I love cars... I love talking about cars. I love looking at cars. I love driving cars...
I walked into the rental merchant where I had reserved my convertible for one of the most coveted roads the big blue rock has to offer. I walked up to the counter and had my ID and credit card plopped on the counter. I looked across to the other side and saw the day's reservations on a printout. My name was at the top with the words "Convertible; Preferably Mustang." They could not promise me the mustang, but I had my hopes up.
I would sadly find there was no mustang waiting for me. In fact there was no convertible at all. My reservation made 3 weeks in advance became worthless. I needed a vehicle. I even managed to talk the guy into renting me a jag with a sunroof for the same rate as the mustang, but because of insurance issues, I had to withdraw. After a bit of arguing back and forth they found something that was a "convertible" technically. After seeing the way his eyebrows raised in an almost fit of sarcasm I asked what he had.
It was not a mustang, not even a seabring...
A jeep. He wanted to rent me a jeep. I knew my travel partner would be disappointed. I made her disappointment clear enough to get a massive discount. I was lucky I had her disappointment as a bargaining tool because to me... rolling around California in a Brand New 09 Jeep Wrangler Unlimited is just about unbeatable... Unless the car came from Italy or bore a DB9 insignia on the rear, I would not be more excited.
We began our journey in a massive V-6 gas guzzler in the flagship state for hybrid cars. It takes an hour or so to reach the coast from Hollywood, but the rush of air on the uncovered jeep help more excitement per moment than Hollywood had offered in an entire day.
The coast was evasive but after the foreshadow of a sweet scent of salt water, we were given our prize. Unending sea on one side, and on the other, cliffs and mountains finely crafted by millions of years of erosion and tectonic violence. This road had it all; and we hadn't even made it to the coastal highway yet.
Once we entered upon the famous route 1; it became immensely clear that the new jeep was a serious automobile. The steering was impeccable, and the designers opted to make the vehicle more aerodynamic than its predecessors. The corners were sublime and I would find myself in constant reprove from my navigator. My mind was on the road and the fun of testing the limits of grip on a vehicle not quite designed for task, in theory. The jeep held true... I was in love...
But I would take a mistress, and her name was the pacific. The ocean was a blue that was pure and unending, save for moments of sublime green. My mistress had an attitude though; and she used it to grind into the Americas with such vigor as to carve breathtaking cliffsides and force the road to take evermore exciting turns to avoid an unintentional belly flop into the deep.
The vista stops were well placed and gave you an upfront hint that something amazing could be found. Do not hesitate to stop if you have the time.
The main course of this feast however, would not be entire made from nature. The most breathtaking views in this driver's eyes would be punctuated by the work of engineers. Bridges... while making the drive less curvaceous, they looked almost natural themselves the way they dug into the land and became one with the rock. The bridge at Big Sur was the perfect melding of technology and nature. The cliffside's beauty was accentuated by the sound of the tires as they entered the bridge, and the echo of road noise invoked the chasm below. Stop after this bridge and get out of your car. You need to see this spot.
The Pacific Coast highway is the surreal combination of gratuitous natural beauty, and gratuitously curvaceous roads to provide excitement. But, there are multiple highways that will get you to the other end faster; this road is functionally obsolete...
So if this is not the best way to get from point A to point B? Why drive it? Why bother building a road by the sea when it is an hour shorter to take the 101?
Well... I once heard someone attempt to define "art." For something to be truly art... it can have no purpose except for existing, and it can serve no other function. Well, while you can get across the state using route 1... you wouldn't be driving it just to do that...
The Pacific Coast Highway is not just a road... it is a work of art in itself... inspired by nature and expressed by man.
"I discovered North America and all I got was this lousy t-shirt"
Christopher Columbus
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