, flat tire and 4500 km distance.