We keep heading south on #1 now called the Cabrillo highway.

We spend a little time in Carmel by the sea , walk on the no leash beach to Mini’ delight and go by the 1770 Mission and it’s basilica. The houses in Carmel are gorgeous but not oversized mansions, the streets are lined with trees and it’s alive with pedestrians.

We keep being astonished by the beauty of the ragged coast and the fine sand beaches. This are is called Big Sur (big South) because the people from Monterey go there on holidays.

One of the many marked vista points is a beach populated by juvenile and female elephant seals plus one odd male that arrived early this year. This beach is a birthing ground for the seals during their migration all the way to Alaska. Apparently, there are over 20000 of them on this coast going up and down with the seasons.

In San Simeon, we go for a walk part on the beach and part on the bluffs.

There are many seagulls and other sea birds and one single egret.