With replacement of the Pfeiffer Canyon bridge on California State Road 1 (CA SR1, CA1 or the Pacific Coast Highway) complete, a previously closed section of the Big Sur Coast recently reopened. The gigantic Mud Creek slide continues to keep CA1 south of Gorda closed, but Limekiln State Park and Kirk Creek State Park are again accessible.
Getting a campsite at Limekiln or Kirk Creek on a weekend is a tricky task . Trying to get a campsite on the weekend before Thanksgiving is next to impossible. We managed to get a site for Sunday through Tuesday. Perhaps we can take a free camping site on the side of CA1 for the weekend.
Last minute campsite openings at Pfeiffer Big Sur State Park – one of our favorite parks in California – put us in the neighborhood. The craziness of the past few days and the days to come allowed for a very quick steak & champagne dinner celebration of my birthday.
Several entire days were spent reorganizing the van, purging things, repacking things, giving stuff away to other campers, or setting aside things to ship home — basically getting #vanlife sorted out.
A error flashing on the solar controller was the only van issue encountered in the first off grid shakedown. There was no urgency to diagnose or fix with most days in the shade of trees.
En route to Limekiln with an ounce of cell coverage, we stopped to get the condo rental lease agreement signed.
Limekiln State Park did not disappoint with great sunsets, whales frolicking, sea birds squawking, and friendly neighbors – including fellow Sportsmobile owners.
Regardless of fears induced by warning signs, we managed to squeeze in a quick hike to the park’s namesake lime kilns.
Thanksgiving plans kept us on a schedule to get over to the Alabama Hills to meet up with friends. With the slide keeping CA1 closed, the only way over the mountains led us along the winding Nacimiento-Fergusson road
With winding roads and elevation come great vistas to the ocean. We love the Big Sur area. Next up – let’s see what the Eastern Sierra has to offer
Gradually catching up (in reverse order)! Wonderful!