Big Sur Ride

Route 1, the Pacific Coast Highway, which winds along the ocean rim from Carmel in the north through Big Sur and on to Cambria in the south, is not a fast road. But it doesn't need to be. It is a road that urges you to take your time. There are few things as beautiful as the edge of the Pacific Ocean, and there are numerous pullouts and scenic viewpoints where you can stop and take it all in.

The map above is courtesy of and copyright by DeLorme. For more information about DeLorme, see http://www.delorme.com/ .


Danny Underwood rides south toward a long curve on Route 1.

The stretch of Route 1 between Carmel and Cambria is roughly one hundred miles long, and estimates on popular mapping systems estimate a travel time of on hour and twenty minutes, but those are unrealistic estimates. I'm sure it could be done, but I'm also sure that it wouldn't be safe.

A typical ride will take you three to five hours, depending on how many times you stop and for how long.

A rocky shore. I wouldn't want to beach a schooner here.

Some rocks are bigger than others. This one supports several buildings, including a lighthouse.

North of Cambria, Elephant Seals take their leisure, sunbathing on an arc of warm sand. Signs on the highway point out the pullout with plentiful parking above the beach where the seals frequently rest. A great deal of vehicular traffic is diverted into the parking lot.

For more information on Elephant Seals, see http://www.elephantseal.org/ .

The photo below is a crop of the one above - a closer view of the seals.

A woman watches the seals and the endless ocean.