Come Away With Me: Kirk Creek

The Big Sur coastline is , without doubt, the most spectacular in this world. Through it’s entire stretch, The rugged ridges of land stand confidentially facing the mighty pacific. There is so much to see and do near Big Sur – hikes, whale watching, surfing etc. Even the sheer drive down is exhilarating. The winding roads are so much fun to negotiate and the views are splendid. But my personal favorite – camping.

<The first image is the view of Hwy 1 from the campground!>

There is nothing better than spending the weekend away from the city on a top of a steep ridge with the sound of waves crashing on the rocks right below you. The feeling of being out in the open, experiencing a perfect sunset, lighting a campfire and going to sleep under the stars is precious. Which is why we keep visiting Kirk Creek over and over again.

Why is Kirk Creek so special to us:

1. It’s the only campground on the Ocean side of Hwy 1

2. The campsites are large and open ( with our favorite being Site #19 )

3. It’s only 2.5 hours away from our home

4. The drive on Hwy 1 with the Ocean on one side is an experience worth repeating a 100 times

The actual "creek" is this little stream with a few drops of water trickling down. You have you follow a trail head that starts near the bluff and hike down to the rocks below to see what remains of the creek. It really is an excuse. The spot just need a name - That's all. I am tempted to say "it's OK to skip the part where you actually go look at the creek". But i cannot. Beyond the creek, down below is a group of rocks and caves which are simply magnificent. It's actually a bit scary to be there during high tide because the ocean can get quite rough.

Usually what we do is leave on a Friday evening and set up our tent. The squirrels always welcome us! They really are pleasant companions - we're glad they let us use their home :). We heat and eat some packaged food by the campfire and have a nice evening out with friends under the stars.

The frisky squirrels wake us up in the morning. It’s time for some tea and Breakfast. There is nothing quite as fun as cooking together in the open.

Up till about lunchtime, everyone is just relaxing. The books come out. So do the paints, the canvas boards & easels. It’s the time you always dream about. Time to yourself – to do what you love. To do it facing the ocean, with the light ocean breeze, the sound of waves and chirping birds. It’s just perfect.