7 – Big and Beautiful
As we left San Francisco on a cold, grey morning the weather did not dampen
our spirits. We were exhilarated to be on the road again and the dramatic
clouds seemed very fitting given the scenery we were journeying through.
Once more we were driving on Route 1, and, as on the way to the
Redwoods, we had the sea close on one side of us and bare cliffs looming on
the other. The only real difference was that these features were on the
opposite sides to before as we were now travelling south. Throughout the 5 or
6 days spent along this part of the south west coast conditions were often
very elemental. The sea was rarely still, with waves bombarding the coast and
sometimes threatening to flood the road. Even when the sea was calmer it
was still hypnotic. Changing in colour with variations in the ocean depth and
whenever the sun broke through the clouds.
The mountains to our left were a constant reminder of how narrow the
road was. Frequent signs warning of rock falls also stopped us from forgetting
that even mountains are transient. There was often very little vegetation,
certainly not close to the road. And what trees there were gave further proof
that we were in a domain ruled by the weather, and literally bowed before it.
The wind, rain and constantly shifting sky completed the mood. And as fog
rolled off the sea or beams of sunshine split through the clouds it felt very
good to be on the road - this is what travelling is about!
We saw very few people and when we did go past any evidence of man (apart
from the road of course) I am sure that the reaction we had was out of