Wow, what a drive!

Yanks RV Resort
Greenfield, CA

I never tire of taking a ride over to the ocean.

Yesterday it rained most of the day here,

so the hills are turning a bit greener.

Today we decided to take a ride to 

get some fresh produce.

We both like to go to a produce stand

in Moss Landing and pick up artichokes,

grapefruit, lemons, strawberries, and other goodies.

After loading up, we drove south on Highway 1

towards Big Sur.

The views from Highway 1 are always breathtaking.

There is a mountain range between the Salinas Valley

and the Pacific Ocean called the Santa Lucia mountains.

The only road that crosses over the mountains is

Nacimiento-Fergusson Road.

It starts just south of the Kirk Creek Bridge.

It connects Route 1 with Highway 101, 

It doesn't take long before the views are amazing!

The road heads east 4 miles south from the little town of Lucia.

Before you know it, the road is climbing about 7 miles

to the summit at 2,780 feet.

  

The Pacific seems to go on forever!

Once it starts descending, it goes through the

Los Padres National Forest,

where live oaks, pinyon junipers, and redwood trees can be seen.

As we dropped down on the eastern slopes

and into the Salinas Valley,

we entered Fort Hunter Liggett.

We got a bit nervous when we went by a sign

that said 'authorized personnel only',

and 'no cell phone use'.

Of course, we ignored it :-)

I had read before we did the ride

that this would happen :-)

Fort Hunter Liggett is an Army training facility,

where they do field maneuvers and live fire exercises.

Apparently if they're doing maneuvers there is NO entrance!

Before long we were back at home.

What a great ride, and only 185 miles :-)