17 Mile Drive & Pebble Beach

     As we departed Emeryville for Santee, we again settled on taking CA 1, which runs along the coastline south to below San Luis Obispo.  If you have the opportunity to make this trek, take your time and enjoy the sites along the way.  Our first stop along the way brought us to this marina, filled with fishing and recreational boats. Just a short distance away, we found a small isolated parking lot, filled with surfers enjoying the high surf pounding the coastline.  We took a short break enjoying the beach, and soon noticed a sailboat making its break from the marina.  It appears a little more serious than it was, but it made for an interesting photo.  The waves were magnificent all the way down the coastline, and the California surfing community seemed to be making the most of it.
     A little further down the coast, we discovered the 17 Mile Drive, a scenic drive through Pebble Beach and Pacific Grove on the Monterey Peninsula.  The drive begins after passing through the guarded gate and paying the $10 entrance fee.  Believe me, it's the best $10 you're going to spend.  The 17 Mile Drive hugs much of the California coastline, passing through the 5300 acre Del Monte Forest of Monterey Cyprus Trees, before exploding out along magnificent golf courses named Spyglass Hill and of course Pebble Beach.

                                                                                    The peninsula was originally discovered by Spanish explorers in 1602, and became a tourist destination after the arrival of several railroad barons and the construction of the Hotel Del Monte in 1892.  Today the road is lined with magnificent mansions overlooking an even more magnificent coastline.
     There is plenty of opportunity to stop and enjoy the scenery,  The map provided at the front gate, lists 21 specific v iewpoints, which highlight the bays and scenic vistas located all along the drive.  It's difficult to imagine that at China Rock, this coastline was wrapped with shacks
belonging to Chinese fisherman back in the late 1800's.  Pescadero Point offers views down into Carmel.

                                                                                          The Lone Cypress is one of the top scenic attractions along the 17 Mile Drive, and is often called the official symbol of Pebble Beach.  It's reported to be possibly 250 years old, and amazingly stands alone on a huge piece of granite, overlooking the ocean.  If you look closely you can see 2 steel cables holding it up.

                   
      We continued, following the red line painted down the middle of the road to where the drive ends out at the main gate.  The red line seems to keep the tourists from driving up into the residential areas on the peninsula.  The views continued all along the coast, and the high surf seemed to intensify the line between ocean and land.
   

     Sorry for all the pictures, but it's really the only way I know of, to easily show you the drive we were able to experience.  We're back in Santee enjoying our time with Ben's family, awaiting the arrival of MAE for Christmas.  We hope your Christmas Season is filled with joy and peace.