Does anyone know what these yellow flowers are? They grow up into big bushes….
May and June turned out to be very busy months for both of us and although we had several dates picked for the May bike ride, something else always came up. Toward the end of May I decided to just make one ride for May and June; and since our annual trek up to Canada was to begin on June 19th, it was going to have to happen pretty early in the month. I read somewhere that the Ghost Riders Tavern in Los Alamos was going to be shut down – I had a destination.
We headed out early, first stop Ojai for breakfast. This back road to Ojai is one that I know well; Moorpark, Grimes Canyon, South Mountain Rd., Santa Paula, Hwy 150 into Ojai. It’s a wonderful ride that takes you through the orange orchards outside 
Fillmore, historic Santa Paula, and the foothills southeast of Ojai. It takes about an hour which is about the right amount of time for your appetite to get to the point that you really appreciate breakfast. Robin had her nose wrinkled up a little when I told her that we would be eating at Don Lalo’s but changed her tune 180 degrees after a couple bites of her breakfast burrito. Don Lalo’s is a little family run Mexican food place on W. El Roblar that is worth seeking out. If you are a menudo fan make sure you go on the weekend; I’ll be surprised if you’ve had better. Everything I’ve tried is very good – today it was the Chilaquiles.
From the peak of the Maricopa Hwy looking north
Stuffed to the gills – we headed north on Hwy 33 into the Los Padres National Forest. I was a little worried that it might be really cold at the summit but it wasn’t bad at all. It’s a great road, especially if you turn right at Lockwood Valley Road. However if you go all the way to the end of the Maricopa Highway, either way you turn on Hwy 166 will be a yawner for several miles. Our turn was to the left toward Cuyama. I looked to see if I could find a translation for Cuyama but found none what I did find is that it’s at the base of the Callente Range which was fitting. It was HOT in early June – I would NOT want to be back here in August.
Most people would continue to the 101 but at the earliest opportunity, we took the road less traveled. This was another one of those stretches of asphalt with no center stripe for several miles. So twisty and with such steep drop offs that going fast is out of the question; but very peaceful and relaxing. We did have to get onto the 101 for a few miles go get to Los Alamos. For those of you that have never been there, Los Alamos is a very small town. Los Alamos was a stagecoach stop from 1861 and started to grow just like everything around it until oil was discovered just north in Orcutt and just south in Lompoc (POKE not pock). As those towns grew, Los Alamos began to fade. There is a Post Office but you have to go get your mail as there is no local delivery.
Sisquoc is little more than an intersection in the road.
One interesting bit of history – The hills above Rancho Los Alamos served as a hideout for bandito, Salomon Pico, whose escapades were popularized by the character “Zorro”. For 3 years, Pico and his band of highwaymen robbed southbound miners on route from the Los Alamos area with their gold and silver. He was taking revenge for the death of his wife which he blamed on the gold rush created in 1848 when gold was found at Sutter’s Mill. On the run in 1851 Pico moved to Los Angels county. He was still involved in nefarious activity and fled into Mexico to avoid arrest two years later.
Refreshments – the Cowboy Colada was pretty good…..
When we located Ghost Riders Tavern I have to admit I was a bit surprised. It is a corner store that has been converted into a bar; the entire front of the bar is a glass picture window. We sat outside in the shade of the umbrellas while we enjoyed a cocktail from the soon to be closed down bar. The story I heard is that the owner chose to restock his bar from 30 racks of beer he didn’t buy from an approved distributor. The good folks at the ABC (Alcoholic Beverage Control) don’t think that shit is funny. That combined with various other violations led the ABC to not approve the renewal of Ghost Riders liquor license. Today is Thursday, and after over 10 years in operation, tomorrow will be their last day. Many of the locals are none too happy about it but they will have to find another place to drink & socialize. One of the guys told me that they were just going to get a keg and move it around to different people’s houses. Someone else said that the bar would be sold and that the new owner was going to keep the name. I’ll be sure to stop back in a year or so and see what actually becomes of Ghost Riders Tavern.
Parked in front of Ghost Riders; downtown Los Alamos in the background.