Summer’s promise of lazy days spent with a book on the
screen porch, or catching up on those long over-due projects just hasn’t
happened. This summer has been fast and full. We see ourselves coming and going, and much
of the time can’t remember which way we’re headed. In the midst of a rental house renovation and
an Applejack overhaul, we left town and headed to California to visit son John.
It was just the tonic I needed.
Santa Barbara is just about perfect. Nestled down between the Santa Ynez Mountains and the Pacific Ocean, the area enjoys misty
mornings, sunny afternoons and cool evenings.
We spent four days catching up with each other and easing into the
laid-back lifestyle. We changed accommodations
three times just for the fun of it, and were never disappointed. One beachside motel offered beach cruisers
and we took off for an early morning ride to Montecito. No one was walking the beach once we got past
the beach volley-ball game, so we ditched the bikes and scoured the sand looking
for beach glass. The mansions clinging
to the cliffs are mind boggling and one expects to see Bo Derek bouncing down
the beach (she does in fact live there).
Save one lone surf caster, we saw no-one.
State Street is a shopping Mecca and although we strolled
through the high dollar district, we prefer to scavenge the fabulous thrift
shops. Everyone found treasures and we
felt no guilt or shopper’s remorse when we stuffed my new-old Samsonite
carry-on bag full of our new-gently used digs.
The Sandman Inn is our old tried and true place to stay, but
after this trip we may recalculate. The complimentary
breakfast is the best thing going in SB; serving up early in a darling “Big Al’s”
style diner. They offer two pools and
free passes to the Y. A true value in
anyone’s book, but we all suffered through a long night with the gyrating DJ
tunes pulsing through our walls from the “Destination Party” venue next door.
Moving on, we discovered The Marina Inn (complimentary
bikes) where they put us up in the corner suite for the night. It really was sweet and very spacious and
lovely, albeit I think George got flea bites while stretching out his periformis
while lying on the carpet. The bike ride
got to him.
Moving on, we discovered The Franciscan Inn literally just
next door. This too was nice, offering
hot cookies, hot-tub and heated pool.
The room could have been hot….no air condition…but, it wasn’t. Who would think to ask if the room was
climate controlled? Aren’t they all
these days? Apparently not, and
honestly, not needed. Another match
point for Santa Barbara weather.
We ate our fill of fish tacos and California pizza and
enjoyed the scene. We enjoyed walking the
piers and boardwalks and taking in the spectacular sunsets. Most of the time we were there the surf was
flat with little wave action and few surfers out, but near the end of our stay
the wind kicked up and the swells were ridable.
Within minutes, surfers take to the water and vie for top position on
the best waves. There’s a surfer’s code
of ethics that goes unspoken, but it’s easy to spot. No matter how many boards are in the water,
there’s a give and take and courtesy offered to one another. No worries out there in the water and
everyone looks out for each other.
That’s my take on Santa Barbara. When we left John and headed for North
Carolina, I felt great. He’s okay, in a
solid place, where everyone looks out for each other.
