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…
I honestly don’t know where the time has gone. The first month of the pandemic, I was numb and unmotivated. But something kicked in during the month of April (yes, I am a month behind!). After the parks and trails in Big Sur (along with most of California) were closed, I turned my attention to home. Heaven knows that with 3 acres of untamed property, there was plenty to do. I’m still knee deep in poison oak and mud (I…
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.…
Big Sur has become a popular destination and is on many bucket lists. It’s beauty is dramatic and pristine. With more and more tourists, it’s fragile environment is at risk…so much so that there is a Big Sur Pledge which I highly recommend taking. We are all stewards of this magnificent place and it is sad to see people disregard the rules either blatantly or unknowingly. After reading and taking the pledge, here are a few tips that I’ve found…
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…
There is so much beauty in Big Sur, it can hardly be contained in a single blog post! This is part 2 of a series of winter photos I took. Many of these were taken at Garrapata State Park. It is almost 3,000 acres and can be reached by numerous turnouts along Highway 1. The word ‘garrapata’ means tick in Spanish and the park is aptly named! Ticks are numerous in Big Sur and one should always check themselves carefully…
Winter is my favorite season in California. That may sound strange as it is also our rainy season, however, most Californians love the rain as it is such a rare occurrence the rest of the year. After one or two storms, everything begins to turn green again. The air is crisp and clear without the marine layer/fog that persists in the summer. The surf can get huge and is quite a sight to behold. What I love most are the…
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…