Nepenthe View
Nepenthe, a shop and restaurant overlooking the South Coast of Big Sur, offers one of the most spectacular vistas in the world.
Believe it or not, the Coast Highway 1 goes south along these mountains, clinging to the steep mountainsides high above the ocean. Some of these coastal peaks rise more than 5000 feet above sea level.
For the next 50 miles, there is only one anchorage for seagoing vessels, few accessible beaches, no gas, and plenty of opportunity to run out of film. If you drive the next 50 miles in under 3 hours, you've made a huge mistake. This is a drive to savor, to pause along, for you may not wish to do it again!
As you drive, marvel at the engineering feat it was, to build this road in the 1930s. It was built for no other reason than to open some extraordinary beauty to everyone.
(April, 1985)