Fog and traffic were the themes for the day’s drive from Carmel to LA. We have not been able to escape the foggy California coastline since we entered the state. Hence, we missed Big Sur. We stopped at the café at Nepenthe to have a bite, hoping the fog would burn off before long but it didn’t. The fog was pretty thick in places even on the roadway so the drive was a little hairy negotiating the twists and turns.
Bird poop rock.
Alfa @ Big Sur
The day was saved by stopping at Piedras Blancas, where a bunch of bull elephant seals had gathered. They will stay at this beach for about a month to molt or shed a layer of epidermis as they bask in the sun. This beach is the only mainland beach they use as a rookery; others are on islands in southern California. The seals are not particularly social and do not travel together; it’s just something they must do and they instinctively know this beach is a good stopping over point to get the job done before heading north to Alaska to feed.
Two subadult males sparring.
and lounging.
Note to self: do not drive through California beach towns such as Santa Barbara and Malibu on a Sunday in the summertime. The traffic was horrendous!
One of our savvy traveler tricks is to bid on 4 and 5 star hotels through Priceline.com. We’ve been lucky enough to win bids at the Drake in Chicago, Le Meridien in Manhattan, and the InterContinental in Miami, among others. Tired and hungry, we arrived in West Hollywood around 8 pm.
At the Andaz Hotel, we were greeted by our personal concierge who offered us a glass of wine while she checked us in. Thank you Priceline!
