Day 14 - Atascadero, California to the Big Sur coast

In the early morning fog we drove down Highway 41 to the coast at Morro Bay. Reaching the Pacific made the journey the arrival in California complete.

We started the drive north on Highway 1 for Big Sur. The coastline grows more incredible with each twisting turn and breaks in the fog revel the waves breaking on the shore far below. When I first visited Big Sur back in May the best way I could describe this place was as if visiting another planet. That feeling was back again as we drove past the giant Redwood trees and along the magic coastline.

The plan was to stay at the Big Sur River Inn, the same place as in May, but they were long since booked up. We drove through the town stopping at each hotel, all were booked up. Looking through the travel book we noticed a place called the Esalen Institute. Not much was mentioned, other than clothing optional baths open to the public after 1:00am. This was the last lodging before turning back for Monterey or driving back to San Simeon so we called, space available. The mystery we built up was too much to not explore so we checked in for the night.

Esalen is not exactly a hotel but a place “Dedicated to exploring work in the humanities and sciences that furthers the full realization of the human potential, Esalen offers public workshops, residential work-study programs, invitational conferences, and independent projects that support our mission.” Any thoughts that this would be a bizarre place were quickly cast aside, and after reading over their catalog I was glad everything else was booked up for the night. The price of a nights stay included dinner, along with breakfast and lunch tomorrow, so we filled up in the dining room while listening to stories of workshops people were attending. I will definitely be back. The night was finished in a long soak in the natural hot spring fed baths.

Mileage Start: 4960.0, End: 5067.8, Day 15: 107.8
States California

-- From the 1965 Esalen Catalog