So all packed ready to go, breakfast eaten, driver outside, it all started very calmly, just what I needed for the imminent 2,200 mile drive on the wrong side of the road, in an automatic car and with crazy American drivers on the road. Started with a very funny Italian airport driver and a kiwi couple advising us how to drive in California; it's always good to get a few tips but the scary stories, ya just gotta take them with a pinch of salt.
Get to the car rental place to be told, free upgrade... Woo hoo. What a start. Instead of an economy car, which would be pretty small and have no mod cons, we got a Hyundai Elanta, which first fitted all of our luggage in the boot no problem, it had cruise control, manual drive if you wanted, but best if all it had a USB plug to charge our phones and listen to our music :) getting out of San Fran proved interesting; couldn't figure out how to let the sat nav to go along highway one, so we told it to go Pacific. Then at Pacific, we went round in a circle three times before I would believe Kenny that we had to go the opposite way, oops!!
Along highway one, we basically stopped at every hole in the hedge from San Fran to Big Sur. Pillar Point Harbour, Pigeon Point Lighthouse Station Dcc(beside a hostel, have to keep that one in mind as a pretty location), half moon bay, Año Nuevo SP, (where we took a walk over sand dunes and grasslands to see the elephant seals on the beach, and the sea-lions and pelicans on a little island, lizards running by our feet) Pointes Los Lobos SP (where we saw whales migrating!!), passing over Bixby Bridge, Point Sur, along with every other pull off point along the way. I don't know how we ever made it to Big Sur, needless to say it was dark by the time we got there.
So let's say a stressful intro to camping was had; darkness, head touches, I tent we had only put up once before, rock hard ground, chopping up veg for dinner on top of newspaper, wood for the fire with no kindling and to top it off, a skunk on our site, which caused me to scream and run for the car. Dinner tonight; pitta bread pizzas, but unfortunately for us, the pitta breads wouldn't cut in the middle, oo well, at least it was something warm. It was a funny evening. But the Peiffer Big Sur campsite was absolutely beautiful!! Surrounded by forest, we had a strange shaped big tree in our campsite and lots of cheeky little squirrels.

The next day started with a couple of hikes, upto Valley view and Pfeiffer falls from out campsite. Pretty views over Big Sur but lots of mosquitos at the waterfall. Back into the car we get for the next part of our journey down highway 1. First stop was a place we can't remember the name of or maybe it didn't have a name? But anyways, a big hike downhill to a beautiful cove. Lots of class rock formations and the sea just slapping off them. One of the animals we'd hope to spot were sea otters, and we'd thought we'd got lucky. These things were bobbing about in the water, pretty big and brown, but we couldn't get a good look because of the waves. So for about 20 mins we were happily thinking we were watching the sea otters, ten Kenny says,
'I think it's seaweed..'
Damn, maybe if we had of paid attention for the sign that said 'underwater garden', silly us! Started venturing back up the hill when we found this little bridge, so let's see where it goes. It led us through a tunnel in the mountain to Narina! Haha I wish. It led us to another cove, this time with seaweed covering the whole ocean top, with jellyfish sprinkled amongst it. We were treated to the sight of a blue lizard too. Trekking up the big hill, we continued along highway one with no plan of where to camp. O well, we'll figure that out later. Today we stopped again at every hole in the hedge, one of which was Piedras Blanca's SP with a beautiful waterfall onto a secluded beach. A few more stops along the way lead us to Willow Creek, for a lunch stop. Along the road, we'd seen lots of fruit stalls but by the time we'd noticed them, I was going to fast to stop or there was a car behind. Eventually for to one safely and it was the cheapest and best fruit we'd had in ages!! The next visit was to an Elephant seal rookery, where we saw a few more of the big ones molting. I didn't really know what this meant before, but the rangers had explained it something along the lines of shedding their skin, even their whiskers getting ready for their next journey. I had the sat nav plugged to stop at the visitor centre, for some info on where to camp, but ya gotta love 5.05pm, they closed at 5pm. Luckily tho, we just asked a local who directed us to San Simeon State Park. Only a few minutes away, it had plenty of space and was only $20! Bargain, if they were all this price, we'd be laughing. After unsuccessful pitta bread pizzas, we decided to indulge tonight. Found a pretty descent local supermarket where we got some wood for the campfire, a $3 bottle of wine, garlic bread and burgers!! Never has meat tasted so good when you've been deprived of it for a week or so. Wrapped in tinfoil, we cooked onions and peppers, cheese melted on the burger and the garlic bread, it was a sheer delight on the senses here even though we'd take it for granted at home. Got a decent wee camp sight, where the night sky was just beautiful. Kindly pointed out a fellow camper. We could see Venus and even saw a shooting star too.

The morning continued my hunt to find a beach to sunbathe; ended up at Cayaucas but just for a coffee. So went to Morro bay to drink it; a lovely sandy beach with big rock, but still not a sunbathing one. We talked to nice ranger guy, who gave us a great map of the state parks so we would have some idea of where we could stay. Coffee drank= Kirstie comes alive, so on the road we go, with the eventual destination if the Santa Barbara area. Found a sunbathing beach by the name of Pismo beach, where we spent the afternoon, and Kenny fished off pier catching lizard fish. Stocked up on fruit from local market and off we went. On reaching the desired area, we started the hunt for a campsite. We tried three different ones, each coating $45!! To park our arses on the ground, not impressed. Ok it was a 3 minute walk to the beach, but it also wasn't that far from the road either. So after driving around for 15 mins, passing the same site three times, we finally choose number 51 at El Captain campground. Tat least we were there on time to see sunset on the beach and seals jumping around in the water.
The next morning we got up to our usual granola and yoghurt breakfast outa the previous days coffee cup then headed to the beach for an early morning dip. After an outside shower, soaping up in front if anyone who was walking by because we were too stingy to pay for showers (in our swimsuits of course), we got on the road. We were determined to get through LA in one piece by hopefully avoiding rush hour. Off we headed at 10am, along the 101 and then the 5, as they looked like the most direct routes. I don't think I have ever been soo tense driving before, totally straight armed, tensed muscles and sweaty palms from gripping the steering wheel soo hard. Well I have to admit, it wasn't as bad I thought it would be! :) I only got beeped at once, for going to slow I think. No panic attacks, no shouting, we were still friends after the drive!!

A very successful and beautiful drive down highway one...
High five to us!!!