San Simeon Point Trail - California Central Coast

In addition to Moonstone Beach and Cambria (my last post), there are many more amazing things to see and experience along Hwy 1 (pacific coast highway). One of those things is the San Simeon Point Trail. Despite being right across the highway from the visitor center for the William Randolph Hearst Castle, this great trail is rarely visited. 

 The trail, pier, and what is left of the little town of San Simeon, is now part of W.R. Hearst SP.

Taken from the trail, this photo shows the little state park. Hearst Castle can also be seen in the upper left hand corner. If you are ever in this area, you MUST see the castle. 

From the parking lot, you turn right at the base of the wharf. 

 At this point, the trail leaves the beach

 obligatory b&w

Sometimes the trail gets a bit close to the cliff edge

and sometimes the trail erodes down the cliff

 at the point

 around the point

Initially, I couldn't see the steer on the right, and for a very tense second or two, I totally thought the one on the left was a bear! 

• About four miles north on hwy 1, is the Piedras Blancas Elephant Seal Rookery. Older posts here.
• About one mile further on hwy 1, is Piedras Blancas Light House.
• Hearst Castle is right across the road (hwy 1). I will post something on this place soon.
• About 7 miles south on hwy 1, is Moonstone Beach/Cambria (from my last post).
• Morro Bay/Morro Rock is about 30 miles south on hwy 1) also a must see. Old post here.
• The 150 mile coastline from here to Monterey is gorgeous. Further, the 25.-30 mile stretch in the Big Sur area, is quite possibly the most beautiful and rugged coastline in the country (if not the world). At this moment hwy 1 is closed in the Big Sur area due to a major landslide.

.

Morro Bay Quick Visit

As this is our third trip through Morro Bay in the last year, this will be a short one with just a few photos.  I think one more post on that trip will just about cover it.  Before we're done with out current two week trip, I should have a few good photos from it as well.  It's not really much of a trip, because we only  drove a hundred miles to get here and we're pretty much hanging around the camp ground. Still lots to see though...

.

Weekend Reflections - Morro Bay

Weekend Reflections by other photographers at Newtown Area Photo.

.

Good Night From Moro Bay

Early evening from the pleasure craft end of the bay

This one was taken a few minutes after the previous one. We sped over to the rock and I took this one. It's the lower right corner of Morro Rock.

Looking across the bay at town

I have more photos of the trip, but I think I've posted enough.  Thanks for looking and commenting!

.

Other Sights From Our Road Trip - Day 3

Fresh from a nice cool dip (or bathroom break)

Sound asleep. New fur is growing in fast.

Watch your step, the next one goes straight down!

Light house

A lot of work for advertisements and bills

Tomorrow, last photos from our latest road trip.

.

Other Sights From Our Road Trip - Day 2

This farm is in a little valley, on an alternate route to the coast.

I think I could live here and grow flowers (for seed) for a living.

The old library in San Luis Obispo

A little trout stream running through downtown San Luis Obispo

A lot of bird droppings

Bird rock

I'd like to be down there in a kayak.

I almost got a sea otter floating on his back right under this guy, but of course he went under before I could snap it.

For those cold central coast nights

Tomorrow's post will be "Other Sights From Our Road Trip - Day 3"

.

Other Sights From Our Road Trip Day 1

I know it's a bit busy, but this is my favorite pic of the trip

I'm pretty sure this is a valuable cabin cruiser even if it is neglected.

The working end of the boat harbor

I don't know what kind of bird it is, but he is trying to find a way to get into this bait tank

Somebody told me not to let looks fool me, this is one of the busiest fishing boats in the harbor

A look from the  foot of the rock to the town of Morro Bay

A friendly blue jay in an apple tree, at the little house we stayed in at Morro Bay

Jonathan Livingston Seagull, I presume...

Tomorrow I'll be posting "Other Sights From our Road Trip  Day 2"

.

Moonstone Beach Day 3

Between San Simeon and Morro Bay, is a town called Cambria. It's an awesome little artist colony with great restaurants and shops. We avoided the little downtown area and went to their beach. It's called Moonstone.  Moonstone Beach is at the bottom of a pine forest that leads to a rugged shoreline. There are several small motels across the street from the ocean. It's a stunning place...

Okay, enough of the stunning shoreline, let's get to the things I like.

I saw a 1953 Chevrolet rally car.  The wording on the car said "Carrera Panamericana." Google told me that it's a 2000 mile road race in Mexico. I have no idea what the car was doing here, but it was kinda cool.

I saw a very odd looking man body boarding (enlarge please)

I'm sure many of us have done some body boarding at some time in our lives. I've done it and I've seen a lot of other people do it, but I've never seen a TROLL do it.  You've must enlarge these two photos to check this guy out.  I don't mean to be mean...but wow!

We just left Moonstone and are about to turn right onto Pacific Coast Highway. What pulls up next to us but a 1919 Harley Davidson! The really odd thing is that my bro-in-law Don (smile Don) had a T-shirt on the day before, with a silkscreen of that exact year Harley on the back of it! Don is a motorcycle guy.   Then i saw the string of hot rods pulling up to the light in the background and I was really happy. (more for the hot rods than the bike)

Look at the Harley's headlight

We turned right onto PCH and in about 20 minutes we could see Morro Rock.  Our last night in town was spent going out to dinner and then finishing off our alcohol.  It was a great trip.  Once again I'm reminded that I enjoy small road trips every bit as much as organized and long distance vacations.   

I'm also reminded of how fortunate I am to live directly on one of the most beautiful coastlines in the world.  I thank my lucky stars for that... 

.