We had another day on the road, and I'm really getting into this driving on the wrong side of the road. I love it. I think it's great fun. Jean and I have talked now about a possible future holiday involving hiring a car. We will start the holiday at the source of the Mississippi in Minnesota and follow that mighty river through 10 states to its mouth at New Orleans. One for the future.
We left the Knott's Berry Farm Hotel at 10 am with some reluctance. We'd really enjoyed staying there, and would recommend it to anyone. Good close proximity to Disneyland etc.
We arrived in Ventura, and decided to eat in a food court there. For $US14.05, we both had chicken teriyaki with steamed rice and vegetables and a large cup of sprite. We talked about how expensive Australia is. We bought a few goods from the shops, and continued on our way.
We arrived at Santa Barbara at 3pm. SB boasts a wide beach, but not as wide as the one at Santa Monica. It also boasts a large marina and a good time for visitors and tourists. In the background, a mountainous hinterland greets the California coastline, complementing the natural beauty of Santa Barbara itself. We had a quick look at the marina. A sign said that a shark had actually been sighted in the waters today!
We climbed the mountains and headed inland. We were very surprised by the terrain. Very mountainous, very hilly. When we climbed very high, we looked down upon the landscape below. It was a mix of green and brown hues due to a variety of vegetation and rock. Numerous undulations in the landscape predominated.
We arrived at 4.15 at the charming old Danish town of Solvang, 38 miles inland from Santa Barbara. Danish flags, Danish culture, and quaint architecture surrounded by the beautiful scenery that stretches from the coast, make the town well worth a visit. It has a population of 5,000. We strolled around and relaxed in a Danish coffee shop. We bought some postcards. Jean visited Solvang many years ago with her parents. It was here today that for the first time on this holiday we actually felt hot. Tomorrow, June 21, is the first official day of summer.
For many miles on either side of Solvang, a common feature is wineries. Grape vines stretch from the highway well into the background, surely tempting many thirsty tourists to mosey on down to these here parts. Ooo-ee hotdoggy!
We left Solvang around 5. As we continued along the US101 north, the lovely, natural scenery followed us. Less mountainous now, just rolling green hills with lots of little canyons and intriguing shapes. We passed through San Luis Obispo, and I thought of my colleague, Stef, who was there recently. Around 7 pm, we arrived at our destination at the Days Inn at the seaside town of San Simeon, not far from Hearst Castle which we'll visit tomorrow.
A street in Solvang
Solvang and its natural surroundings
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