The days, weeks, and months are running together. I can’t believe June is almost here and we are still in lockdown in this part of California. I try not to focus on all the things that I can’t do, but instead on the things I can. While I can’t hike any of the trails or visit the beaches, I can hike our very steep road and enjoy its beautiful vistas. And I’ve enjoyed watching the change of wildflowers with each…
In March of 2020, our lives changed virtually overnight. The shock of it has sunk in and the new “normal” for the moment involves long lines at grocery stores, working from home, wearing masks, and apparently a toilet paper shortage. I’ve been extremely fortunate on the TP front, as I always stock between 20-30 rolls…it’s something I never want to run out of…especially in Big Sur where the closest market is 45 minutes away and there are constant road closures.…
Pfeiffer Beach in Big Sur, California is two miles down a mostly one lane road. As you might imagine, during the summer it can be a frightening proposition. It also is one of the windiest spot with sand that buffets your face…nature’s idea of dermabrasion! All this aside, it is the beach made famous in the iconic Elizabeth Taylor/Richard Burton movie, The Sandpiper. When the crowds are gone, it can actually take your breath away with its sheer beauty. On…
After visiting Big Sur for 15 years, and now a happy home owner, I am still in awe of the incredible scenery to be found just off of Highway 1. It’s been a wet and wild winter with over 10″ of rain at a time. Don’t get me wrong, California still needs the rain and we are appreciative of every drop…just not all at once. When we do get a few dry days, I head up to our home in…
Big Sur is rugged, majestic, breathtaking, and awe inspiring, but it is never more beautiful than in the Spring. The grass is green from the winter rains, and poppies and wild flowers bloom with abandon up and down the coast. Here is a pictorial trip from two magical weeks spent in this slice of heaven. Photos are my own or taken by my talented daughter, Kelsey Burns. …
Being an optimist doesn’t mean I always think things are rosy. Two weeks of a giant wildfire terrorizing your community and neighboring towns clearly isn’t a good thing. But acknowledging the fear (yes, there was a lot of fear and worry), and then trying not to dwell on something I couldn’t change was a daily struggle. I tried to see the bigger picture. I saw tremendous acts of caring and giving from people just wanting to help. And don’t even…
Months ago, I had planned a trip to Big Sur when my parents would be visiting me in Santa Barbara. Our daughter and a friend were coming too. Nature had other ideas. With one of the wettest winters on record (over 80″ of rain) and five years of drought, the damage was severe. Mudslides, rockslides, and the loss of Pfeiffer Canyon Bridge cut a major part of the beautiful Highway 1 and Big Sur off from the rest of the…
