I know I did this same journey once before, under similar circumstances… that is how much I care… but driving Highway One on the coast of California between Santa Cruz and Morro Bay is freekin’ awesome…

I had to pull over by this little bay to take a picture of fishing boats in the fog. I mean, what is better than driving on a foggy road in the early morning hours? Nothing… except maybe riding a horse with a baby in one hand and a puppy in the other.

That’s my opinion anyway.

I pulled into Monterey about 4:15. I drove out of my way to get a few photos of the downtown area.

Monterey is awesome. They have a great aquarium… but it isn’t open at this time of day. Hell, the Starbucks wasn’t even open yet.

Maybe this place is familiar to you if you ever read any John Steinbeck.

Where does the fish you eat come from? From guys like the guys on this fishing boat, coming home a 4:30 in the morning.

Those are the lights around Monterey Bay, taken from right beside the aquarium.

And then I was back on the road, passing through Big Sur, cliffs dropping off on my right to the wild Pacific coastline below me, and cliffs rising up on my left holding off the sunrise.

But that is the moonlight reflecting on the ocean, just as the sun began to tint the sky.