Point Sur

Wednesday:  Drove to Big Sur, trying to spot some condors.  Debbie has a favorite spot for finding them, so we stopped there every time we passed it.  They were uncooperative, however - we never did find any but it sure was pretty along the coast...

Bixby Bridge

 Seal sighting

 Everywhere we went along the coast, we were able to spot whales - we were told they are migrating right now, and they hug the shore to avoid sharks & killer whales.

When I saw where our destination was, my heart nearly failed me - Point Sur Lighthouse sits on top of this mountain, and it has to be climbed on foot because the road is too narrow to drive up.

 

 (via: http://www.panoramio.com/photo/2885049)

I seriously doubted whether I could make it or not...  Not only was it a major hike, but the wind was blowing about 60 mph, and it was COLD!

The tour guides took us gradually, stopping about every ten yards and told little tidbits of information about the place.  There were no guardrails along the trail, and with the high wind, it was a little spooky and breathing was tricky (not to mention hearing the tour guide.)

It takes 3 hours to get to the top.  I'm glad I did it, but I can promise you, I will never do it again!

 Keeper's houses & water tower...

Blue whale remains in front of the assistant keepers house - those things are HUGE!

The keeper's house had some interesting antiques... (Mom had one of these washers when we lived in Highland.)

This little guy kept Dana company while we shopped in the gift shop...

One of the prettiest beaches we saw, but it is inaccessible to the public.  Sad.