boats of Santa Barbara

(As opposed to the housewives...)

 

Cajé Coffee Paseo Nuevo

 

We were pleasantly surprised by this location of the Cajé Coffee chain on State Street at the Paseo Nuevo shopping plaza. Funny to think that we were sitting directly on State Street.

a nice rig

 

Compared to most of the big boxes that line the PCH, this old rig has a lot of character.

smudge pots

I've been seeing these around. Are they some sort of old-fashioned heater? The answer is yes, and they seem to be called "smudge pots". They were designed to prevent frost on fruit trees. Makes perfect sense that you would see them here in the citrus belt.

The Summit revisited

This time I had the last best banana milkshake I've ever had. Smooth, sweet but not too sweet. I also liked the humorously large straw. 

yoga block

 

invasive seaweeds

 

also delicious...

 

one man's idea of delicious

 

Flavor of India

 

The national historic site where Mr. and Mrs. have had a few memorable meals.

crows on railroad tracks

 

No one is talking about crows on railroad tracks.

Cajun Kitchen, pandemic version

 

To be exact, Cajun Kitchen, pandemic version, revisited. We were here in March.

sweetshade

 

Sometimes while waiting for one's wife in the parking lot of a medical center one notices four interesting looking trees, some of them sickly, that turn out to be sweetshade (Hymenosporum flavum) - Australian natives in the Pittosporum family.

Lizard's Mouth, part 2

 

Lizard's Mouth

I finally made it to the famous "Lizard's Mouth" (above), high up on Santa Barbara's Camino Cielo. The light rain was welcome; the rampant graffiti was not.

Monarch Butterfly Grove of Pismo

 

Been meaning to visit this place for years, especially since seeing it from the train. Even going out of season (there were no monarchs this time of year) it's a place of peace and beauty.

Pismo State Beach campground (north)

Finding a good campground can be difficult but this one checked many boxes... 

a better Pismo Beach experience

Somehow this was the best Pismo Beach experience I've ever had. On previous visits, one didn't know where to go and so encountered only the beer-swilling, beef-chomping version with a side of smoking, tattoos and vagabonds. I think in addition to knowing where to go, the town has made some improvements, especially in the pier area.

Honeymoon Café

This is the best place for food and coffee I have ever been to in Pismo Beach (which is otherwise not a Mecca for health food). Apparently it's been around for over 40 years, so must give credit to my other half for the discovery.

Every Day

 

organisms

We are surrounded by organisms we don't know personally.