Between Joshua Tree and Big Sur the landscape changed, dramatically. It was almost as if you could draw a line on the crest of a mountain near Bakersfield, CA. The eastern side was desert, and the western side was lush and green. We drove through miles of fruit and nut orchards and through a bit of wine country approaching Big Sur. As much as I love the desert, this was a welcome change.

Arriving to Big Sur and Highway 1, we were mesmerized by the views. It reminded us of Hawaii with the dramatic coastline and lush vegetation. The driving also reminded us of Hawaii, particularly the “road to Hana” on Maui. Hairpin curves along rugged cliffs; it’s beautiful if you have the nerve to actually enjoy it.

Photographing here is challenging due to the extreme contrasts. I really needed a chauffeur, as driving on those roads was exhausting to me and zapped what creative energy I had left. We had spent a lot of time in the car over the past week or more, and quite honestly I was sick of it. I would love to tour Big Sur again someday.

The last stop of our journey is in northern California to visit my cousin and her boyfriend. We went on a hike with them to one of their favorite spots in the area, Fern Canyon. We saw a few Roosevelt Elk grazing as we were leaving. It has been an amazing journey and we are excited to explore our new temporary home in Oregon soon.