A friend in Santa Barbara warned me away. Don’t come now, she said, the fires are over the road. That road, Highway 101, which leads into the southern California coastal city of Santa Barbara from the north is bounded by a desertlike landscape. And no wonder it was burning. Wildfires were ravaging the state, and nearby in the Santa Ynez Valley, temperatures spiked at over 100 degrees.
Bill, Fun, though you missed out in Salinas. There's an amazing, totally divey Mexican food restaurant with the BEST chips, perfectly salty and oily! Next time. And, yes, the elephant seals are stunning down by Bill's big house on the hill. The house is pretty fascinating, too, with some lovely marble! I have driven down the road from Carmel quite a few times and always worry when I see bikers; too many people looking at the scenery. Glad you made it safe and sound.
Love this tale, Bill! I road-tripped it a few years back with my sister-outlaw and we wine-tasted our way through the Santa Ynez area—without wildfire smoke, thankfully. It looks like perfect bike-wine touring terrain. Great photos too!
Seek Memorable Travel Atop a Bicycle
nice spokeseye view of them vineyards and mountains Bill!
Bill, Fun, though you missed out in Salinas. There's an amazing, totally divey Mexican food restaurant with the BEST chips, perfectly salty and oily! Next time. And, yes, the elephant seals are stunning down by Bill's big house on the hill. The house is pretty fascinating, too, with some lovely marble! I have driven down the road from Carmel quite a few times and always worry when I see bikers; too many people looking at the scenery. Glad you made it safe and sound.
Love this tale, Bill! I road-tripped it a few years back with my sister-outlaw and we wine-tasted our way through the Santa Ynez area—without wildfire smoke, thankfully. It looks like perfect bike-wine touring terrain. Great photos too!