Time on the island
Sep. 9th, 2017 11:20![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
torquillThe vacation at Limekiln State Park was interesting. I wouldn't have missed it, though it wasn't quite what I was hoping for.
With a bridge out on one end and a massive slide on the other, I was able to cruise down highway 1 in the middle of the day at 30-35 mph, without a soul in sight. I may never have that opportunity again.
The cliffs were so steep that not only could I not get any cell signal even with a booster (no line of sight to any towers) but I was at least a hundred feet above the ocean in most places. I prefer to be closer to the shore, and I like more beaches.
The parks weren't crammed with people (though Limekiln itself was pretty busy), so I had the trails almost to myself -- well, those that were open. Half to two-thirds were closed, including all of the eastern trails at Julia Pfeiffer Burns. I got to see the famous waterfall beach, but that wasn't really worth the $10 parking fee.
The bypass trail between south Big Sur and north Big Sur was a fun experience. Twice as long on the way back up, though. I did get some good gossip from the ranger at Big Sur Station, including pictures of the bridge rebuild and the tidbit that the owner of the electric bike rental shop in the south suspected possible sabotage, as a bunch of the bikes came down with flat tires while passing one or more of the resorts.
I picked my interactions with people carefully, and had some fun ones. So I remember the gaggle of kids from UCSB at the campsite next to me, who I taught to build a fire, and the couple across from me who needed a little newspaper to restart theirs, on my first night; David and Jennifer from Missahsippy, who hiked the Limekiln trails with me on my second day; Tom from Albequerque, who needed a ride from Lucia to Big Sur because he was on a walking tour and had injured his toe; the trio from Ventura with unusual names, who camped just up the hill and were so delighted with my harp and baked apples, and one of whom kept putting a hand on my shoulder; the unnamed gentleman who was walking along the road like some stranded and suitless CPA, who needed a ride to the Esalen Institute for reasons I didn't inquire; the Hawaiian landscape photographer David Watersun, who chatted cheerfully with me for an hour or two as we enjoyed Julia Pfeiffer Burns together; and the gaggle from L.A. who camped across from me, included me in their hikes to the beach and the lime kilns, gave me cobbler and my first taste of Stickee Monkee imperial ale, and who played Scattergories to my idle harping.
I barely took the bike off the car, as even the trails which were open were in no shape for biking... but I went out there to clear my head, not for any specific activities, and I managed to do that.
I figured out that I like the beach because I, too, occupy the space between worlds. It gave me some perspective.
I think, on the whole, I prefer Mendocino, and I'll head north again next time... but as I said, I wouldn't have wanted to miss the opportunity to visit an island on the coast.
With a bridge out on one end and a massive slide on the other, I was able to cruise down highway 1 in the middle of the day at 30-35 mph, without a soul in sight. I may never have that opportunity again.
The cliffs were so steep that not only could I not get any cell signal even with a booster (no line of sight to any towers) but I was at least a hundred feet above the ocean in most places. I prefer to be closer to the shore, and I like more beaches.
The parks weren't crammed with people (though Limekiln itself was pretty busy), so I had the trails almost to myself -- well, those that were open. Half to two-thirds were closed, including all of the eastern trails at Julia Pfeiffer Burns. I got to see the famous waterfall beach, but that wasn't really worth the $10 parking fee.
The bypass trail between south Big Sur and north Big Sur was a fun experience. Twice as long on the way back up, though. I did get some good gossip from the ranger at Big Sur Station, including pictures of the bridge rebuild and the tidbit that the owner of the electric bike rental shop in the south suspected possible sabotage, as a bunch of the bikes came down with flat tires while passing one or more of the resorts.
I picked my interactions with people carefully, and had some fun ones. So I remember the gaggle of kids from UCSB at the campsite next to me, who I taught to build a fire, and the couple across from me who needed a little newspaper to restart theirs, on my first night; David and Jennifer from Missahsippy, who hiked the Limekiln trails with me on my second day; Tom from Albequerque, who needed a ride from Lucia to Big Sur because he was on a walking tour and had injured his toe; the trio from Ventura with unusual names, who camped just up the hill and were so delighted with my harp and baked apples, and one of whom kept putting a hand on my shoulder; the unnamed gentleman who was walking along the road like some stranded and suitless CPA, who needed a ride to the Esalen Institute for reasons I didn't inquire; the Hawaiian landscape photographer David Watersun, who chatted cheerfully with me for an hour or two as we enjoyed Julia Pfeiffer Burns together; and the gaggle from L.A. who camped across from me, included me in their hikes to the beach and the lime kilns, gave me cobbler and my first taste of Stickee Monkee imperial ale, and who played Scattergories to my idle harping.
I barely took the bike off the car, as even the trails which were open were in no shape for biking... but I went out there to clear my head, not for any specific activities, and I managed to do that.
I figured out that I like the beach because I, too, occupy the space between worlds. It gave me some perspective.
I think, on the whole, I prefer Mendocino, and I'll head north again next time... but as I said, I wouldn't have wanted to miss the opportunity to visit an island on the coast.
