Central California Coast, Ca

Lompoc
After one more trip to Solvang for a Danish and a trip to Buellton for gas, we took the less traveled path through Lompoc to reach the coast. Lompoc claims to be the city of flowers and murals and indeed it is. West of town we took a wrong turn and passed flower fields filled with vibrant colors. More photos.

Pismo Beach
We found our way back to Highway 1 near Vandenburg Air Force Base and then stopped in Pismo Beach where the scenery changes from remote countryside to people intent on having fun. We watched the toy haulers roll to and from the Oceano Dunes where quads, motorcycles and dune buggies cavort in the sand. The streets in Pismo were lined with tourists and RV parks. This is where we met the guy with the pink mohawk and clothes to match who is riding his bike around the world. I am not sure he will make it with pink hair. More photos of Pismo.

Morro Bay
We had a nice visit with friends John and Judy in Morro Bay. John and Leon had worked together in a past life. We then drove out to the beach alongside Morro Rock and watched the beach activity. A little further south in Los Osos we drove out to the rugged cliffs at Montana de Oro State Park and looked out over the Pacific. From there a drive through the lovely countryside filled with Monterey Pines along the coast led us to San Luis Obispo.

San Luis Obispo
We went inland about ten miles and stopped by the Madonna Inn, an inn with a Victorian castlelike appearance that overused the color pink. The entire place reminds you of icing on a cake. Even the sugar in the sugar shakers is pink! The gardens were full of blooming roses in front of the inn. The bathrooms are not to be missed. In the men's a waterfall entertains. It is quite a lavish place. We couldn't resist returning the next morning for breakfast. More photos.

In the older part of town we strolled the streets, visited the mission and had dinner. There were lots of young people in town but evidentally nothing as compared to when Cal Poly is in session. We then located the Moose Lodge, our parking spot for the night.

Cambria
After driving north again we stopped at this is quaint little artsy community just south of San Simeon. We toured through one of the neighborhoods where the houses seem to cling to the sides of the hills on tiny lots, all trying to get a view of the ocean. In town the streets are lined with cute little specialty shops. Up nearby Hillcrest Street is Nit Wit Ridge, a multi level house with terraced patios built from abalone shells, old wheels, auto parts and other salvaged materials on 2.5 acres. Supposedly an eccentric hermit built the place and lives here. More photos.

San Simeon
The Hearst Castle, begun in 1919, is a lesson in extravagance. We toured a guest house, the outdoor pool, the lower level of the 115 room house, the indoor pool and some of the terraces. There is a 5 mile bus drive up the hill to the mansion which is owned now by the state. Every 10 minutes a busload would ascend the hill with another tour group. We also viewed an excellent big screen movie about William Randolph Hearst's life and the building of the castle. It was a few hours well spent. More photos.

Ragged Point
We drove further north along the coast to Ragged Point, the gateway to Big Sur, where the steep cliffs rise high above the shore and the narrow coastline and winding road provide breathtaking views. This was our furthest point north. More photos.

Piedras Blancas
Heading back south we passed Piedras Blancas lighthouse and then stopped at the viewing area where the elephant sea lions bask in the sun on the beach. They weigh up to 5,000 pounds and return to this area from Alaska to have their young, to mate, and to molt. They shed their coats once each year and once again don shiny silver coats. More photos.

Nearby we spent the night at the Washburn Campground in San Simeon State Park. The next morning. after a stop at the tide pools at Laffingwell Beach and a drive along Moonstone Beach near Cambria, we passed wineries, horsefarms, mountains, oil fields, and desert before descending into the San Joaquin Valley and Bakersfield, Ca. We stopped to look at the Tule Elk, native to California, at the Tule Elk Preserve west of town and then arrived at our home for five days at the newly opened Bakersfield RV Park.