Short Stories: Schwieterman Summer Adventure Series (Part 5.1 – California, originally posted 8/9/22)
After a less than stellar impression of Nevada, we were in good spirits to get to California. At the state line, we stopped at a gas station that held a surprise for us: a donut shop. Let’s splurge! We’ll take a dozen! The girls joyfully picked out their choices from the display case, which boasted all sorts of combinations we had never seen. After spending the morning tracking down a part for the air conditioner, I reassured the girls that our day was turning around.
Our nature-loving middle daughter was excited to see cactus as we drove through the Mojave Desert. I can’t say there was much else to get excited about unless you’re a fan of sand and melt-your-shoes-to-the-pavement heat!
When I began planning our itinerary, I was looking into staying near Bakersfield, CA after a stop in Vegas. Since my husband had wanted to prolong our stay, I stopped my research on campgrounds in Eastern California. Thankfully, we were able to secure a last-minute booking at Bakersfield RV Resort, which also had a nice pool area. The girls had been so bummed that we had to leave all the amenities at the former campground.
Maybe it was just because of the intense heat but the newly repaired air conditioner could not cool down the motorhome. So after checking that we wouldn’t be surprised by a sprinkler shower in the middle of the night, we once again set up an outdoor camp for the evening. We setup a movie on my laptop and the girls settled in for a movie under the stars, which was very fitting since the campground was previously a drive-in movie theater.
Unfortunately, the temperature wasn’t dropping as the night wore on, so we opted to load the sleepy kids into the RV and head for higher elevation. We drove until we couldn’t keep our eyes open any longer, which put us at rest stop east of Paso Robles. The air was cooler, so we slept with the windows open. Once again, I was proud of us for rolling with the situation and making the best of it. Since we would be getting to the coast earlier than planned, we texted my husband’s brother for suggestions on must-see stops along Highway 1. We were coming in 100 miles further south than my itinerary had planned. He had some great recommendations!
Our first stop is one I sure won’t forget: elephant seal vista point. As we were walking up, my eyes were scanning the water looking for seals, but I didn’t see any, just rocks. Well, some of those “rocks” were seals! I had no idea that seals could reach that size. There were a few playing in the water but as we continued our walk to the viewing area, we discovered the massive population of male seals covering the beach. I was able to capture a real “National Geographic” worthy video of two elephant seals in a physical confrontation. It was a phenomenal experience, and the girls absolutely loved it too!
Just a few miles up the road on our tour of the Pacific Coast Highway, we pulled off at another overlook. We were several hundred feet above the water, just taking in the amazing views. It truly was beautiful. This was my own “bucket list” adventure and it did not disappoint. While my husband loaded the girls back into the motorhome, I continued to linger, just staring into the vastness of the ocean in complete peace. A splash in the water caught my eye. I couldn’t believe what I was seeing. There was an expanding area of red water unfolding before me. Had I just seen a shark attack?! I had been a little bummed that I was missing shark week on television, and I had just seen a real-life shark week encounter. What a rush! I called my husband over to see the blood-stained water and he was able to see some thrashing about, possibly the shark returning for another bite on its prey. If it was an elephant seal, that would certainly be a large meal!
Our next sight-seeing destination was McWay Falls. I’m a waterfall enthusiast. I like to think that one day we will trek the world to see endless waterfall displays. Well, this particular waterfall was quite unique—a gentle stream of water falling into a tidal pool directly beside the ocean. My mind was blown! God continued to surprise me with the majesty of creation—beauty like I could never have imagined.
(A note to travelers. Pull off on the west side of the road instead of paying to park at the state park as the road signs instruct. And if you are driving in an RV, do NOT pull into the state park because you cannot turn around, trust us.)
There was a light fog that impeded some of our views, but the route was still breathtaking. We opted to pull off for lunch in the town of Big Sur at the River Inn. There was a restaurant, but we opted for burrito bowls from the grocery next door (great decision) and had a picnic lunch in a grassy area overlooking a picturesque stream. Yes, it was as perfect as it sounds, so tranquil.
Our day had turned into one of the most magnificent days of my life. Next stop Carmel-by-the-Sea to meet up at a hotel for prewedding festivities with our family, and more California adventures!
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