We camped at New Brighton State Beach from March 21 thru 26th. We got in our bike rides and walks on the beach. The background to the beach picture is Seacliff State Beach, where you can park your RV right next to the beach. We explored both Captola and Santa Cruz. We went to a movie and shopped in SC. Capitola is ritzy-quaint. I worked for Pearson for two full days in the Scott's Valley to Watsonville area and also in Salinas, Carmel and Monterey. 
This is an old state park so the campsites are isolated from each other. We were in among the Eucalyptus trees. The nights were cool but the days were quite warm.
On Friday the 26th we rolled out of New Brighton and headed south. Our drive was about 75 miles, so we had plenty of time to stop along Highway One to take in the view. This is a tough drive to beat for drop dead gorgeous scenery or winding roads with shear drop-offs.
How did we miss Pfieffer Big Sur all of these years?? The place is spectacular - nestled among the coastal Redwood trees. Our camp was next to one of the many creeks that feed the Big Sur River. We settled in and then looked more closely. We were camped in the middle of a Poison Oak forest!
This is the view from the back of our trailer site. The entire meadow was encircled by P.O. I was standing there admiring the shiny, oily leaves when a fellow camper - in shorts - went charging into the brush to retrieve a Frisbee. I ran over to warn him - turned out he was from England and had no idea about the itch, the festering, running sores or the way it just hangs on and won't go away. (Did I overdo it with my warning?) I told him to scrub in the shower and bag up his clothes.
Susie, Tyler and Caleb arrived later that night just in time for dinner. Next morning we explored the camp and then took off for Andrew Molera State Park just up the coast a few miles.
Reaching the beach included a cold walk across the rocks of a little river. Susie is just entering the deeper water near the beach. Mom and I didn't have water shoes but do have tender old feet so we complained but no one else seemed to mind the ford.
Once we were on the beach we had our own little cove to play in.
The boys explored the rocky beach and watched the surfers at fairly close range. 
There were only two or three surfers out at a time all afternoon.
Besides the blue Pacific in front of us the Spring grasses on the Coast Range made a spectacular background for our lunch on the beach. We went back to camp to await the arrival of Sara, Lee et. al. and the Bailey clan but nobody showed. Sara and Lee lost a day with a pair (not just one -but a pair) of flat tires. They arrived just about at sunset on Saturday. Ali and Jeremiah came in a couple hours later. Susie and Tyler said a quick "Hi and G'by" before going home.
The big group activity on the 28th was a bike ride. Two other families from SoCal were also in camp by now - so we had quite a bunch of kids on bikes.
The campfire included woofums and smores until you couldn't take another bite.
The Bailey's keeping warm and well fed around the fire.
What would camping with grandma be without a full on cooked breakfast in the trailer? We discovered precooked bacon this trip - I recommend it for groups of two or more. 
Just across Highway One is a federally operated beach on an unmarked road. It was beautiful and wild with eroded rock formations through which the waves crashed. It had broad sand beaches with a purple hue to them. A great place to relax.
Or strip down to your skivies and run wild...
or pose infront of the hole in the wall of rock to wait for a wave that fills the entire hole...Mom and I took off to get a last look at Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Beach.
This little cove offers one of the most idyllic views on the entire coastline. This little cove is a California treasure.
Everybody was exhausted when we met back at camp but after a great burrito bar we kept out of the rain by playing games. Actually, Shanna is teaching the kids how to bet a straight flush without scaring off all the suckers. We finished our 22nd trip in the "new" trailer. We were on the road for 36 wonderful days. It sounds like a long time but as always when you are having a good time - it flew by.
2 comments:
We are extremely jealous there was no coastal camping for us. Especially the very large, uncomfortable pregnant lady.
Our favorite picture is the group shot before the bike ride. Derek makes that photo an instant classic. What an awesome boy he is.
Those are some seriously beautiful pictures. I love the one of Derek in front of that large rock. It should be framed! Anyway, so that area is incredible. I'd love to take a vacation out there with you guys if you ever decide to do it again! Let us know, we'd totally come out!
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