Field Notes: Big Sur. Big Paradise.
18/10/2011 § 10 Comments
Big Sur was pristine, remote and breathtakingly beautiful.
If you haven’t yet made the trip along PCH, move it to the top of your list.
Immediately...
Redwood morning.
Big Sur is the California that men dreamed of years ago, this is the Pacific that Balboa looked at from the Peak of Darien, this is the face of the earth as the Creator intended it to look.
Henry Miller
The blue sky adds “Dont call me eternity, call me God if you like, all of you talkers are in paradise: the leaf is paradise, the tree stump is paradise, the paper bag is paradise, the man is paradise, the fog is paradise”
Jack Kerouac, Big Sur
Breakfast at Big Sur Bakery.
Partington Cove.
The sea swirls up but seems subdued — It’s not like being alone down in the vast hell writing the sounds of the sea.
Jack Kerouac, Big Sur
Pacific fury flashing on rocks that rise like gloomy sea shroud towers out of the cove, the bingbang cove with its seas booming inside caves and slapping out, the cities of seaweed floating up and down you can even see their dark leer in the phosphorescent seabeach nightlight
Jack Kerouac, Big Sur
Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park.
Bixby Bridge, built in 1932.
A few Allagash Whites at Post Ranch Inn.
Sleep at Deetjens, the original Big Sur roadhouse. Built in the 1930s.
Quite Continental 
I travelled down the Big Sur years ago – it was an amazing place but i got lost (California is bigger than the whole of the UK, or if it isnt it feels like it)
love the photos, what a great trip
Thanks very much!
Fantastic pictures, Mariah!
I’m so glad Lizzie profiled you (it’s how I found your blog).
Thanks very much! And thank you for stopping by. Lizzie is quite an awesome girl.
Amazing photos. Looks like a picture perfect trip. I’ve never really done Big Sur indepth…mainly stick to boozing in Napa. Perhaps it is time to branch out.
Thank you! I definitely recommend it, and I think you would love it. Napa is great, but seriously, ever corner I turned in Big Sur took my breath away.
Beautiful photos, M! I love the one of you sitting on the rocks — frame that one! Looks like you had an amazing time! You’ve convinced me I need to take a trip to Big Sur! xo
Your notes and photos are beautiful. I visited the same areas in early September and found the area magical… and like you said, breathtaking at every turn.
Thanks very much, Machelle!