Claremont by way of Cambria and Santa Barbara.
If I didn’t know this was Sunday, I wouldn’t know this was Sunday. The trip is a bit disorienting when it comes to what day of the week this is. I’m about to head out, first driving to Cambria, a favorite spot for Marguerite and Mark, and a place where Bev and I have stayed and enjoyed a couple of times. Then via Santa Barbara to Marg’s in Claremont, California. Here we go…
Well, I rolled into Cambria and right way it was stupendous, as is the entire Pacific coast and many of the great towns found all the way along the coast. Cambria is a favorite town of Marg and Mark’s, and Bev and I really like the town also, having been here twice, and maybe three times.
I drove around the hills of Cambria for quite a while, overlooking the Pacific, with wonderful houses, small and big, dotted throughout (actually, I was looking for somewhere to pee), and eventually stopped by the ocean, and walked in the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary here in Cambria.
I did a little sketching while sitting on that bench in the photo below. This is really the first time I’ve sketched or even felt like sketching, in a mighty, mighty long time. I’m not sure why, but I just haven’t felt motivated. Today’s sketch of the bay inlet, houses, and hills wasn’t great, but perhaps it’ll help me get my drawing eyes and hands going again.
While at the sanctuary, I spotted a grey heron standing alone in the scrub grass checking things out, and stayed with him/her until he/she took flight.
Then into the lovely little town of Cambria, which is small but lovely, with some great eateries and some wonderful stores.
I wandered into a great store, Cinnabar, that Marg recommended long ago, which was closed the last time Bev and I were here. Right next door is Spellbound Herbs, another great gift store that we did visit last time, with a very magical garden behind the store that Bev and I loved. The garden is full of curios, and figures, and castles, and things. Just lovely. I released some of Bev’s ashes in that lovely and whimsical garden.
While walking around Cambria, eating french fries from a brown paper bag (what could be better than that?), Marg texted me and recommended the Olallieberry pie from a local restaurant, Linn’s. Turns out, Olallieberry is a type of blackberry, so no wonder I loved it. Scrumptious. It was so good, I went back and bought three more small pies to bring to Marguerite and Mark.
I headed out of Cambria, and took a little detour to San Simeon, to maybe check out Hearst Castle, which I’ve never been to. When I arrived, I could see it, way up on the mountain, but I really didn’t have enough time, as I believe you have to take the tour bus up, and I was planning to reach Claremont by the end of the day. I was already starting to feel a little sorry I hadn’t decided to take one more day to get down to Marg’s, as I might have stayed in the area, or perhaps a little further down the coast, and done some more checking out the local spots.
So, after my brief excursion to San Simeon, heading south on the Pacific Coast Highway, eventually to Claremont and Marg, stopping in Santa Barbara on the way.
As is the case all the way down the pacific coast, the views over the ocean, mountains, and valleys are wonderful, including coming into Santa Barbara.
Santa Barbara, where Bev and I passed through and visited a number of times, is spectacular. Bev was here with Marguerite in 1996, in this wonderful photo of the two of them.
My first stop, just by chance, was Alice Keck park, a small-ish, but a really lovely, park, chock full of gardens, as well as kids having a great time.
I walked and drove around Santa Barbara, where every view of every street and every view down every street is fantastic. It’s the bee’s knees.
State street, the main downtown street and shopping area, and pretty upscale, is now a pedestrian area closed off to traffic, although with lots of electric bikes zipping back and forth. The previous times I’ve been here, when still open to traffic, State Street just seemed like the Santa Barbara version of Fifth Avenue in New York, with its upscale and fancy stores, but now, as a pedestrian zone, seems far more accessible and local, rather than exclusive and out-of-reach.
It was late and dark by the time I got to Claremont, around 9:30 at night, so I missed the views as I approached and passed through Los Angeles – although, happily, I also missed the heavy traffic. It was good to finally get here, and especially good to see Marg, as well as receive a very warm greeting from M’Lou and Perla, the dogs.
