The females are smaller and look more like typical seals. They loll around on the beach barking and playing with each other. This is the time of year that they give birth so that is why they come up onto the beach. I couldn't get over how big the males were. Most of this coast is gorgeous, but my favorite was in the hilly section before and after Big Sur .
Hills just shoot up from the Pacific and there are some stunning views.
I biked hard and long one day to Big Sur . Rain beat me to the campsite, though, and I got pretty soaked. But the scenery was too beautiful to be upset. I did end up taking a day off the next day and was tent-bound for most of it as rain poured. The rough and wild feeling of Big Sur is the greatest, but I was glad to see some civilization in Monterey .