Photos: Scenic Road at Carmel Beach, Part 2

Photos: Scenic Road at Carmel Beach

Dirty Harry Cheeseburger at Hog's Breath

If you are ever in Carmel, you must have lunch on the patio at the Hog's Breath Inn and Pub. Once owned by Clint Eastwood, the small eaterie offers a nice and affordable menu, including a tasty "Dirty Harry Cheeseburger."

Photos: Downtown Carmel

Leaving Solvang and Heading North to Monterey

Day 312 on the road.

Starbucks, Del Monte Center, Monterey

My last update was from Solvang. I left there over a week ago to take the scenic California Hwy. 1 along the coast to Carmel and Monterey. I'm glad I did. I found Paradise.

Scenic Hwy. 1 is famous for a reason: the unbelievable beauty of the coastline and mountains. After leaving San Luis Obispo, I passed the small beachside communities of Oceano, Grover Beach, and Pismo Beach. I stopped for a while in Cayucos because of the enormous pier that stretched out into the ocean. I walked the boards along the pier and took advantage of the cool breeze.

(Photo left: downtown Cayucos looking east from the pier.)

(Photo right: looking northward from the pier at Cayucos.)

(Photo right: the beach at Cayucos, looking southward.)

Day 303 on the road.

Bulldog Cafe, downtown Solvang

I spent most of yesterday at the Bulldog Cafe in Solvang writing and trying to get caught up on things. I have been driving around the area so much the last few days, I needed a day to just sit and rest for a while.

Late in the afternoon, a side street was closed off and locals began to show up for the regular market that takes place here. Fresh fruits and vegetables were being sold by a dozen or so farmers from the area who had set up tents.

I took a few photos and then walked across the street to eat dinner at the Mustard Seed Restaurant. I won't be back to this tourist trap disguised as a restaurant! The prices were outrageous for the food you received, plus the meal was not that great. I paid $19 for a meal that wasn't worth $4.99. I kept telling myself I was paying for the location and the few of the nice park across the street.

Tomorrow I'll be leaving Solvang. I'm not sure yet where I'll be going from here. I do know I'll be back to the Santa Ynez Valley again. It'a wonderful place to spend a few days.

The Ojai Valley and Hwy.150 Heaven on Earth

After leaving Palmdale last Sunday, I drove the scenic route back toward Santa Barbara on Hwy. 150 going through small towns and the Los Padres National Forest and the wonderful mountains in that area.

The Ojai Valley is paradise, one of those areas that truly could be described as "heaven on earth." The small town of Ojai was ending a musical festival that had been ongoing all weekend. I walked around in downtown Ojai and Libbey Park, where the festival was winding down.

Below are some photos I took while driving west through the mountains to Ojai. To enjoy this beautiful drive, take Hwy. 150 west from Santa Paula and drive the 50 miles or so to Carpinteria.

Lake Casitas, west of Ojai

Downtown Ojai

The Ojai Valley