Solvang loop ride

To kind of explore the Santa Ynez Valley, our fearless leaders (aka Bill and Diane) took us to the Dutch settlement of Solvang.  We didn't leave until 11am since Diane is a late starter, so Duane used our am time for a little hike around the campground.  It took two hours for the short loop.  For our reward we found a geocache.

Once we arrived in Solvang we went to the visitors center.  I wanted a post office and some dark chocolate, Diane wanted a t-shirt.  The friendly and helpful volunteer helped us to find all three.

To keep the town alive, Solvang kept the Dutch heritage alive in the Town Square. We walked around just like the other tourists, viewing the little shops, inns, restaurants, and sweets shops.

Ingeborgs provided some very delicious (but typically pricey) dark chocolate.

Bill and Diane.  Don't let them fool you.  The weather was hot.  They just always dress this way.

When we'd all had enough of Dutch decor, we took Alisol Rd. out of town.  Duane led the way with Bill and Diane following for a change.

This road took us west to another road which took us south to 101.

This part of 101 is also the original CA road made by the Spaniards--El Camino Real, the Royal Road, aka CA Highway 1.  The two roads parallel each other at times and at times run together.  The road runs along the ocean.

The original parts of the road, which runs the length of CA, is marked by replicas of the original bells which were installed in each of the 27 missions established along the road.  

We stopped at a lookout for a view and a rest.  The far left bridge is the rr bridge.  The concrete bridge is where the original rt 1 ran.  When it was built in the 40's it disrupted the spawning route of the steelhead salmon.  When the new highway (far right) was built,  the original waterway was tunneled under it, with baffles to form resting pools and another resting pool on the far side.  The steelhead could spawn once more.

nice big parking lot

You can see where the water runs when there is any.  

The highway, the railroad, the ocean.

We got off the highway in Goleta and took the San Marcos Road for home.  As promised I took lots of pix of this twisty roller coaster of a road.

These horseshoe turns have a steep up grade to them. We had to put the bike in first gear to get around them.

Bill and Diane disappeared around this hairpin turn.  Unknown to us, they pulled off at the vista view just around the corner.  We slowed up when we saw them, but could find no room to stop.  By then the bike started to lean down the slope.  Duane had no road under his foot until it was too late to hold up the bike.

He told me to bail.  In slow motion, we both got a foot down and hopped sideways until the other foot cleared the bike.  At the same time Duane gently laid the bike down.  The only source of real danger was from any traffic coming around the same curve.  Fortunately Bill helped us push the bike up so that Duane could get back on and roll backwards off the road.  As he cleared the road a car came around the corner!  All was well, no one was hurt, not even a scratch on the chrome.  We rode the rest of the way without incident.  

Was that exciting enough for you?  I hope so.  Next is an interesting (if unexciting) tour of Lompoc.

Louise and Duane