The drive up California’s legendary Highway 1 has been touted as “The Ultimate Road Trip” and it is certainly living up to its reputation. From Santa Barbara we traveled a short distance to Oceano which is just below San Luis Obispo. The campground where we stayed is located right on the sand dunes at Pismo Beach. These dunes, known as the Guadalupe-Nipomo Dunes complex, stretch for 18 miles and are a biologically diverse ecosystem that includes dune, scrub, wetland, riparian and aquatic habitats. It is the home to hundreds of species including the Western Snowy Plover which is endangered and was currently nesting in the park. While in this area we have done several exciting things, some of which are:

• Piedras Blancas Elephant Seal Rookery is the largest colony (more than 15,000 members) of elephant seals that come ashore at this locale to enact their entire lifecycle. The males or bulls can weigh more than 5000 pounds and have a large nose or proboscis resembling an elephant’s trunk, thus, their name. The entire lifecycle of mating, birthing and molting takes place on this beach and there are literally hundreds of animals at any given time. When not here at Piedras Blancas the males head to the Aleutian Islands in Alaska to put on weight in anticipation of the winter birthing and breeding season. The pups are born mid-December to early February and then the mating regime starts anew. This time of year the animals are “molting” where they are sloughing their dull tan or brown coats and will have silvery new coats. This molting process is like peeling a bad sunburn and is an annual process among all elephant seals. The newborns have been weaned and are learning to swim and the sub-adults males, like all teenage boys, are sparring and playing and challenging each other with their changing voices. It is a fantastic show to watch and we spent hours just enthralled by all the dynamics of this vast colony. There is a boardwalk built along the bluffs, just a couple yards above the beach, that stretches for several hundred feet and affords a fantastic opportunity to witness every aspect of these magnificent animals.
• Hearst Castle which is at San Simeon and is also known as La Cuesta Encantada (“The Enchanted Hill), was built by William Randolph Hearst, the newspaper magnet, from 1919 to 1947. Developed as his private retreat, this magnificent Mediterranean-style country house features 3 huge guest “cottages”, extensive gardens, two spectacular pools, lavish terraces and the main building (Casa Grande) which is comprised of 115 rooms. In its heyday the castle, which sits in solitary splendor atop a hilltop, in the midst of a 250,000 acre ranch that also included an exotic animal zoo, its own airport and a mile-long equestrian pergola, was a playground for Hearst and his guests, many of whom were Hollywood celebrities. What an unbelievable spectacle. The attached photos do not even begin to show its grandeur.
• Madonna Inn a lodging and dining extravaganza which for nearly 50 years has been one of California’s landmark attractions. Each of the 110 rooms has its own special theme, i.e. the Moonshine Still, the Caveman, the Golfer’s Paradise, etc. This place must be seen to be believed and to say that it’s “over-the-top” would be an understatement!
• Nitt Witt Ridge was a complete opposite from Hearst Castle and The Madonna Inn. This “interesting” example of folk-art architecture was home to a colorful character named Art Beal (aka "Captain Nitt Witt" or "Der Tinkerpaw") before he passed away in 1992. Nitt Witt Ridge has the appearance of a trash heap from afar, but up close it is an imaginative assemblage of sculpted junk - stone walls inlayed with bottles, rusty metal, busted TV sets, toilet bowls, wheel rims and any other imaginable piece of debris. Often called the Poor Man's Hearst Castle. Where Hearst may have been spending the family fortune right up the coast, Beal was trying to concurrently build the cheapest castle he could. Starting in 1928 and continuing for 51 years, he collected junk, trash, and recycled goods to use in his castle. A favorite material seems to be old Busch beer cans, which were always in supply. He also used washer drums, abalone shells, TV antennas, car rims, shells, tile, car parts, an old stove and about anything else people wanted to throw out. The property, which is officially listed on the National Register of Historic Landmarks, is now owned and being “maintained” by Michael O'Malley who appears to be equally eccentric as the original builder.
• Morro Rock, located at the mouth of Morro Bay, is a 581-foot-high volcanic plug (or morro) that is the nesting home and reserve for the Peregrine Falcon as well as numerous other shore birds.  We enjoyed hiking around the rock and viewing the birds and the "angry" surf.
• Moostone Bay, with its crashing waves, tidepools and driftwood-strewn sand, is also the home to Moonstones. These white or translucent stones are formed in the earth by the patient dripping of water through the ages. They are then swept downstream where they are tumbled and polished in the turbulent surf and produce a smooth stone that the ancient Greeks believed would arouse “the most tender of passions”. They also believed that they foretold the future and could guide a person in making decisions. We were fortunate enough to find a few Moonstones, so we shall see…
• We also visited Harmony, a lovely little haven of 18 people which was a pleasant contrast to Los Angeles with its 8 million people!
• Mission San Luis Obispo, another of the 21 Spanish missions in California, was founded in 1772 by Father Junipero Serra. It is unique in its design in that its combination of belfry and vestibule is found nowhere else among the California missions.

So, as you can see, we’ve had another very busy week; and this isn’t even half of it!

The link to see pictures of some of these wonderful sights is at

http://share.shutterfly.com/action/welcome?sid=0Sbs27hoxZMqe

Until next time from further up the coast and BIG SUR,
Take care and stay safe,
Pat & Judy