The Road to 65, Mile 237: Back From California

Posted by Sagittarian Seeker on July 28, 2015 in Social, Travel

July 23, 2015, Prescott- I rose early in Barstow’s Motel 66, and looked around for a breakfast spot. There were all manner of little convenience markets and small fast food establishments. Yet, breakfast for me, as often as possible, has to be a balanced meal. When I am home, that usually means cereal with milk and fruit. When I am on the road, anything less than a Denny’s, or preferably, the local morning gathering place, is unacceptable. Barstow’s morning spot is Jenny’s Grill, a full-service Mexican restaurant, that offers American breakfasts, as well, with a twist: Chips and salsa appear on the table, before the beverage.

I am a good sport about such things. When in a pizzeria, in South Korea, kimchi accompanied the meal. In many countries, breakfast is merely the first serving of what one also eats for lunch and dinner. We norteamericanos are rather spoiled, in that vein. I did find pico de gallo to be agreeable, as the first thing down my throat, this morning. After all, tomatoes are a fruit, and many people like tomato juice as a morning beverage. So, given the choice of pancakes, French toast, omelets, etc., I thought back to when I visited Laredo, three years ago, and ordered a chorizo omelet. I find you can’t go wrong with good chorizo. Jenny’s has good chorizo.

The owner/maintenance lady/housekeeper, at Motel 66, is also tech-savvy, and got the balky WiFi connection up and running, twice, when the local cable people pulled the plug on us. I would gladly stay here again, especially if I head out this way during Spring Break, next year.

The drive east was uneventful and not unpleasant, with some sort of cool air reserve coming through the vents, even though I did not have the A/C on. My spirit guides surely are good to me. Despite the bridge collapse, on I-10, to the south, I did not see any appreciable increase in traffic, on I-40. Once past Needles, I stopped for gas, at Golden Valley, AZ, for a fill-up that was under $40. Then, it was non-stop to base camp, and unloading the car, around 5 PM. After walking down to Rosa’s, for her special dumplings, in pomodoro sauce, and a frozen yogurt at Frozen Frannie’s, I was officially back in town.

The Road to 65, Mile 236: Back to California, Day 6, Part 3: A Resilient Queen

Posted by Sagittarian Seeker on July 27, 2015 in Hiking and Nature, Travel

July 22, 2015, Santa Barbara- Mission Santa Barbara is the sixth California mission I have visited, and only the second I have visited twice, along with San Diego de Alcala. The first time scarcely counts, though, as the interior had closed. The same is true of Mission San Luis Obispo de Tolosa, which was about to close when we got there, in 1997.

Yet, let’s get back to the splendidly restored Santa Barbara, “Queen of the Missions”, and another erstwhile casualty of the earthquake of 1925. The community knew only one thing to do, afterwards, and that was to rebuild.

Even with its modern ambiance, Mission Santa Barbara exudes a strong spirituality, especially in its courtyard garden.

The Tower at Pisa has nothing on this olive tree.

This garden font was operating on trickle mode, enough to show the tenacity of the “Queen”, whilst also showing sensitivity to the overall situation in the State of California.

This Mission is one of several which has one public entrance, through the gift shop, where a cashier collects the $8 fee (for adults, 18-64). The restoration work has all come from visitors’ fees, so they’ve been put to good use.

The bell tower, and much of the northern section of the Mission, are off limits to visitors.

As with other Spanish colonial structures, the walkways are shored up by exposed beams, in the ceilings.

Various small chapels are dedicated to Mother and Child, throughout the periphery of the Mission Church.

St. Peter is shown, honouring his suffering Lord.

The cemetery dates from the 1770’s.

Garden plots and funerary chapels are common here.

The doorway to the Mission Church is guarded by three skulls, so as to prevent malevolence from entering the sanctuary.

Silence is maintained here, as the church is an active parish’s place of worship, first and foremost.

The framed flat column is a unique feature of Mission Santa Barbara. At least, I’ve not seen it in any other missions. It is intended as a place to make offerings.

Chumash art is found throughout the Mission, as well. This chandelier anchor also guards against demons.

The Chumash are among the first Indigenous nations to share their painting skills with Europeans.

In the museum rooms, details of daily mission life are made clear. This is a depiction of the friary kitchen. It reminds me of its counterpart at Mission San Luis, in Tallahassee.

Between the Mission Church and the museum, Christ is depicted as a man of strength and courage, comforting Mary Magdalene.

This aqueduct was the place where Chumash workers would bathe, and wash their garments.

Although La Huerta, the signature garden of Mission Santa Barbara, was off-limits, the Olive Trail Garden, as well as the Courtyard Garden shown aforehand, were open to visitors. I have become quite enamored of anything bright red, on this trip.

It was hot, being mid-afternoon, so I bid farewell to the Queen of Missions, with a nod to its place in the skyline.

Thus, my northward journey to the south-facing coastline began to wind down. Eastward ho! I drove to Santa Clarita, the recently incorporated (1987) conglomeration of San Fernando Valley communities, due east of Santa Barbara, and opted for the familiar format of Chili’s,in the Newhall section, as a dinner venue, foregoing a brief plan to head into the Saugus section of town, for a meal at Los Angeles County’s oldest restaurant. It was getting too late,but next time out- Saugus, CA will be on the itinerary.

A few hours later, via Palmdale and Victorville, I made my evening destination of Barstow. Motel 66 is a clean and eminently affordable Mom & Pop west side establishment, and I don’t need anything more. Tomorrow, I will head back to home base, through the familiar Mohave Desert and uplands of Yavapai County.

The Road to 65, Mile 236: Back to California, Day 6, Part 2: A Majestic Courthouse

Posted by Sagittarian Seeker on July 27, 2015 in Travel

July 22, 2015, Santa Barbara- Like the Spokane County Courthouse and Tarrant County Building, in Fort Worth, Santa Barbara County Courthouse is the majestic centerpiece of its city’s downtown. There are several architectural gems in the central core of this breathtaking mission city. They are eclipsed by the hall of justice. The building is a reconstruction of the first Courthouse, which was destroyed by the 1925 Santa Barbara earthquake.

No detail, interior or exterior, goes unattended by the Courthouse’s housekeeper.

This mural, by Marge Dunlap, is actually on the front of the County Engineering Building, adjacent to the Courthouse. It is, according to the artist’s description, as abstract piece, showing trees as sentient beings that stand guard over the house. There is no reason given for the two moons. SAMSUNG CAMERA PICTURES

The Spirit of The Ocean Fountain was turned off, in keeping with the spirit of dealing with the drought.

Various miniature sculptures and filigree adorn all areas of the exterior.

Murals are found throughout the building, giving equal presence to the indigenous Chumash people and to the Spanish who settled among them.

Tapestries line the wall, outside the central Court Chamber.

In the former County Supervisors’ room, now called the Mural Room, lies a more elaborate series of murals, showing the Spanish subjugation of the Chumash and other parts of Santa Barbara history.

Here is the first floor lobby. Note the Moorish influence, in the ceiling design.

The Spanish also continued with Romanesque features, which appealed to the designers of the 1927 reconstructed Courthouse.

More Moorish influence appears in the ornate blue and gold ceiling.

This ceremonial planter is one of my favourites.

Finally, here is another section of Santa Barbara history, in the Mural Room.

Here are a couple of other random samples of Spanish influence, on the architecture of the early 20th Century American residents of Santa Barbara.

Despite its sprawling nature, Santa Barbara gave me a very comfortable, cozy feeling, as I walked about downtown. Two miles east, the “Old Mission” awaited.

The Road to 65, Mile 236: Back to California, Day 6- Part 1,The South-facing Coast

Posted by Sagittarian Seeker on July 26, 2015 in Travel

July 22, 2015, Santa Barbara- The south-facing coast of California has fascinated me since I first came upon Santa Barbara, in 1980. My family only caught fleeting glimpses of the area in 1992, during a business trip to Santa Monica, and again in 1997, on our return from a visit to Santa Cruz. It was enough, though, to make Refugio Beach a favourite and to make a personal vow to visit the interior of the “Old Mission”, as the residents here refer to Mission Santa Barbara, two miles from downtown.

The day in this salubrious area will be posted in three parts: First, Lake Casitas, Carpinteria and the beach around Stearns Wharf are the foci of this post. Next, I will present the grand Santa Barbara County Courthouse. Lastly, the stage will be occupied by the Mission.

As I stated earlier, this is the only part of the California coast that faces southward. A compass on Stearns Wharf illustrates this.

I began the day, though, with a brief stop along the northern edge of Lake Casitas, a reservoir and fresh-water fishing mecca for local residents. The lake had been down, severely, over the past three years. It looked a tad healthier today, from what I had seen in earlier photos. Still, it has a good ways to go, and so a good, wet monsoon, followed by an El Nino soaking, would seem to be in order.

Carpinteria is the first beach town that greets the traveler, coming northward into Santa Barbara County. My main focus here was brunch, so I stopped at Jack’s Bistro and Famous Bagels. Being from the East Coast, I am fussy about my bagels, but the pancakes here are delicious and Daisy was a very nice server.

I took about a half-hour to look around downtown. Beach-wise, my main focus would be Stearns Wharf, so I did not pay to stop at Carpinteria State Beach. What caught my eye near Jack’s was the largest known Torrey Pine.

The town is named for the industrious nature that the Spanish noted in the Chumash people.

The historical museum did not open until 1, which would have set me still for two hours, and I was itchy to get to the Santa Barbara Courthouse, a marvel of architecture and interior art. So, here is the south patio of the museum.

The branch library, across the street, also has a Spanish flair.

Santa Barbara’s main beach is a volleyball mecca, and there were at least five matches going on, as I walked from my parking spot to Stearns Wharf. The tide was low, so there are no dramatic scenes in this post. Nevertheless, the harbor is a beehive of activity and Stearns is one of the few wharves onto which one may drive, if that is your wish.

The downside of the harbor is evident here. There are three oil platforms on its outer edge.

Earlier energy quests inspired this “Moby Dick” depiction, by Beth Amine. Her original work was lost, when Stearns Wharf burned in 1998.

Santa Barbara decorates its roundabouts well, especially downtown.

Here is a bicycle roundabout, near the Volleyball Courts.

If I get back here sometime on a mini-jaunt, the focus would be on Refugio Beach and Goleta. For this trip, though, spending more time downtown was in order.

The Road to 65, Mile 235: Back to California, Day 5, Part 2- Point Mugu to Ojai

Posted by Sagittarian Seeker on July 25, 2015 in Hiking and Nature, Travel

July 21, 2015, Ojai- I was determined to arrive in Ojai, and to find a fairly inexpensive place in which to spend the night. That meant bypassing Mission San Buenaventura, in- you guessed it, Ventura. This seaside namesake of the LA area’s northern county, and its sister city, Oxnard, were full-up congested, as I passed through. At one point, with a Ventura police officer behind me in traffic, a boy of about nine started to walk nonchalantly into traffic, with his little sister in tow. He froze when he saw me, but I stopped, halfway through the intersection, and waved them on through. The cop followed me for about 1 1/2 blocks, then determined I was of sound mind, and went on his way. Crosswalks are there to be used.

Before that, though, I happened through an area not high on a lot of people’s to visit list: Point Mugu. It used to be a major naval station, though it, and nearby Port Hueneme, have been downsized. The rock, though, did attract about a dozen bathers and sun-worshippers.

This rock, south of the signature Point, was partly occupied by three off-duty sailors, who declined to be photographed. So, I made do with the western edge.

The drive to Ojai, once through the Ventura County beach towns, was serene and lovely. I chose Oakridge Inn, in Oak View, as my resting place for the night. It is close enough to Ojai, for a quick jaunt to that mountain town, and near to the junction which leads to Carpinteria and Santa Barbara.

Ojai has just the right mix of generations and balance of artistic and business-oriented people. It’s also one of the cleanest towns I’ve seen in southern California. The downtown mall is a mix of Spanish and Old West influences.

The Post Office has an Andalusian ambiance.

This is the courtyard behind Feast Bistro. Many people use this area to walk their dogs in the evening. It reminds me of some shopping minmalls in the town of Sedona, near Prescott.

This fountain has been turned off, due to California’s paltry water supply.

Here is another class act: Feast Bistro. It’s a local favourite, and everyone there that night seemed to be a regular. Dogs are welcome on the patio, and are given water bowls, so long as they are leashed and well-behaved.

It’s no wonder my West LA friend, Kate, recommended Ojai so highly.

The Road to 65, Mile 235: Back to California, Day 5, Part 1- Santa Monica to Malibu

Posted by Sagittarian Seeker on July 22, 2015 in Hiking and Nature, Social, Travel

July 21, 2015, Ojai- My first shot, up Pacific Coast Highway, was rather fast- with only the usual five-minute slowdown around LAX to add some vintage Los Angeles to the mix. Actually, because of advance planning, I haven’t encountered gridlock in the City of Angels, regardless of the route. I-5, I-405 and I-10 have all been no worse, and usually better, than Phoenix, Denver, Atlanta, Chicago, Boston or New York. I take that back: Once, and only once, I spent an hour on the 91, from Anaheim to Riverside.

My first stop on this varied and fascinating day was at a Peet’s Coffee, in Santa Monica. Main Street has dirt-cheap parking lots, and my spirits guided me to the one across from Peet’s, even before I spotted the coffee shop itself. Good thing, this, as I arrived right at the appointed time to meet with a long-time Word Press friend. Kate has been an inspiration to me, since 2012, when I first read her account of a road trip across the South. Since then, she has focused on many aspects of life, not the least of which being establishing a home, with husband, Brian, and their adorable dog, Frank.

Our conversation lasted about an hour, running the gamut from “How I Met My Wife” to various aspects of our respective journeys- and, of course, Frank- her second-favourite being. Life intervenes, though, and at noon, she was off to work and I, to Malibu.

At the Los Angeles area’s northernmost beach-meets-canyon wonderland, I was greeted by a sanguine presence. Mr. Gull, of course, was at the Sport-Fishing Pier, calmly awaiting dropped bait and other delights.

I wandered around the beach area, near the pier, for about forty minutes, just enjoying the sights and sounds of families, young adults, and the sea itself, at play.

I’m not sure how I would do in a sea kayak, or on a boogie board. Those days passed, with yours truly being only a marginal swimmer.

The City of Malibu has gone to great lengths to add flora to its roadsides, both along the highway and on its canyon feeder roads. Some, like this palm, are native.

Others, like bougainvillea, just make everything cheerful.

No visit to this area, however short, is complete without a drive in the Santa Monica Mountains. I spent about an hour, here and there, spotting one actress known on television, standing in a driveway, apparently waiting for her ride and looking at me like I was a celebrity. At another overlook, while I was sitting in my car, eating a muffin, another young lady, whom I recognized as a child star from the ’90’s, zipped into the lot and jumped out of her car, getting back into it, on the passenger side and sitting with the door open, gazing out at the luscious canyon. (Out of respect for these folks’ privacy, I do not identify them in my posts, nor do I approach them for conversation, especially when it’s just the two of us in an isolated area.)

Here are some shots of the exquisite mountains and canyons, which gaze down on the eternal sea.

One could wander for days on end, along Mulholland, and its feeder roads, often without seeing a soul, even in these havens for the people of the entertainment community, and their looky-Lous. I had a few other spots to catch, though, before the day was done. One that I had considered, Neptune’s Net, a cafe on the Ventura County side of Malibu, found me there at 3 P.M., not my idea of meal time. So, it was on to Point Mugu, and Ojai, which will be the foci of the next post.

The Road to 65, Mile 234: Back to California, Day 4

Posted by Sagittarian Seeker on July 21, 2015 in Hiking and Nature, Social, Travel

July 20, 2015, Lomita, CA- I bid farewell to my back-to-work son, around 8:15 this morning, and went back on the road apiece. We agreed that my main focus, over at least the next five years, has to be my staying closer to base and building my stock back up. The rest of the world will be there, when I am 70, and beyond. Others have concurred with that, while acknowledging that jaunts around North America, and over to Europe, were a good thing for my soul.

I made my usual visit to Orange County, stopping in San Clemente, for time with a longtime friend, J. We go for a short walk, take lunch and engage in about an hour’s worth of detailed conversation. Today’s pier walk offered some good views of big waves, brought to SoCal by Hurricane Dolores, which also gave us two days of rain.

The waves, of course, attracted surfers, of various skill levels, up and down the coast.

You see, above, the progressions of three waves, as they crest and break.

My friend and I went to lunch at Fisherman’s, on the pier’s edge, and each enjoyed salmon and chips. Our server, R, was keeping a game face and tending to us very well, given the humidity. We were inside, and I noticed the poor ladies out on the patio, looking as if they were about to keel over. Tip your servers well, in this hot oven of a summer.

The bougainvillea, off to the north, added some festivity to the scene. SoCal will surely enjoy at least a brief respite from July & August brownery, with the just passed storm.

Bidding my friend farewell, I headed up the 405, past Long Beach, to the Pacific Coast Highway. The Palos Verdes Peninsula was next on the agenda. My friend, M, who lives not far away, calls this “his” peninsula. He and I had a long phone conversation, afterwards, though he was indisposed for a visit.

Anyway, the headlands are a natural preserve. One may enjoy the view from above, and/or go down a formidable series of steps, to the beach itself. As I had to call M, before he turned in, the upper view sufficed.

A lovely day overall was capped by a gyro sandwich & rice, at Mr. Soulis, a Greek establishment, a bit up the road from Royal Inn, Lomita, where I was staying the night. Another wonderful soul tended the counter and lit up the room with her smile and graceful demeanor.

Things are going well, and I must remain responsible.

The Road to 65, Mile 233: Back to California, Day 3

Posted by Sagittarian Seeker on July 20, 2015 in Hiking and Nature, Social, Travel

July 19, 2015, Chula Vista- This was a rain-check, for much of the day. That suits my heart just fine. Nowhere is rain more needed than in the Golden State. I was able to finish reading “Death and White Diamonds”, by Jeff Markowitz, and thus have my suspicions verified,as to the end. Since Jeff is one of Word Press’s, and Xanga’s, own. several of you will surely wish to read this novel for yourselves. Here are Laverne and Shirley, and the Rizzo family: Izzy, Lizzy, Cissy and Missy, but not Ratso. It also answers the question, “Why take the stairs, when you can just use the elevator?”, but that’s all I can say right now.

Aram and I had a tentative plan to visit the Japanese Garden, in Balboa Park, but the greater good intervened, and the rain was heavier today, than it was yesterday. So, chill out indoors, we did. I caught the most recent episode of “Wayward Pines”, on my laptop, as well as read the aforementioned whodunit.

After Aram’s second straight successful dinner offering, I took advantage of a brief lull in the rain, to check out his new neighbourhood. A YMCA Teen Center occupies an old and interesting building.

Rice Canyon, seen from above, offers a four-mile walking, jogging and biking path, between Chula Vista and National City, to the north.

I was content with keeping to the sidewalk overlook, especially as it was near twilight. Still, it’s quite gratifying to have spotted what some call the South County’s best kept secret. It’s been a restful and very gratifying weekend.

The Road to 65, Mile 232: Back to California, Day 2

Posted by Sagittarian Seeker on July 19, 2015 in Social, Travel

July 18, 2015, Chula Vista- It was wet, very wet, across southern California, this morning. I very happily made my way, slowly, from Oak Grove to Santa Ysabel, and then to this sprawling and resilient city of 217,000, at the gateway to Baja California. I chose to wait out the worst of the thunder and lightning at the campground, before heading west and south.

Breakfast was a bit late, 10 A.M., at Apple Country- my go-to place in this little mission town, northwest of Julian. The rain lulled just long enough for me to get a pie, at nearby Julian Pie Company, to take to Aram. Once I was back on the road, so was the rain. We traveled together to Chula Vista, and the steady soaking downpour made normally frenetic SoCal drivers take heed. There were “only” two accidents, along my route, but they were sufficient to slow everyone down even further, though it was nothing like the tie-up south of Reno, on June 28. Of course, there were the usual anomalies- a wrong way driver shooting out of an entry ramp, at I-15 south, in Escondido and a propane truck doing 70, on the inside lane of said thoroughfare, while the rest of us were content with 50, in the increasing downpour.

This is a most blessed sight, this wet pavement.

Son and I made a trip to Costco and picked up a table and chairs for his new apartment, then took in “Ant Man”, a surprisingly interesting film that centers on quantum physics- and touches on how feelings of jealousy and unrequited filial piety can lead to villainous madness. Ants, as many of us have come to realize, are powerful and fascinating beings- as long as they don’t infest one’s home, or other surroundings!

We had our customary lengthy conversation, afterward, with Aram putting together a fine meal, in his first real kitchen. Good times don’t have to be dramatic, in southern California.

The Road to 65, Mile 231: Back to California, Day 1

Posted by Sagittarian Seeker on July 19, 2015 in Hiking and Nature, Travel

July 17, 2015, Oak Grove, CA– “Don’t go telling people this is Aguanga. We’re Oak Grove! The sign even says so.” Thus did a campground host admonish me, when I was describing my location to someone on the phone. This little village is darned proud of its identity, and never mind that the mail is addressed to Aguanga, six miles to the northeast. I stopped here for the night, at what has become my go-to campground, when en route to visiting my son, who is in the Navy, in the San Diego area.

My journey started in a more timely manner than previous SoCal trips, with my getting out the door by 9 A.M. I was in Blythe by noon, affording me a nice lunch at Rebel BBQ, my favourite venue in Riverside County’s eastern gateway. It offers south Texas-style barbecue fare, including brisket prepared with a Mexican-German sauce blend. They offer something called vinegar slaw, which sounds like sauerkraut, but I opted for creamy slaw, with my meal.

It was 102 F, in Blythe, so I headed quickly uphill, getting to Hemet, a higher desert town, by 3. I spent a bit more time here than I have in the past, and for the first time, I checked out Hemet’s downtown, starting with its library, where I spent an hour or so.

The town also has a lovely Children’s Museum, on the southern edge of downtown. Not having a little one along, I didn’t go inside, but a local mother takes her children there, several times a year. This speaks well of Hemet’s regard for its rising generation.

The view towards Mount San Jacinto, 40 miles to the east, is spectacular.

I headed out of town, along Juan Bautista de Anza Historical Trail, which is paved as far as the Conservation Camp, named in de Anza’s honour. The route passes several orange groves, which remain a staple of Hemet’s economy, while having faded in other parts of southern California.

Bautista Conservation Camp, run by the State of California, is used as a staging area for fire suppression efforts. Painfully, not so far away, on the north side of San Bernardino County, a serious fire is wreaking havoc, destroying a small hamlet and threatening other areas. I hope the hurricane remnants, that are forecast for tomorrow, bring soaking rain to the region.

Between Bautista Camp and the Cahuila Indian Reservation, one goes along a narrow, unpaved road, and is treated to exquisite views like this:

I can only imagine these will be even more gorgeous, once the rain comes. Now, to sleep under the stars, before that happens.

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A Sagittarian Seeker

Sharing a life of inner and outer journeys

Category Archives: Travel

The Road to 65, Mile 236: Back to California, Day 6, Part 3: A Resilient Queen

The Road to 65, Mile 236: Back to California, Day 6, Part 2: A Majestic Courthouse

The Road to 65, Mile 236: Back to California, Day 6- Part 1,The South-facing Coast

The Road to 65, Mile 235: Back to California, Day 5, Part 2- Point Mugu to Ojai

The Road to 65, Mile 231: Back to California, Day 1

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