Big Sur's scenic grandeur and formidable landscapes have inspired countless artists and writers to capture the essence of Big Sur's magic. Early pioneers struggled to carve out their meager farms and ranchos, a few ships plied the treacherous rocky coastline, some losing their precious cargos at night to vicious storms, gold miners worked the ghost town of Manchester, while loggers stripped tanbark, giant redwoods were harvested, and ranchers exported grizzly bears by boats, and more recently thousands of hippies tried out their culture on the fragile environment. Those who survived it all inspired this book of tales.