There was no fog and the tide was in with large waves. We took the Palo Colorado Road, a side road off the main highway, where there are many older cabins that stand amongst a forested area that is one mile away from the ocean. This area attracts artists and authors that are looking for an alternative life style. Henry Miller spent part of his life down here and wrote about this place in some of his works. He mentioned how it is hard for many people to make permanent residents here as they use it to re-evaluate their lives and then proceed to new dreams.
Many people do live full time here but have to be pretty independant and self-employed.
There was a couple in the restaurant talking about how it would be nice to wake up to warm fresh bread from a breadmachine in the morning, but could'nt do it because she would have to run her generator all night. There are also many acres of farm land over the hills that look over the pacific ocean that has a quiet stillness to life. We stopped at the Big Sur Ripplewood Resort for breakfast. They also have quiet little cabins along the Big Sur River that we have stayed in before. It was around noon when we left Big Sur and would then stop at the Piedras Blancas Beach where there were some Northern Elephant Seals that were beached in the sun.