Solvang Solitude

Friday in Los Alamos was great. It was cold, and so calm that I think Don and I were the only two people alive in that town. Jesse and Katie arrived late, but eager to spend the weekend riding through the wine country. Dinner consisted of top sirloins and corn-bread, with an extra large helping of Firestone Walker Double Barrell Ale.
I was up at dawn, the cold night in a one hundred and twenty five year old building allowing me to rest as though I were dead. Coffee pot blazing, I tore upstairs to get the rest of the crew out of bed for the days events. After breakfast, we clipped in to our trusty steeds, and rode out amongst the vineyards. It's amazing what Spanish Moss looks like as it hangs from the trees, giving them an almost "Sleepy Hollow" appearance. Cattle, horses, a couple of coyotes, and a slew of birds of prey passed by as we rolled through the hills to the town of Los Olivos. This town, like Los Alamos, was one in a string of late nineteenth century Wells Fargo stage coach stops heading north from Los Angeles. Many still look like the set of "Little House On The Prairie," but Los Olivos has been marred by the rising income of the wine industry. Some vintage buildings remain, but most have been overcome by "quaint" shops and art dealers. It's only a five mile jaunt into Solvang from there, so after we had coffee, we jumped back in the saddle and made for the Mission Santa Ynez.
This well-preserved California mission sits on a bluff, adjacent to the Dutch-style tourist Mecca called Solvang. The mission was once a very populated Spanish garrison, but had been attacked repeatedly by natives forced into slavery during Spanish occupation. After a quick walking tour of the mission, we rolled through Solvang, and headed out the back to the park at Nojoqui Falls. This is an ancient Indian sacred site, and after one look, you'll know why. Tucked up in a slot canyon between Solvang and the 101 freeway, this breathtaking example of California beauty is an oasis on a hot day. Water trickles and flows down a huge drape of limestone and calcium deposits, creating a strange "cape" of sedimentary rock. After a few pictures in the grotto, it was time to roll out through the vine covered hills and hmake for Los Olivos, where our B & B host waited to pick us up and return us to the hotel. Saturday was one of the finest days of riding I have ever had.
That night, we all had plenty of drinks at the bar, played shuffle-board, and crashed out. Sunday morning we awoke to wind and rain, and it was decided that we would drive the day's tour destinations instead. Visiting a Victorian era church and cemetary, then hitting a wine tasting room, we went back to the hotel to pack for departure. Don and I stayed to help out around the hotel, trying our hands at some pro-bono action. It is such a drag to have to come back to reality, but a such a blessing knowing that heaven is only a two hour drive to the north.
I don't even need gossamer covered wings to get there, just my truck.....

Cap'n Chris