Riding Between Saints

Santa Cruz, San Simeon, San Luis Obispo, Santa Maria and Santa Barbara were the major stepping stones on a 300 mile leg today.  Adding to that the Mission San Carlos del rio Carmelo and then Esalen, and I think  that it qualified as a fairly spiritual outing.

In Carmel I did stop at the aforementioned mission.  It’s diminutive, but beautifully appointed and I think it’s often overlooked within the California Mission System.

At Big Sur for the breakfast break, some of the locals that I estimated to be MY contemporaries, asked about my license plate.  I related the story and then all of their old Arlo Guthrie and similar late 60s and early 70s stories began to fly.  They invited me to hang out for the party that was about to start, but knowing that it could easily turn into a 3 day commitment, I gracefully declined.

 

Esalen allowed me in for a quick drive through.  It’s still as Esalen as ever.

Lucia and Gorda are my 2 favorites along this section.  The older lady, you know-like my age, in the Lucia general store enticed me into buying some of her home made peanut butter cookies while regaling me with her stories about how many bicyclists and motorcyclists they lose annually along that stretch of Highway 1.  Cheered up by that, I decided what the heck; I’ll have another cookie, because you never know.

 

My plan for ending the day in Goleta gave way to Santa Barbara, for the much more favorable room rates.  From here, with about only 110 miles left in this journey overall, tomorrow should get me home.  It’ll be nice to use a full size bar of soap, once again.