There is not enough data storage space on this blog server to host all that could and should be said about Big Sur. I could sum it all up by saying:
If you have never been, go!
If you have not been in a while, go again.
If you have a cool cabin there that I can live in for the rest of my life, call (508) 951-5655.
Perhaps, a cabin like this would do just fine.
...or this larger home would be ok with me. I am easy, when it comes to rustic homes in the Forest Primeval.
There is a pattern here, in Palo Colorado Canyon of greenery, moss, flowing brooks and giant trees which form a beautiful canopy. Driving through this dense growth is like the scene where Dorothy, the Tinman, the Cowardly Lyon and Toto are walking along a path in this same growth, complete with the Victor Fleming backdrop. Everything from Redwoods to eucalyptus are growing in the same soil and fill the air with a pleasant smell unlike any place I have been to before.
It all made me feel so small, yet more like a huge part of the earth.
On to the Surf...
Standing high above the Pacific allows for a beautiful view of the ocean, the sky and weathered trees along the coast, just as Rita Hayworth and Orson Welles enjoyed when they began construction on the building that today is known as Nepenthe.
That was a long time ago, but one thing remains the same; the views are breathtaking.
When you catch your breath, we can continue.............
I got to tell you I love this new camera, but these pictures are nowhere near as fabulous as being there.
Speaking of Freedom:
Hippies...Wait, wait, wait just a minute. Don't get all defensive about people, individuals, who were fed up with "The Establishment" long ago and decided to find a place to escape and live a truly free life.
Peace, Love and Understanding are great virtues in place of wars and killing innocent people. For me, riding through Big sur was just an additional treat after spending my first night in California in a sleeping bag, housed in a one-man tent on the Pacific Beach with no less than 18 other free-spirited individuals with lesser accommodations than me. Some were also in sleeping bags in a tent. Others were in sleeping bags alone, exposed to the elements. All were happy, including me. Palo Colorado Canyon is a very special place in Big Sur because of it's remote setting, majestic trees, streams and unusual structures. Not having the time it would take to interview each and every one of these residents, I moved on down the coastline for additional views of the Pacific, the hills and rocky cliffs. It was a gray day and sun-spotting was an occasional pleasant surprise.
Camping has a history which more than likely started with a caveman and perhaps a cavewoman wanting to wander away from the hole in the wall and see more of the landscapes beyond the hills that surrounded their peaceful little valley.
"Hey Ug, let's go on a little adventure this weekend. Why don't we pack a few 8track tapes, a bagful of snacks and just go for it!"
Ug replied, "Where are we sleeping, Lee? Are you kidding me? On the ground? No Mastodon comforter?"
Thus, a tent was needed and put to use by millions since that day. The portable structure has made it convenient for exploring and living for various lengths of time in different locations. It allowed a certain Freedom to many. Still, Freedom seekers are flocking to Big Sur and all of the National Parks in their quest for some form of Freedom. I smiled when I saw couples on bicycles with all of their belongings strapped down on the rear frames as their legs propelled them up one hill. Soon, these same legs would rest on a downhill coast. At this moment, with the wind gently blowing their hair and the only sounds to be heard was the distant surf and the car I was riding in. That made me feel a little confined. The leather upholstery was great. Don't get me wrong. But the polution being emitted by this car was adding to the decay of plant life and animals in the nearby forests and hillsides.
My curiosity was aroused by the thought of just escaping into the wilderness of Big Sur for a week, maybe a month or more, to prove a point. The point being...Freedom! No automobile, phone or computer. A pad of paper and a few pencils would be the tools to build a story about one subject each day. A bird, tree, hill, cloud and of course the sun would each provide enough entertainment for the day and for another chapter. The stars surely would gang up and provide an unlimited, ever changing pattern to write about. Simplicity would be formed around a tent, sleeping bag and 2 sets of clothing, one being a bathing suit.
Back to reality for a moment, as you see utility poles, standing strong with both hands held outright and both fists gripping wires with electricity, phone conversations and di-di-didi-di-dot-dot email transmissions being sent to folks in need of the connection. It's everywhere we look. We are all so connected, but also disconnected from may be the most important thing in our lives, the Earth.
Mozi on...
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