On Highway #1 to San Simeon and Santa Barbara

On the fourth day of our trip, we made a detour to Carmel-by-the-Sea shortly after Monterey. This small coastal town is a popular stay for many US stars. Clint Eastwood was mayor here in the 80s and still owns a hotel complex today. From Carmel, we set out on the most beautiful 100 miles of Highway #1. But the infamous fog, which arises here from the connection between the cold water masses and the humid air, seemed to spoil our plans for us and our 4 handycams. We were also grateful for our jackets because of the biting wind, which we had been wearing regularly since San Francisco.... But as if ordered, the blanket of fog cleared up exactly at the first hotspot - Soberanes Point - and we were able to hike along the coastal trail and enjoy the wonderful view of the wild Pacific coast. The panoramic drive continued in brilliant sunshine. On the way, we found a great picnic spot in Lucia, high above the cliffs, with an indescribable view of the ocean - and even free from the wind. We continued driving to San Simeon, where we watched the sunbathing seals on the beach. In the evening, we strolled along Moonstone Beach in Cambria and enjoyed the sunset with a good meal and a fine bottle of Californian wine. The next morning, we continued along the coast towards the south. Along the way, we stopped in Pismo Beach, where the wild coastal landscape gradually turns into palm-lined beaches, but the biting wind still blew here. In Santa Barbara, we had the impression in the car that we had finally arrived in midsummer. But we quickly realized that even this beach stroll and the apéritif on the pier were only somewhat cozy with our faithful hoodies (of course, we demonstratively left out the extra layer for the photos... ;-)). Where is the Californian heat!?