Here in Mill Creek, Big Sur, there are many places that have the potential to transform and invigorate consciousness.
The stream near my house is always a fun place to go and see the flow of energy in action. In winter the little stream bubbles and sometimes even roars as it ducks through the culvert under the road.
The continuous change of the current shows the power of nature to transform every bit of energy into something else.
This small tributary will eventually flow into Mill Creek, a large creek that sits at the bottom of the greenest forest in this entire section of California. It will first traverse the north side of the watershed, then join the other two tributaries, which lie at the foot of steep hills covered in wild undergrowth.
At the foot of the hill it joins the Pacific, on a beach that is the ideal launching point for local fishermen. There is a picnic area and great views of the coast to the north. Passing a small path that passes over a rock on the south side of the cove, it is possible to reach a larger cove with a beach.
Rarely visited, it is a charming place!
The willows at the base of the hill grow thick, and the stream is no longer a quiet stream, but a torrent of wonderful clean water. There are small valleys in the willows that offer shade in the summer. The refreshing scent of false nettle adds to the beauty.
Lying in the willows and listening to the sound of the stream mixed with the sounds and smells of the ocean is a paradise indeed.
Big Sur and its ever-changing wild energy are unmatched.
This is a great example of how nature provides a clean and spontaneous flow of energy for the creative spirit.
The colors of the forest are fresh and change every day. Mill Creek contains many types of wildflowers and wild sages. Unique microclimates come together at each small ridge. The southern slope is much warmer and drier than the north, and the character of each area is defined by its pattern of sun and shade. Unfamiliar tiny sights abound. The hidden worlds await … different types of mushrooms grow here too, depending on the weather conditions.
Here on the mountain, we like to say that if you don’t like the weather, wait five minutes. That is certainly the case here at Mill Creek. The great mass of Cone Peak to the north defines the weather pattern, and in wet years Mill Creek sometimes receives twice as much rain as anywhere else in the area.
The storms come from the sea and are captured by the great mountain, circling through the watershed two or more times before crossing the hill into the next valley to the west.
The redwoods in Mill Creek are also a source of wonder. The forest contains a wide variety of trees including oak, strawberry, pine, toyon, laurel, and many types of wildflowers.
There is a trail that begins at the foot of Nacimiento Road, the winding road that crosses the mountains between Highway 1 and Highway 101. The trailhead is about a half mile from the start of the road off Highway 1.
