Apr 21, 2013 - Back to SB

We had to move our Moho to let the guy behind us out. We went ahead and went to the top of the hill and filled up with water. We set our rig back up and then went back to SB to get the gift. We did not stay in SB long, we wanted to get back and ride our bikes. We got back to camp and road our bikes to Refugio Beach, what an awesome ride, right along the ocean. You have to climb a few hills, but it was good exercise. Refugio is nice, but it looks like only a couple of spots big enough for our rig. One camp host spot was pretty big. We had...

Apr 21, 2013 - Day 5

4/21 – Mission Santa Barbara is called the Queen of the Missions for its beauty, and a suitably beautiful town grew up around it. Mass was happening when I arrived so I hummed along with the hymn singing and enjoyed the beautiful gardens until I could get into the church. The mission is famous for its exemplary water system and the 1808 fountain, where the residents did their laundry, still stands in the garden, now used mostly by the birds. My favorite sighting today was the massive Australian Moreton fig tree in the 1790’s cemetery....

Apr 20, 2013 - Shopping in Santa Barbara

We drove to Santa Barbara, about 30 miles from El Capitan to do some shopping. Had lunch at a pretty good Mexican restaurant, Cielo. My fish taco was good and Norma loved her shrimp tacos. Norma found her outfit for Mariah's wedding and we did a lot of walking. Again 70 degrees and sunny. Found a Christmas gift for one of our kids, but have to go back tomorrow to pick it up. Got back to camp and BBQ'd some hot links and chilled.

Mar 31, 2013 - Santa Barbara, CA

Day 24 - March 28 Every time we saw I-405, it was parking lot, so we decided to take our chances on CA1 - the Pacific Coast Highway - as we headed north. It was actually a good drive - lots of signal lights, but no traffic jams. Greater Los Angeles is such a huge city. We left Seal Beach about 10:15am and stopped for a lunch and rest break at just north of Santa Monica about noon. That was about 60 miles and we still had 98 miles to drive to our destination. We were driving along the coast the whole day, through Malibu to Santa Barbara. Our...

Jul 22, 2012 - day 13 San Diego to Santa Barbara

Traffic was heavy and our early (5am) start was foiled by a flat tire on the trailer. Luckily we found an independent bike shop (san clemente riders club) to fix the tire and only lost 2.5 hours. So we hit LA at noon on Sunday and it was hell. The traffic up the coast from Santa Monica was also a zoo. We made Marryannes at 4PM.

Jun 5, 2012 - Santa Barbara and Solvang

A free day so we alone decided to go to Santa Barbara and take the trolley tour. It was a beautiful drive down the coast and Santa Barbara is a really pretty city full of Spanish architecture and incredible lush landscaping. As residents know and visitors quickly discover, Santa Barbara has a magic unlike anywhere else on Earth, a unique feeling that's more than wine and arts, more than sunshine and the crisp air off the Pacific, more than amazing food and natural beauty. Santa Barbara is all of these things wrapped into the richness of a...

Mar 30, 2012 - Thousand Trails Rancho Oso

Stayed at Thousand Trails Rancho Oso for seven nights. Very nice NACO preserve with 108 FHU, 25 with Power & Water only, and several overflow sites. We are Platinum members of Thousand Trails/NACO/Leisure Time; a private campground membership. This is a highly recommended Thousand Trails RV Resort! Note 1: On our drive from Vista, CA to Santa Barbara, CA the new (just replaced) controller literally overheated and melted. After much discussion with Blue Sky owner Rick Cullen, we determined the controller in question was getting too many...

Mar 16, 2012 - Morgan Hill here we come

We are leaving Rancho Oso Thousand Trails park in the Los Padres National Forest. We are headed for the Morgan Hill area today which is where I call home because that is where my Mom and sisters live. My brothers live in Illinois. We have really been couch potatoes the last 4 days. We have been incredibly busy the last couple of months and it has been nice to veg out a bit, catch up on hours and hours of recorded TV, and wade through the hundreds of pictures in an attempt to catch up on my blog. This TT park is actually quite pretty. It is...

Jan 16, 2012 - Santa Barbara

We encountered alternator problems...! Made it here with gas on empty and battery light on! Friend Nancy Gong gave us phone # of SB Mazda near her and appt for 7:50am next day. 1-17 Spent morning with Mike, Nancy's very companionable ex who showed us around SB and took us to war for a splendid view breakfast while we waited for car repairs. The newly installed alternator was defective so now Blue (car) won't be ready til tomorrow. Grade school friend, Linda came by Nancy's and the 3 gals reminiscenced 35 years ago travels together ......

Dec 21, 2011 - We're here in Santa Barbara

Well, we're almost to LA and the family! Drove down from Monterey to Santa Barbara yesterday - and took the very long and very scenic route. Didn't arrive at the hotel until 6:30 PM! Made a quick stop at Fisherman's Wharf in Monterey to walk around and also take some photos (surprise!). The flowers and cactus shots were taken there. Then we drove down to Carmel but didn't stay long because as beautiful as that place is, it's a zoo trying to get around. Then we started the very long drive down the coast. It probably takes 2 or maybe even 3...

Oct 19, 2011 - Beautiful Santa Barbara

We took the coastal route, Highway 1, from Pacific Grove to Santa Barbara. Not a drive to do if you're in a hurry, prone to car sickness or it is a foggy day. Luckily, none of those applied to us! The road is narrow and curvy, running along the cliffs above a wild coastline with amazing views most of the way. We stopped for photos at a couple of view points and also at the site of a revitalized elephant seal colony. Apparently, the seals were nearly wiped out but in the early '90s they started making a comeback and now, a colony of 50,000...

Oct 9, 2011 - Los Angeles to Santa Barbara

Crashed and burned last night, needed 8 hours sleep to get over the bike trip. Slow start including a workout in the gym and catching up with the journal after a few days with no wifi. Grabbed a quick bite for breaky before it closed and got in the car to drive over to Long Beach to go to a pre '69 auto swap meet. $8 each to get in and a long walk up and down the isles of vendors. There were complete cars, parts, memorabilia,clothes and all sorts of projects for sale. Prices were dirt cheap such as a resto 66 mustang convertible in black...