Gorda General Store

WARNING!!! Before getting on HWY 1 in Big Sur, have enough gas to pass this place. Once on Hwy 1 saw a sign that said next gas 40 miles. We knew we had enough for 60 miles… well pulled into this place and was totally taken advantage of. Only get what you need. we grabbed 2 gallons at 5.99/gal and headed out… next gas is 12 miles from here. RIDICULOUS!

Stopped for gas. Bad idea. These guys charge almost twice the going rate. I paid over $ 10 to put a gallon and a half in my bike.

I too was grateful to find this little oasis yesterday off of Highway 1.
Well… grateful and frustrated.
I’d left Monterey in the early afternoon headed home for LA and was expecting a leisurely drive along the coast. Leisure wasn’t exactly on the agenda though, as I was forced to stop every other mile for north bound tourist who had pulled their cars over off the road and decided it would be smart to run across the highway, stopping south bound traffic –often suddenly– in order to get their fill of oceanic views.
Then there was «Mr. Illinois» who sat on his brakes the entire way– yes, safety along the precarious cliffs of the 1 Highway is important, but not at 25 mph dude. I’ll be sure to return the favor when I’m in Chicago next week.
The 18.9 miles I had to drive felt like 50 at this point since the general stores in Big Sur had nothing to appease my vegan cravings for something sweet, something that would tide me over for the winding multi-​mile trip ahead.
Pulling into the Gorda Country Market was hopefully my answer.
As I walked up the steps and into the store I was greeted by several large piles of firewood surrounding the front register, «Have to avoid thi…» too late, my flipflop caught the corner of the pile, slamming my little toe into the firewood.
Wide eyed, the young cashier nervously suggested I be careful.
Trying to bite back road weary frustration and throbbing-​toe tears, I was uplifted to find a vegan bar which the cashier suggested I might want to have with coffee, «It’s really good but the base is hard to chew.» So I also poured out a cup of recently brewed coffee (good) for which they had no soy or almond milk available.
Go figure. I grabbed a package of dried fruits which is good (if you don’t mind an over abundance of the preservative sulfur dioxide) a bag of Kettle Corn (stale), and a chocolate vegan cookie (acceptable).
I came back to the register finding the young cashier sharing my earlier toe-​stubbing faux pas with the manager whom she called Alice.
Alice just looked at me and started laughing, I looked back confused.
«Now you’re spilling the coffee on yourself!»
«Yes, hillllarious» I said with a half-​ass smile trying to laugh at my continuing misfortune.
Changing the subject while rubbing the stain only deeper into my shorts,
«So I haven’t had a cell connection at all on the highway since Carmel???»
«Only thing that works out here is Verizon. There’s an old pay phone outside, but not sure if it works» she says. «That’ll be $ 27 please.»
Another hit over the head to add to my other unexpected injuries.
I took my items in the bag and went outside to take a picture for Unilocal and check the pay phone to see if it worked. It didn’t.
Go Verizon.
Since the store is very close to PCH I guess it looked to Alice like I was a little too close to it as I took the photo because when I walked back to the store she’s laughing again, a bit harder this time.
I look at her inquisitively as she says «now we figured you were going to get hit!»
Incredulous, I asked her how much farther down PCH the 101 South was.
«You’ve got another 25 miles of the windy stuff and then 45 miles until San Louis Obispo, you can catch it there.»
Today I woke up with a black and blue little toe… and ego.
I gave Alice a call in Gorda.
«Hello– Gorda General.»
«Hi, is this Alice?»
«Yes?»
“This is the blonde from Los Angeles you gave directions to yesterday, you know… the one you laughed at when I stubbed my toe and spilled the coffee on myself?”
«I wasn’t laughing at you because you stubbed your toe, I was laughing because you spilled coffee on your white shorts.»
«Great, I’m glad we clarified that. The reason I’m calling is to let you know that my toe is black and blue today and I’m asking that you move the wood to a safer position so the next fool wearing flip flops that walks into your store doesn’t do the same thing.»
…silence…
«I’ll move the wood.»
I gave this Gorda General Store 4 stars for the following reasons:
1. They do have some things for vegetarian/​vegans to get you through if you need a snack over the long haul.
2. I believe the world around me is cause and effect and every attitude or action we experience is an opportunity to learn. I did.
At some point on that drive back I guess I had asked to be humbled. Mission accomplished.

The Gorda Store is small with a minimal selection. And It is in the middle of nowhere and worth every penny! I appreciate stores in the middle of nowhere as they supply me with that little bit of goodies and gas that you just can’t get anywhere else because anywhere else is a long ways away!

Okay I can stand paying $ 4.99 for a bag of Doritos and $ 1.75 for a half pint of milk. I can live with that.
It’s the snarling service that I just won’t tolerate. Dang, dude, if you hate tourists then WTF are you doing here?

State Route 1 along the central California coast.
Stunning views, often on cliffs 500 feet above the deep blue waters of the Pacific Ocean, with the sun setting in the west over those distant ripple of waves, catching the golden glint of sunshine and twinkling like a kaliedescope that is the Golden State’s picturesque treasure, beloved in awe by all who see it. Over 40 years ago, our First Lady at the time, Lady Bird Johnson, awarded this America’s most beautiful highway.
Somewhere on this curvy, vivid ribbon of beauty, where natural wonder meets man’s small quest to find a way through it as well as enjoy it, lies the little enclave that is Gorda.
Lost up against the cliffs somewhere between San Simeon to the south and Big Sur to the north, Gorda, also known as Gorda-​by-​the-​sea, or Gorda Springs, was a Native American site that took advantage of the local springs. In April 2008, at the height of the gas price inflation, it was featured nationally as having the highest gas prices in the country, $ 5.40 a gallon!
If you are needing a break after the winding roads of Highway 1, you might stop here for a break. There is a small, rustic motel and restaurant here, but it is not to any city or suburban standards, and doesn’t get good reviews unless you lower your standards understanding this, or just like to be away from the crowds and enjoying the view.
The Gorda Store, is just a little convenience store up from the restaurant, and offers a small selection of snack type items. I only stopped for a little sugar break, buying Reeses’s Pieces for $ 1.50 and a 5 minute break. Despite the Beautiful setting, there was a hint of desperation in the cashier’s voice after a rough year of the Big Sur fires, high gas prices, and the recession reducing tourists coming through.
Gorda, California is at coordinates 35°5250N 121°2701W /​35.88 048°N 121.45 022°W /​35.88 048; –121.45 022 (Gorda, California)