Our breakfast at the Hotel was expected to be American, quite hectic and crowded. But we are used to that and it didn't bother us. It just made us get on the road faster. :) So off we went, continuing along the dream roadHighway No. 1 in the direction of our first destination for the day: Garrapata State Park. The weather seemed to be kind to us today, because the sun was shining. You can find yesterday's post, where we drove Highway No. 1 from San Francisco to Marinahere.
Garrapata State Park – Highway No. 1
Arriving at the state park, a stiff breeze blew around our noses, despite the sunshine. We walked along the small path and then down the wooden stairs to the beach. The waves broke loudly on the rocks standing in the water. Between the wave phases, Christian ran off and stood on the next rock. The surf poured around him, it looked really super spectacular! On the way back to the car, of course, there was a geocache on the side of the road.
Bixby Bridge – Highway No. 1
Afterwards we went on to the Bixby Bridge. Here the same fate as the day before caught up with us, because the clouds are very stubbornly stuck to the coast here. One moment bright sunshine and already everything is in the fog. Nevertheless, there was a good view of the 86 m high and thus highest single arch bridge in the world.
What we found really remarkable on our way were the places where some people build their houses. Some of them were steep slopes still below the highway. Sometimes we didn't even know how to get there, because there was no road off Highway No. 1?!
Pfeiffer Big Sure State Park – Highway No. 1
We drove into the Pfeiffer Big Sure State Park. That's when the natural need came to me and luckily there are always some ranger stations in the state parks with toilets, so I drove quickly. But in front of it stood a cleaning man and said to me that I couldn't get on it now, only in 2 hours again. I thought I was going to burst and really!! Then he started laughing and said it was just a joke. I can walk and he starts cleaning afterwards. Everything fell out of my face, especially the relief. :D Such a joker!!! But I also had to laugh like that myself.
Pfeiffer Beach
Then we went on to the Pfeiffer Beach. Here you have to drive down a narrow road into the valley to the ocean. What we didn't expect is an entrance fee of 10 USD. I hadn't read that anywhere before, so here's the hint: 10 USD admission! So we gave our last cash into the hands of the nice ranger and parked our car. We changed quickly, because it was warm and the sun was shining, maybe we could jump quickly into the water.
We walked the short way to the beach and a beautiful little bay opened up with a river that flowed into the sea and large rocks standing in the surf. The sand was so insanely soft under our feet, so we immediately spread out our towel and lay down in the sun for a while. That was a good thing, because exactly off the coast the fog hung again, which also slowly moved over the bay.
As the sun slowly disappeared, we went on an exploration tour along the beach. The water we had to realize was much too cold for bathing! The rocks, which stood half in the water, half on the beach, were beautifully perforated by the surf and gave a great photo opportunity off! After about an hour we set off again, because we still had a lot to do today. So we went back up the narrow road by car, to the highway, where the sun unexpectedly shone again.
McWay Falls – Highway No. 1
Along the beautiful route we went to the McWay Falls. Here you are still in the Julia Pfeiffer Burns Sate Park. This place is the most idyllic we have seen so far. The McWay waterfall is almost 25 m high and falls into an almost Caribbean-looking bay. You can't enter it, at least there is no official path leading down. But a small hiking trail, up along the cliffs, offers a beautiful view of the waterfall. The display boards explain that there was a house at the place where the viewing platform is now. With a direct view of McWay Falls. The foundation walls can also still be guessed. It also explains how a landslide on the highway has changed the water level, especially in the bay.
Elephant Seal View Point – Highway No. 1
The journey continued past steep cliffs and partly through small valleys a bit inland. Unfortunately, the fog had us firmly in its grip, but this did not let go of the beauty of nature.
Directly on the road is the Elephant Seal View Point, which was our next stop. Once there, the sun was shining again and hundreds of elephant seals were waiting for us. Some lay lazily on the beach, others fought turf wars. It was a spectacle, almost as if rehearsed for the tourists. You could watch them for hours as they shovel sand on their backs and sometimes crawl forward to the water. You forget that these animals weigh tons.
Morro Bay & Morro Bay State Park – Highway No. 1
Afterwards we drove to today's final destination of the day: Morro Bay. Here the Morro Bay State Park is waiting for us. The small port town and the bay got their name from the Volcanic cone, which rises 176 m from the Pacific Ocean at the harbor. Morro Rock is a nature reserve and populated with many species of birds. We actually wanted to go for a walk here, but the fog, which was getting stronger again, did not invite us to linger. So we drove out of Morro Bay again to do a little round on the Bluff Trail in Montaña de Oro State Park.
Bluff Trail in Montaña de Oro State Park
Actually, I had planned to enjoy the sunset here, but to say it again: the fog! (I know I'm repeating myself) We still ran a lap and got another cache. I really liked the fact that you could go down a staircase on the cliffs and then walk onto the flat rocks, which were still filled with seawater in the grooves. Anemones and small hermit crabs lived here and were wonderful to observe. I felt like a little child and couldn't get out of my amazement. It was simply fascinating. In Montaña de Oro State Park there are many beautiful trails, for all levels and a campsite.
Are you still looking for a suitable hotel in Morro Bay?
You can find a hotel that suits your budget through the various online travel agencies such as Agoda,Booking.com,ebookers.de,Expedia,Hotels.com,lastminute.de, otel.com or Venere.com.
After this nice round we drove to our hotel. That Days Inn Morro Bay has apparently only been renovated, because the rooms look very new, but the hotel itself does not. Our room is quite big and everything is super clean. We are looking forward to breakfast tomorrow, which is supposed to take place in the small reception.
The next day we continued along Highway No. 1 from Morro Bay to Simi Valley. You can find the articlehere.
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