Route 154 through Santa Barbara County… and Happy Birthday, Marg.
I took 101 south out of Santa Maria, but little did I know what an unexpectedly great drive I’d be taking as I left 101 and shifted onto route 154 south. Wow. It got better and better.
State route 154 is a scenic mountain highway bypassing 101 as it snakes south through Santa Barbara county, and later reconnecting to 101 just above the city of Santa Barbara. It starts as wine country, with beautiful vistas of rows and rows and rows and rows of grapevine planted in perfect symmetry, following the the contours of rolling hills into the distance, and then settles into being a gently winding road, snaking through the mountains. About 30 miles long, it was surrounded by beautiful views of Lake Cachuma, the Santa Ynez Valley, verdant mountainside landscapes, and wineries, until reaching 101 again, above Santa Barbara. It’s officially called the Chumash Highway, but also known as the San Marcos Pass. I have to drive this road again sometime, and be prepared to take photos from the start.
Wonderful. I have to drive route 154 again.
I had planned to stop by the Getty Center, which I’ve never visited, and even got a ticket (free, but timed), but by the time I neared it, with all the stops I’d made, it was getting too late, and besides I could see the traffic growing worse with every second, it seemed. So, I shifted gears and instead headed back to Marg, with the usual non-stop traffic streaming out of the LA area, arriving back around 4:30, just in time to head out to Tropical Mexico restaurant in Pomona, for Marg’s birthday dinner, joined by Marg’s brother David and long time friend Annie, as well as friends Pat, and David. Mark wasn’t feeling too good, although seemed in fine spirits, but didn’t feel able to come.
A good time was had by all, with quite a few Margaritas getting knocked back (as you can see in the photos), and then back home, with fish tacos in hand for Mark, who seemed to feeling a little better by then. Plans were made to take an early morning hike with Annie, Pat, and the “other” David, and eventually off to bed, with Marg one year older, wiser, and more beautiful.