California State Pacific Coast Highway Route 1

When Alok said we will take the Highway 1 from San Francisco to Los Angeles which would be a 9 hour scenic drive – I was already dreading the trip.  NINE HOURS of mountains and ocean is going to get boring, I thought – how much of this lengthy scenic drive can one take?!

There is a reason why Highway 1 is known to be one of the most scenic drives in United States. Breathtaking!

But now I say it is no wonder why this California State Route 1 (aka Highway 1) is in the list of most scenic drives in the world.  Although I must confess – because we missed a turn and went on a non-scenic, countryside-like, and a boring freeway with dry brown mountains on both sides for two hours, coming back to the scenic route with coastal mountains and beautiful blue waters was a thrill again.

We had started from home at 6:30 in the morning.  Some wise guy once said "leave sooner, drive slower, live longer."  And finally by 10 AM, the Highway 1 experience began.

Highway 1 (California State Route 1) is a major north-south state highway that runs along most of the Pacific coastline of the U.S. state of California. The highway is famous for running along some of the most beautiful coastlines in the USA...providing a scenic route to numerous attractions along the coast. In addition to connecting the coastal cities and communities along its path, Highway 1 also provides access to numerous beaches, parks, and other attractions along the coast, making it a popular route for tourists. [wiki]

We halted at several vista points to admire the splendid view of these windy coastal highways overlooking the vast blue ocean.  The 11 AM sun rays hitting the water and reflecting, leaving a layer of silver glitter over the water... ah, words fail to really describe the beauty.

Bixby Creek Bridge is one of the tallest single-span concrete bridges in the world and one of the most photographed bridges along the Pacific Coast due to its aesthetic open-spandrel arch design and location. [wiki]

We spotted some four things floating far away in the Pacific Ocean.  What were those - some speed boats? ducks? dead bodies?!  After zooming in further with the camera lens, we saw those were four adventurous people waiting for the waves and surfing away.  Looking at them, Alok rightly said: man, it's so good here [in America] people are passionate about doing things; not like us sitting at home all the time.

We halted at another vista point to see thousands of elephant seals along the shoreline. Seeing them relax on the sand under the sun, sleeping peacefully and flipping sand over themselves, Alok said: "aisi life honi chahiye yaar" (this is how life should be!) - carefree, lazed and relaxed! LIKE A BOSS.

The poor guys have no limbs, so they crawl on their stomach. Because that requires energy, they have to take a break after every few steps. If other seals come in their way, they just have to drag their heavy bodies and crawl over them.

You must go on a drive on this California State Highway One, at least drive until Big Sur if not all the way 9 hours from San Francisco to Los Angeles.  The views, the nature, the beauty – this scenic drive on Pacific Coast Highway is refreshing and completely worth it.  

"Nature is man's teacher. She unfolds her treasures to his search, unseals his eye, illumes his mind, and purifies his heart; an influence breathes from all the sights and sounds of her existence."
– Alfred Billings Street
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