Some images convey to me a sense of the unknown. Some mysterious feeling of the space beyond words. Do you get any such experience from this?
1136 Shadows
2015/10/04
2015/10/02
Homeward
We paused the drive from Big Sur back to Tripp in SLO many times, and this is one of the more colorful spots nearing San Simeon.
0891 Big Sur Colors
Before long we were flying across the arid rolling hills of Santa Maria Valley where dancing water had once carved now parched dry creeks.
0958 Moist Memories
Soon we crested the mountains near familiar Lizard’s Mouth where the little “Witch’s Hat” cave caught the shifting colors of a sun settling into drowsy stillness.
1027 Witch’s Hat
We were back in the spell of our charming little city sprawled below as lights already began to twinkle where sun had already departed. Enchanting as every journey is, there’s no place like home.
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2015/09/28
For Example
Now that I have a few moments, here are some pix from that Big Sur drive. Every time we’re there several new “discoveries” enchant us, and we have several “favorite” spots. Like the Nathaniel Owings Memorial Redwood Grove, our first major stop going North. Looking up into the serene redwoods where water cascades over massive boulders and pauses in refreshing pools transports us instantly beyond.
0493 Owings Redwoods
Due to the drought, the water is completely gone except for a few puddles where little black flies bred, greeting our arrival by buzzing into ears, eyes, and noses. Our visit was much shorter than usual, with only brief pauses as we took in quiet memories at a fast walk with hands waving them away. Most of the coast belonged to the flies that day, so our next major stop was the waterfall walk at Julia Pfeiffer Burns where even at a brisk walk it was instantly transformative.
0552 McWay Falls
By the house ruins we lingered a moment among the flies to savor this bloom on the slope and pondered when they were planted, by whom, and what other hearts have and will be touched by them.
0584 Pink Slope
Another high priority stop for us is Nepenthe where we’ve enjoyed private romantic moments, meals with family and friends.
0608 Nepenthe
As with most stops there, we also ventured out through the gift shop to sound the gongs and chimes to honor those souls and the magic of that place. All along the coast of course are spectacular views, and for me especially the interplay of stillness and ceaseless motion. For example a stone standing alone amid the swirling splashing seas, resolute against countless storms yet destined to fall.
0511 Steadfast
When we arrived at Asilomar the sunset had collected a scattered crowd, hushed in anticipation of transition toward dream time when we would each process wordless moments from this life in the sun.
0613 To Dream
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2015/09/22
Baby Love
Took my baby to Big Sur. Well, flew her to San Luis Obispo then drove Big Sur in a rental car to a fancy hotel in Monterey. Along the way we stopped at some favorite spots and I took her on a surprise detour to Asilomar Beach where she danced a sunset delight. The next day driving back to SLO she kindly posed for this.
0704 Big Sur Baby
Even though we’ve driven and flown this coast so many times, we’re already talking about going back. This time the focus was on celebration more than exploration.
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2015/09/19
Coast Colors
Sometimes the colors along our coast are just breathtaking, like the blue in this wave fan shape around Rincon dotted with surfers.
0372 Rincon Fan
Other times we see very different colors, like the Andree Clark Bird Refuge where drought has turned the water toward some strange palette. To me there are notes of pink, purple, salmon and others. When we drove by it on that same day there were birds diving for fish. Maybe out of habit?
0395 Unknown Colors
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John & Anne Wiley 
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