Keep On Runnin'

We woke up early and headed south to Monterey, California. Monterey is an old fishing town, best known for its role in various Steinbeck novels. The historic downtown area was cute enough and we took some time to explore the wharf and the many shops lining Cannery Row, even catching a glimpse of some sea otters napping near the shore. The fog, ocean breeze, and morning chill made for a refreshing change from the scorching heat of the past couple weeks. Plus, there was something about the gloom that I found appealing; a sort of overwhelming sadness that I could relate to in some weird way.


The afternoon brought us south along the 1 to an area known as Big Sur. Made famous by Kerouac’s beat generation, Big Sur claimed some of the most breathtaking sights I’ve ever seen. Giant cliffs, rocky ravines and water so impossibly blue, it felt almost painful to pull myself away. But still, onward we trudged, pausing to take advantage of the numerous stop-offs along the highway to enjoy the scenery as we made our way down the Pacific coast.



A single-lane road took us away from the highway, winding its way through the forest to Pfeiffer beach. The refreshing scent of evergreen greeted us immediately as we stepped out into the trees and followed the path down to the water’s edge. The beach itself was hidden away, flanked by rocky hills and towering cliffs on either side. It didn't take long to discover that we could climb some of the cliffs and we scrambled to take in the scenery from new vantage points. The sun poked its head, but the breeze was chilly enough to keep us from swimming; not to say that I would have braved the rocky shore and violent surf even if it had been any warmer out.




After a short stay at Pfeiffer, we zipped back up the coast, passing Monterey and heading for Santa Cruz. There was something eerie in the way the fog crept over the hills, sneaking down to settle in the valleys below. But still, I loved it all, wishing I could stay just a bit longer. But alas, we left it all behind, finally reaching Santa Cruz and the Saturn Cafe. The place had been recommended by a friend and certainly lived up to all the hype. I enjoyed a tofu burrito and washed it down with a peanut butter-chocolate milkshake. Steinbeck himself couldn't have written a better ending to the day's adventures.