Riding in the winter (even in So-Cal) presents some problems, mostly related to weather but you’ve also got to take hours of daylight into consideration. This month I was able to convince my co-pilot to come along and pick the destination; she did a fine job. Jalama (“Halama”) Beach is a secluded section of the shoreline located 5 miles north of Pt. Conception and just south of the land that is owned by Vandenburg Air Force Base. I’ve been told that missile launches viewed from the campground are spectacular.
While doing my research on the ride route and what might be interesting along the way I was reading about the 2005 landslide at La Conchita (video). Those of you from Southern California probably know about this but I never really realized the SIZE of this landslide. On the way up I looked over with a new appreciation of what happened. Property insurance in and around La Conchita is available only through Lloyd’s of London, and it is expensive!!
On up the coast along the 101 to Hwy 1 then a left turn onto Jalama Rd. Soon after turning onto Jalama road we saw a few of these small farm & ranch properties. Individually owned and operated just the way they have been for generations.
An earthy smell permeated the air near these fields of recently turned dark and rich soil.
The vast majority of the area is too steep to cultivate and but for the road, is untouched.
The wind blows a lot here, and it got stronger the closer we got to the ocean. The small store is fairly well stocked and breakfast and lunch is available at the grill. Windy, no cell phone service, and no internet doesn’t really meet our criteria for extended stays.
The Famous Jalama Burger & some fried shrimps for my co-pilot. The food is good – not great.
On the way back we went up through Lompoc (pronounce that POCK not poke) then down through Buelton, Solvang, Santa Barbara, and back down the coast on the 101.
Difficult to keep your concentration on the road ahead with views like this right and left.
Rancho San Marcos finally green enough to play. The drought almost ended this course.
Just west of Solvang is Ostrichland USA – They have all things ostrich – we’ll stop and check it out someday…
Hwy 154 out of Solvang takes you past Lake Cachuma then up over the mountain range and down into Santa Barbara. It’s a popular road with motorcyclists due in no small part to a little place off the road called Cold Spring Tavern. A stagecoach rest stop in 1886 and still a rest stop today but these days it’s mostly motorcycles and fancy cars that you’ll see.
In addition to being a very cool (no pun intended) place to spend some time relaxing, there is a restaurant (caution – low ceilings & uneven floor) with good food & on Sundays there’s live entertainment and some of the best tri-tip I’ve ever had – hot off the grill. This also happens to be where I brought Robin on our first date – we were married one year to the day later. We’ve been back often but never tried to re-create the photo from day one.
That’s where we’ll end this month’s ride; hope you’ve enjoyed the trip.
See you next month.
The ride looks fabulous, especially to someone who is snowed in at the moment. Dallas doesn’t handle snow and ice very well!
And the two of you make a lovely couple!
I’ll whistle at you as I get closer to pulling the trigger….Looking at a used BMW 1200RT. Been ages since I road, but seems good compromise for me. Trips not likely to be as ambitious as yours. Not sure about useful capacity on the boxes. You both look great.