June 21, 2013--Friday--Ostrich, Solvang, Bobbi and Steve Thompson Visit

June 21, 2013 Friday—167275  Odometer reading

        Got up for our last morning at the Carpenteria Beach State Park. After fixing coffee, cocoa, and hot cereal, cleaned up everything and proceeded to pack everything up to be ready to head north for the next adventure. After getting everything packed up, we locked up the Teardrop and took a bag full of laundry to a local Laundromat. Wait til Roy tells Les and Marge about the prices of the machines…single load machines $2.75 per load!  But they worked well, the dryer took $1.25 so for $4 all the linens, towels, and clothes are clean and ready to go. Was going to wait until our next stay over at someone’s house, but not sure when that will be and many of the towels and clothes were wet/damp from showers and doing dishes.

        Carpinteria is a beautiful town. A village or hamlet I would call it, with beautiful homes, quaint streets, artists, coffee shops, all the things that make for a happy life. However, looking at the Homes & Land magazine, we sure as hell wouldn’t be happy here…as we’d have to live under an underpass. Wow…forgot how expensive nice communities in California continue to be even with the downturn in the housing market.

        It’s interesting as to how many people have approached up about our Teardrop. I should start charging for tours to support our trip! All think it is very cute and most are truly surprised as how roomy it is inside compared to the smallness of the outside.  A lot said they would love to have one as soon as the kids are gone. Yeah, not good for a family that’s for sure.

        The blog is so far behind I must stay one day someplace…a motel, a coffee shop, someone’s house who has to work all day…so that I can get photos downloaded, edited, logs written from handwritten journal entries or out of my head into Word documents, all transferred to the blog pages and then get them published. But without a plug in I cannot work on the laptop, and without internet I can’t publish to the blog. I need electricity and quiet!

        As we are driving north on 101/1 from Carpinteria, we are talking about the next lighthouse which would be Pt Arguello. This is a bit south of San Luis Obispo, where we will visit Diane, and I’m hoping we can get a camp site at Avila Beach. But Roy and I think maybe we’ll have to settle for a Walmart parking lot for the first time, since it is now Friday and the weekend campers will have made reservations at all the state beaches, and there probably will not be an empty spot anywhere. But that's okay, as we have prepared for this eventuality, and we are truly enjoying the scenery.

       About that time, a sign says “Rest Area Ahead” and I told Roy that sounded like a good idea to me, so as we come around a blind curve we see the exit and pull in…..whoa, there are cars backed up and I almost rear end the one at the entry closest to me. Seems the parking spots are full and so everyone is just waiting in line. Very dangerous I must say. I pulled over to the left just to get out of the way of any oncoming vehicles that might  want to exit and slam into us, and about that time a pickup  with a trailer hauling a Model T pulls out, thus leaving us room to pull in. I let Roy do the exchange, as on my way to the toilet. When I come out things are pretty clear, so let him go and pull forward. About that time 3 semis pull in, and a woman in an SUV pulls in front of me, past the line for parallel parking and practically in the merge lane back onto the highway. I’m telling you, it’s crazy driving the roads over here.

        A couple miles before this complete cluster, I told Roy I know people in Buellton (when we saw the sign that is was ahead). Bobbi and Steve Thompson. Steve used to be the Town Manager, but I was pretty sure he had retired, but not sure if they were still there. Well, while Roy went to the loo, I pulled out the computer with my address list on it, and low and behold, found Bobbi’s cell #. I called, no answer, but leave a voice message. As we pulled out of the rest area, the phone rang and Roy answered. It was Bobbi. She was astounded to hear from us and that we were in Buellton. She was in Camarillo having lunch with a friend, but would be back in a few hours and wanted us to come stay with them. This would work very nicely for Friday night and not having to worry about finding a camp ground or a Walmart. We told her we were heading for Solvang as wanted to visit the Danish town, and would take up the time taking photos, walking around etc. so made plans for her to call later and give us directions.

        What we didn’t know at that time, was they were only in Buellton for the summer. Seems they moved back to Steve’s home state and town in Tennessee three years ago when he retired (thus the reason the Christmas cards had been coming back to me), and housesit each summer for 4 months in Buelleton for the last 3 years. So it was only by the grace of meant-to-be that we were going to get to see each other again after 25 years.
        As we traveled down the road toward Solvang, I

saw some deserty type land with large dark animals. Second look revealed...they were ostriches!  I stopped at the Ostrich Farm and while Roy and Guayo waited in the car I went in and took photos and feed the guys  and got some great photos.   

          From experience I know how strong their necks are when used to propel their necks forward toward your forehead siting it with the end of their beaks! 

         

 A sweet young Asian couple were there with their little boy, and while Dad was taking the photo, one of the ostriches came up behind the Mom and baby who were next to the fence. I sensed immediate danger, and thank goodness Dad had already taken the photo, as I alarmed her when I said, you need to step forward you're about to get pecked.  That big ol' bird was about to knock a hole in the back of her head!  She didn't realize what danger she was in...none of them did, and I'm so glad I could warn them before any harm came to any of them.

        The emus there were astounding also with their

 

fur-like feathers, blue necks, and strange ears. The diversity of animals on this planet is truly amazing.

        We went on into Solvang and certainly were not disappointed. What a beautiful quaint town, rather like Carmel but with everything Danish. We took

      

                                 

                    

photos, got some ice cream, walked around and checked out the shops and it was a blast. The weather was perfect for site seeing and the numerous sidewalk tables and benches afforded us resting spots. Roy and Guayo rested while I took tons of

photos…the architecture and flowers and alleys filled

with floral abundance were a pure joy. So were the Almond Horns and Sarahs from the pastry shop ( no gluten…had to do it), and Iberborg’s dark chocolate sample! 

Hans Christian Anderson murals on one of the buildings

       


       Bobbi called and gave us directions to the house, assured we there was plenty of room to turn around, and we said we’d meet her there a bit before 4pm. So around 3pm, we went back toward Buellton, filled up the car with gasoline ($70.33…that most we’ve ever paid for gasoline), came back to Solvang and followed her directions to a very nice house high on the hills overlooking the iconic California hills, live oaks,

vineyards, etc.  Steve was there to meet us, and help us unhook the Teardrop and push it into a resting spot, as turning around was not a possibility without backing it up, which is just not happening. He also had a couple of 4x4’s so we put them in front of the tires so it wouldn’t roll down the hill, and parked the truck in front, out of the way of everyone.
        What a magnificent gig...housesitting this gorgeous house in the Santa Ynez hills with views to die for and perfect weather.  It is an amazing place. 

        We obtained cold beverages, and talked a bit and then Bobbi arrived. OMG, she hasn’t changed a bit and just looks great. Still a bundle of energy and so good to see her. She immediately said she must have known I was coming as had purchased carne asada at Trader Joe’s, never having bought it before and not really knowing what to do with it. So we cooked dinner together…we cooked the carne asada, chopped up lettuce, tomatoes, red onion, avocados, sugar snap peas, added pinto beans, corn salsa, black olives, cheese, and tortilla chips and topped with the meat, it made a delicious taco salad. Guayo was so happy to be out of the car/Teardrop and able to stretch out and take a walk around the area, he was like a new dogger compared to this morning’s lethargy and pitifulness.  Plus he got to chase lizards, saw a gopher, and a deer…made his day.

        We laughed and talked, Bobbi showed me her amazing knitting, better than ever and outrageously gorgeous, and we talked to her son Jason via Facetalk on the iPhone. He was sure surprised to see me, and I was surprised that he wasn't still the teen-aged boy I remember so well who used to hang out with my Jason at our house in Cottonwood. He has 2 beautiful girls, 4 ½ and 7 months, and a gorgeous wife. They live in Hawaii, and have a beautiful house too. I’m so glad things are good…he was always a good kid.        So, pure Bobbi style, she is still hiking with her hiking club, has her knitting club come over, plays Mah jong with a group, etc. etc. etc.  So tomorrow morning we will be leaving around 9am to go to the U Pick It blueberry farm and pick blueberries! Roy and Guayo will stay here with Steve and rest and we’ll be back after picking. Not sure what’s next, but if we stay another night, or leave in the p.m., we’ll be heading to Vandenberg AF Base for the next lighthouse. We met the Andersons in Solvang. They were celebrating their 60^th anniversary, which was amazing as they only looked about 65 and I had to ask them if they were 5 and 6 when they were married!  He is retired Air Force, so I told him about the  lighthouse excursions and asked if he thought we could get on the base to take photos of the lighthouse at Pt Arguello. He said we should be able to do so as visitors, especially since Roy was an AF veteran, so that gave me some hope. We’ll find out when we get there, but tomorrow, it’s blueberry picking!