Today we awoke shortly after nine o’clock and started a long day of driving and sightseeing. We were out of the city a few minutes past 11, and on our way north. We decided to take the 101 for the duration of the trip. The 5-Interstate is far too boring, and the coast highway would take too long. The 101 provided plenty of opportunities to scope out weird locations and tourist traps, the latter of which I believe there is no shame in enjoying.
Our first stop of the day came in Santa Barbaraga, at the Chumash painted caves. For those of you who don’t know (and I assume that’s most of you), it is believed that Chumash Indian priests made them for religious reasons — to influence gods or supernatural beings to intervene in human affairs. At the painted caves in SB, the current theory is that the drawings represent a solar eclipse that occurred in the year 1677. The area surrounding the cave is now a state park, but the majority of the area is closed currently for plant rehabilitation — much like the California Poppy Reserve!
After returning from the mountainous, hairpin turn-enriched pass upon which the painted cave sits, we stayed on the 101 until we reached the area near Buellton and Solvang. Buellton is the birthplace of split pea soup, or something like that. We stopped at the famous the famous Andersen’s to pick up a cooking kit for Nicci’s father and his wife. Then we drove to Solvang and walked around the Dutch village for a few minutes, enjoying pastries and unique architecture. Windmills everywhere.
Our next stop was the Madonna Inn, in San Luis Obispo. It’s a flamboyant hotel off the highway with themed rooms that are completely surreal and dizzying to behold. Google around for images, you will be shocked. We stopped to use the restroom. I don’t know what the woman’s area looks like, but the men’s has an obscene urinal trough that looks like you’re pissing into a waterfall. It’s frightening and amazing in equal parts. I wasn’t sure whether to piss or take a shower. Actually, that’s a lie. I was sure I wanted to piss, I just wasn’t sure I wanted to stand beneath a waterfall pissing next to a bunch of other guys.
Leaving the Inn we decided to head straight for the Salinas/Monterrey area. I haven’t been to Monterey since 2005, but we decided to meet Nicci’s dad and his wife at an eatery on Cannery Row, which I haven’t seen in almost 14 years. Needless to say, I didn’t remember any of it. Maybe the aquarium, but that was it. My mother was disappointed when I called to tell her I was in Monterey, down the street from the hotel in which we stayed, but couldn’t recall a single landmark or feature of the area. Oh well. We ate at a seafood/steak place, I had a dish with crab and alfredo pasta. It was very rich and filling. The dinner conversation revolved mostly around a diving trip Nicci’s father took recently in the Philippines. Upon completing the meal, we drove to their nice house somewhere in the Salinas area, and we’re currently watching Slumdog Millionare as I type this.
Tomorrow should be another long, exciting day. An update will be made when possible.
Grouper – A Light Charge
F/i – Sandoza Smiles
Big Black – The Ugly American
Bob Dylan – Restless Farewell
