Big Sur

[safari57]

Janet,

I know of what you speak. Having been the primary driver/tower in the family for 37 years and then suddenly being forced into the passenger seat with Donna taking the wheel - of the 50 year old TV moved me from a quiet, confident road jockey to a gasper. My gasping, using brakes that don't exist on the passenger side, taking deep breaths, covering my eyes, jokingly getting out and kissing the ground when we pulled into rest stops, and frequently offering my sage driving advice were all very hard for her to handle.

She came up with a novel way to deal with it.

DUCT TAPE!!!!!

It can be effectively applied to gasping, snorting, dash grabbing, sage advice offering passengers in liberal quantities. It can cover eyes, nose, mouth (make sure there's sufficient breathing ability - well, depending on your mood I guess but the tape leaves marks the coroner will be able to see), and can be used effectively to keep hands at ones side, legs together, and then all held tightly to the seat.

Removal is even a fun event for the driver and helps them relieve the stress of doing the drive alone with a duct taped mummy in the passenger seat. Other drivers nod knowingly, and other former gaspers (we are members of the Gaspers Anonymous - meetings every Wednesday at noon) also nod with understanding and a certain level of sympathy depending on how down the path to healing they are themselves.

Distraction is one other thing that helps. Give the passenger a stereo to fiddle with, a GPS, a camera, something that needs to be repaired (e.g. the watch strap that got unhooked when the duct tape was applied a bit too tightly the previous trip) and there is always the ultimate gasp eliminator - sleep. Even pretend sleep - at least you legitimately have your eyes closed.

Embrace the fear. It makes the heart race the way it did with ones first kiss - well, maybe for a guy at least. Sing, wave at folks coming the other way, count the cars and try to identify what make they are and how many passengers are in them. Type forums responses on a laptop. Catch up on Forums news.

And let us know how it goes.

Life IS GOOD!

Barry

[janetb]

All these trusted opinions have been reassurance enough to pull her out and load her up! (But I'm definitely hiding the duct tape.)
Heading out in the AM in what promises to be gorgeous weather.
Thanks for all the input--it was exactly what I was hoping for. What a great forum!

[CA Streamer]

Originally Posted by janetb

We were surprised that res. are now available (and all taken of course) but still plenty of first-come sites, so we'll give it a shot. Plaskett Creek is our fall-back.
Will enjoy and document. (And think about the trip-not-taken, Going to the Sun....Yowza.)

You should be fine 1st come 1st serve if you get there tomorrow. FYI...Plaskett was completely full for last weekend by Friday night. Have fun! It's supposed to be a beautiful weekend!

Here's a couple photos from last weekend. The first is Plaskett campground and the second is the view from atop Plaskett Road.

[Rollertoaster]

Just back from a beautiful trip to Kirk Creek Campground. We took a chance that we would even find a campsite, hoping to find at least something somewhere, and we actually ended up with one of the nicest sites we have ever been in. The drive was easy, with no gasping, etc. from passengers
(janetb) Duct tape really works! The road south of Big Sur is a little narrower
than the road to the North, but we had very little traffic .

[janetb]

Not only was the duct tape unnecessary, I didn't even feel like gasping. You were right, oh experienced travelers. Most of the curves are fairly wide and well-banked, and I just averted my eyes when passing the sheer drops (wildflowers on the uphill helped a lot.)
Steve, we took a drive down to Plaskett Fri. AM and it was full. If we'd waited any longer to leave for Kirk Creek (arrived around noon on Thurs.) it would have been full too. Wonderful spot and truly a world-class drive.

[CA Streamer]

Glad to hear everything worked out for your trip! Thank you for posting such beautiful photos. Terry has such a gift for capturing the essence of the adventure! Dontcha just love Big Sur?

[robandzoe]

I bought my first Airstream while at the Naval Post Graduate School there in Monterey... from a consignment lot over in Salinas. That was in 98. I lived from 96 to 98 just across from the Rocky Point Restaurant halfway between Carmel and Big Sur... those pictures bring back many memories.... Thanks!

[Big Dee]

wow janet spectacular pics. must have even been warm this weekend. i use to go to kirk creek regularly in my vw camper in the old days. got to be the most beautiful campground in california! sadly haven't been back in the airstream. glad you had a great trip with no mishaps on that windy road.

[janetb]

Thanks Dan! It really was a rare couple of days--which is why we made the spontaneous trip, grateful that we live only a few hours away.
The weather was warm (70s) and clear, with just the perfect gentle cooling breeze, and it was beyond beautiful. The photos don't capture the feeling we had witnessing the magic of that coast, but anyone who's been there knows what it's like.
And if we didn't have the Airstream, we wouldn't have done it!
And Rob, glad this brought back some memories. Couldn't have been a bad thing living across from Rocky Point for a couple of years!
All the best,

[thecatsandi]

Janet, Terry;
Now that is some airstream living! Very nice.