'1' of a kind!

If you live in Northern California, there is a no dearth of roads that b(l)end nature and the driving experience in one awesome package. CA-1,or Route 1 as they call it, is one of them. It starts from near San Diego and goes all the way, into Oregon, hugging the cliff-filled delicate coastline.The best section of the road around here starts from Monterey and heads down to the town of Big Sur.It is a weird conundrum you get into, every time you drive on it. You want to take in the breathtaking vistas.. but at the same time take the wheel, feel the force as you make blind turns, all while being ridiculously close to the edge of jagged cliffs. Split time, you say?That is where it gets tricky.The stretch is different every bit and the view when driving back is totally different. It is that kind of a place where you want to go once as a driver,if you love driving, and once as a passenger.... one lucky passenger.

It had hardly been a month since I landed in this part of the country when it was decided that we would visit Monterey.The junta was here for only 8 more weeks and as we came to realize,it was going to be tough picking the spots.Late on a Sunday morning we set out,still talking about how cold the Monterey Bay waters were the previous day,when we took a plunge in the ocean. What started that day, has almost become a 'Standard Operating Procedure'(SOP), when visiting Big Sur and my car's favorite haunt.

The first real hint of things to come, was at the Carmel River State Beach.As we watched the scuba divers get into their gear,plan and walk,yes... walk, into the ocean, we looked around to see small cliffs all around with the sunlight painting a unique color on them. As we took the customary pictures and started south, we were greeted by an interesting road sign.Shank and I looked at each other.74 miles of winding road? And we were doing only 30 of them to Big Sur? We could not wait for the 30 miles.

This was my first real 'drive' in my Si.. and it too was rubbing it hands in glee.. waiting for the 30 mile stretch.She wanted to run...fast! :) The stretch was like I'd never seen or imagined before.The greenish-blue sea,the road inches away from the edges of a jagged coastline filled with cliffs,the fog,the ridiculously sharp turns that lead you into an ocean of blue and on the other side, huge mountains.. with an icing of fog!Heaven must be close-by. The bridges looked like picture postcards,while defying belief and the gusty winds and if you missed a turn by a small margin,you had to get ready to swim. To top it all, were some outrageously beautiful houses on the cliffs. Who are these people? How do I get to stay there?


After a billion stops,gazillion pictures and some rather adventurous hiking to the cliffs, we finally reached level ground as we entered the various State parks.It was calm,serene driving through the forest. We were hungry and it was somehow the time when most chefs were taking the nap between lunch and preparing for dinner. We drove and drove,tried every restaurant on the way and finally on one such turn saw a restaurant perched up the mountain.The drive there was cruel, a 45 degree slope, on a two-way road. And the parking was no exception...a nightmare, especially when driving a manual.The views were stunning, the food outrageously good(puny portions though) and the restroom so wonderfully decorated you just wanted to stay there.I forget the name of the place,argh.


But on another subsequent visit, we soon found another spot that fits into the Route-1 trip. Behind River Inn,the first hint of civilization and Big Sur, when driving South is a small picnic area. Under the green tent the Ent doodes call,canopy, is a small but beautiful stream.But wait, that isnt even the best part. Just when you think of settling down on the grassy carpet next to the stream, you see the chairs on the stream. Yep.They are attached to the rocks, so you can get into the sometime shin deep ice cold water and relax.It is like listening to a Deep Forest CD, the water gushing, the birds and interrupted by an occasional Ferrari zipping through the road. :) Pick up a yummy Wrap or Burrito(the veggie ones are awesome),dip you feet into the water.. and RELAX! Time will indeed fly when doing so.


The best part of THE road is how slightly different it is every time you visit.Sometimes foggy with the clouds cutting into the road at sections,sometimes chillingly windy and sometimes just the sun and wind.But one thing is a perennial fixture. The cars. You should consider yourself unlucky, if you aren't following a 911, sometimes a Ferrari and like I did once, a Maserati!Ah! Sheer automotive Nirvana.And if you still aren't satisfied with just looking at the water,there's Carmel-by-the-Sea.Yeah! That's the name of the place. A beautifully idyllic town with splendid art galleries and an even more stunning array of supercars, the beach offers one of the best sunset views on the coast. And yes, it is dog friendly, in fact, it is like a dog-universe. :)


So if ever you are to visit Nor Cal, make sure to drop by.. but yes.. pick up a convertible.They may be not be the best driving cars, but they were dropped for the sole purpose of driving down such roads. Take to the twisties!!