At first, I was planning on walking the valley of Hwy 101, through towns such as Greenville, King City, Paso Robles and Atascadero. However, Portland-residing California friend Sonya Duffin sounded off loudly to me as I was approaching Silicon Valley: “Walk the Big Sur Coast!”
Just as that ragtag band of bikers had ultimately inspired me to shift my miles toward the coastal highways of northern Cali, Sonya’s words ultimately shifted me to the Big Sur Coast.
As I was planning for my coming miles down CA Hwy 1, I found that very few people lived there; and I would not be receiving any Couchsurfing invitations, so I sought out any sort of hotels, motels, inns, whatever. To my surprise, I found a couple dozen inns via my digital map search of Big Sur. I wrote to them all. Between the 97 miles of Carmel & Cambria, I received one response, from the Post Ranch Inn.
I’d never heard of the Post Ranch Inn, but when I took a closer look at them online, I found that the average room here rents for over a thousand dollars per night(!!!)
Upon my arrival, the kind lady at the front gate knew my name and my story. The people in the front office did as well. Manager Dan Priano appeared to personally introduce himself, warmly shaking my hand, greeting me to the Post Ranch, and telling me “dinner’s on me tonight.”
A member of the staff ushered me to my room, the top story of what I believe was a Butterfly Room (I’m not sure; only the individual room name, Dolan, was clearly marked).  From the top of the three stories, a great view of the east hills was visible through the trees, and I had a partial view of the coast from up there as well.  The air was among the cleanest and crispest I’ve breathed, with the perfect subtle mix of sea salt smells and emanating pine trees.
Pools, spas, a sauna, a workout gym, morning yoga, and other amenities were all available– a few of them 24/7.  The staff was very professional and friendly, and I had to wonder at times if they outnumbered the amount of guests, who also seemed to be present in adequate numbers over the MLK holiday weekend.
At a flat rate of $105 per plate, dinner at the Post Ranch Inn’s Sierra Mar Restaurant isn’t cheap, but the food is fantastic.  (And I certainly had no problem with it being totally provided to me compliments of Dan– they wouldn’t even allow me to tip.)
Admittedly, as I was settling in to bed at night, I was on one hand thoroughly enjoying the ultra-luxurious experience they were providing to me, yet at the same time, just as I’d camped at a deserted campground after arriving to Andrew Molera State Park hours into the dark of night after the previous long day on the road, I also knew that enjoying the Post Ranch too much would make it that much harder to return to the tiny bivy tent the following night– and I knew that this is exactly what was about to come for me.  So, I kept everything in balance, and I felt that all went perfectly well.  I slept and enjoyed everything– but not too much. I left with having enjoyed one of the best nights of the walk.  (Of course, by now, almost every night on the road seems to be one of the best nights.)
Upon checking out the next day, Lauren, the reception desk supervisor, gave me a small list of family contacts in New Mexico and Texas– a part of the country she’s originally from.  She told me they’d surely host me as I pass through.  As I’ll be experiencing few populated places over the course of a thousand miles or so of the Southwest, I’m sure I’ll definitely be making use of her contacts. 
The Post Ranch was an excellent experience.  I do recommend it to anyone who (unlike me) can actually afford it.  My only caveat is to remember that the fantasy experience enjoyed there will be followed by the inevitable return to daily life.  Keep this in mind, in the right way, and it will make the return to daily life much more palatable.

Outdoors last night & tomorrow night; Post Ranch Inn tonight.