The loveliest 17 miles ever driven

I don't think I've snapped more pictures of natural beauty than during this 17 mile stretch of scenic magnificence, which stole my heart for the loveliest land and sea along the Central Coast. We had lofty plans to bike around the Monterey Peninsula on a surrey, but we're Angelenos who underestimated NorCal's freezing summertide winds. We opted to drive instead, which worked out blissfully. We stayed nice and cozy inside the car, and Serene napped during the first leg of the drive, so Alex and I took every opportunity to marvel, ponder, and photograph (of course) at every rest stop. Serene woke up right when we spotted some deer, which was the highlight of the afternoon. It was our favorite rest stop and first time sharing space with wild deer. The succession of whirling winds, misty fog, slate-colored seas, dramatic coastlines, rugged terrain, jagged rocks, majestic cypress forests, and wild beachside flora dotted intermittently with bougie estates was hauntingly beautiful. I always love coming up north because the topography is more raw and untouched, as opposed to its southern counterpart, where palm trees line tame beaches. Plus, we encountered hardly a soul during our gallivant, as opposed to the crowds at the aquarium and on Cannery Row the day beforehand. Nearly surreal, really, that we were able to witness the pristine natural splendor of His handiwork.