I Will Never Forget The Hike That Started Near The Nude Beach.
And why it will always make me think of Robin Williams.
The Central Coast of California has always been a favorite vacation spot for my family. Growing up, we spent many Thanksgivings camping at North Beach campground in Pismo with my dad’s siblings and children. Later my dad moved there and has lived there for most of the last 30+ years.
The Central Coast is approximately 1 1/2 hours North of Santa Barbara and 2 1/2 hours south of Monterey and is home to many different small beach towns. Our favorite area is the Five Cities area consisting of Shell Beach, Pismo Beach, Grover Beach, Oceano, and Arroyo Grande.
Just 15 minutes North and slightly inland is the beautiful college town of San Luis Obispo. You can take the historic Hwy 1 to Baywood-Los Osos, Morro Bay, Cayucos, Cambria, and then San Simeon, home of the famous Heart Castle.
Slightly Northwest of the Five Cities is Avila Beach, a beach town demolished and rebuilt from 1998–2006 due to an oil spill. Just west of Avila Beach is one of the few remaining nuclear power plants, Diablo Canyon, which is due to be shut down in the next 4–5 years.
Our hike began in a parking lot east of Avila and reportedly north of a nude beach, where our countdown begins.
#8 — Pirate’s Cove
Isn’t Pirate’s Cove an excellent name for a nude beach? I didn’t get close enough to take a good picture because 1) I’m not a nudist, 2) My children were with me, and 3) I don’t post nudes!
#7 — Danger! The END is near!
Who wouldn’t want to begin a hike promising danger and the END? We were up for the challenge!
#6 — Family
The summer of 2014 was the summer before my oldest started college. We knew family vacations would become less frequent. We had no way of knowing we had a limited number in our future. Less than two years after this photo, Patrick was gone.
#5 — Memorial Crosses
Nothing says keep on climbing like a few memorial crosses! Look, kids, some people did not finish the hike!
#4–6,788 steps, 2.92 miles, 77 floors, 25 active minutes, 1,436 calories!
Can we talk about why my Fitbit only counted 25 active minutes? The time stamps on my photos start at 2:55 PM and end at 4:23 PM. Why, Fitbit, why??? I’m sure my pride made me finish the 10,000 steps and 30 active minutes required by my goal. I don’t have photographic proof, but it sounds like something I would do.
#3 — Beautiful Views
I live in Central California, in the Fresno area. We are 2 1/2 hours from the central coast. I can have ocean views within 2 1/2 hours! We are known for raisins, farming, and high poverty level. A miniseries, starring Carol Burnett, was filmed here (gotta love the tag lines)! We are not known as the glamorous part of California. But we are near all of the best places to visit:
Yosemite — 2 hours
Sequoia — 1 hour
San Francisco & Sacramento — 3 hours
Los Angeles — 4 hours
#2 — Slippery Slope
The picture above shows the bottom of the descent. I know it looks pretty tame. In reality, my shins were killing me, and I was weak. And the sand was very slippery. Patrick had to help me down most of the way. As I started down, I got a breaking news text saying Robin Williams had died. I could not believe it! So his death probably added to my misery. I would have remembered this day no matter what, but I will never forget exactly where I was when Robin Williams died.
#1 — Patrick
Patrick loved the beach! I’m happy we have many beach memories with him, especially in the few years before he died. He always dreamed of having a second home, and thanks to Patrick’s planning, I realized this dream after his death and purchased a shared house with my sister. And yes, it’s on the Central Coast. I think he would approve!
