HWY 33 to Ventura

DAY 1, May 17th. 2019

We have very little idea on what this ride will entail. I just know that I've seen the Hwy 33

 connection with Ventura, and it's a great way to avoid highways and busy areas.

We started our trip with Breakfast in Coalinga at Harris Ranch and then backtracked (10 minutes) to the Hwy 33 by Avenal. The beginning of the ride is quite flat and open. But, it's a great place to get some speed and enjoy the distant hills. We drove through miles of oil fields, through the towns of  Reef Station, McKittrick, but the scenery really begins to change when you reach Maricopa, as you enter the Los Padres National Forest. I could tell that had we been there just a few weeks earlier, the hills would've been in full bloom. 

Oil rigs in Lost Hills, Mc Kittrick area. 

Santa Margarita area

Maricopa

Can't quite describe or photograph these views..... so pretty. 

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We arrived in the late afternoon at the Clocktower Inn. 

Great downtown location. 

They let us park the bike in the entrance with camera security. 

Isn't this a pretty view with the fountain and the San Buena Mission in the background?

Time to go next door and get a few essentials 🙂

Paradise Pantry

 Rested a bit, opened some wine and then met Danielle for a late dinner.

Just a random pic of a cool truck. 

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DAY 2, May 18th

Santa Barbara County Loop

From Ventura we headed NE up the 33, then West on the 150 around Lake Casitas. Beautiful, lush, green landscape hills. Looks like some nice areas for camping, hikers and horseback riding. This area is known as the Casitas Pass....which takes you into the backside (east-side) of Santa Barbara.

East side of Santa Barbara. Ca

We stopped for a break in Summerland, CA. 

Had drinks and lunch at a great bar called The Nugget. 

Check out the Christmas lights strung on the deer head behind us.... in May! 🤣

  When we arrived in downtown Los Olivos and we noticed it to be very busy, we decided not to stay. It's a very popular area for Beer and Wine tasting rooms. Just too busy for us to stop, this time.

So, back on the road to look for some winery on the outskirts of town.

Stopped at the Brander winery. 

Which proved to be a cute, friendly Italian based winery.

 We liked it and the price point is very good, too. Pouring 

very young wines, imagine they would develop wonderfully if laid down.  

The weather is getting overcast, and starting to drizzle....again!

 So, back to Ventura.

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Dinner at Capriccio, Italian restaurant, downtown. With so many

 great places to eat just down the street from the motel, 

why would we drive anywhere else? 

  

Italian way to serve wine. 

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                                                               DAY 3, May 19th. 

      We are staying in town today....it's been raining and it's a good day to chill. It's quiet downtown, as I go for a walk. I decide to stay on the street, to get the occasional shelter from the rain. Also, a good time to scope out some places when all the streets are 'empty'. 

My Favorite clothing store in downtown Ventura.

I peeked in Oak & Main....new bar. Offering a "build-Your-Own-Bloody-Marie-Bar".

Getting a little leg workout with these steep walkways.

 

Bloody Mary Bar at Oak & Main..... lots of goodies 

with loads of bacon.   And would you check out that amazing bar!

 Local custom drum maker Thump Drums made it for the bar.

We had their breakfast pizza and then walked

 around town with our day buzz. :)

Danny played a few guitars at the Guitar 48

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Lazy afternoon :) I take a walk downtown and did some shopping.

 Find a cute chambray top for tomorrow night. 

Dinner at Rumfish Y Vino.

We took our Brander Cab with us. 

Danny had their coffee-rubbed Steak and 

    I had their Caribbean Fish Stew

Not my usual choice, but it was delicious. 

Had an amazing broth with come orange seasoning. 

I would highly recommend it. 

 Rumfish Y Vino.

Nice chill in the air....so I sat by the lobby fire and relaxed. 

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DAY 4, May 20th

  Tonight is the Artist's Brew event that Danielle created. So, we plan to take it slower during the day, to have some energy tonight. 

I love going for walks on the beach and the walkways. So, while Danny took his morning slow, I took in the gorgeous coastal scenery. I never grow tired of this view.

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We plan a short ride to Santa Paula, via Ojai.  The

 views seemed to flow from horse

 ranches to volcanic rocks and palm trees.....making me feel

 like we were in tropical Hawaii. 

Lots of beautiful views and turns throughout the hwy 150.

Another storm seemed to be coming in.... glad
we're not far from our motel.

This is a lighthouse, used as some kind of teaching facility. 

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ARTIST'S BREW 

AT 

THE SALOON

DOWNTOWN VENTURA

                                                           

 Getting Cozy at the Artist's Brew Event at The Saloon. 

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DAY 5, May 21st

The storm is giving us a small window to drive home today....but, we know we'll still get wet.

but 1st CHEESE!

Paradise Pantry is a must stop for wine & cheese lovers. 

We take the same route home, but it's just as breathtaking....maybe better. We felt the mist from the rain, and we did get a little chilled....but, didn't dare to stop along the way since the clouds seemed to be coming in darker. 

Near Wheeler Springs on the 33

Started off pleasant enough and then.......

                                                                                     BOOM!

But, look at these views. 

Safely home in record time.....!!!! won't say how fast Danny was going at times. 👀

Until next time.....what a quick, but beautiful trip. 

Yes, I'll have Some Wine with my Cambria, Please.

For my birthday weekend, we headed to Cambria for a night with our dear friends, Manual & Lora.

Weather was incredible,
the fields were green from all the recent rains, and the skies were clear.....
the perfect recipe for a great weekend. 🍷

Along the way was the usual wine-tasting; but of course. 😉

First stop to wet the palettes is Vino Robles.
We always get treated well here and enjoy their wines.
 Our server had a wonderful French accent and gave us a few new perspectives on the wines. 

Then for lunch at our new favorite spot....the La Bellasera. 
The food is great, the service is superb and 
the atmosphere is cozy,  whether you 
sit inside or out. 

Paso Robles has grown so much and offers so many amazing wines, it's impossible to have tried them all....but, we try. haha. We have our favorites, but also try to find new wineries and we read good things from a recent Paso article on Kukkula.
 The website shows some great red varietals and a good story, but we couldn't find the taste today. Can't all be winners. 😏

  We drove back down the hill to our favorite winery, Tolo Cellars. Josh and Michelle greeted with us with warm hugs. After taking us through their wonderful Fall line-up, we moved to the front porch.
We chatted for quite awhile with them.
     What a great ending to our day. It's special and rare to catch Josh, since he's usually working on the next wines. Also, discovered they have a big heart for giving back, focusing mostly on veterans.

Josh, winemaker/owner of Tolo Cellars

Bluebird Inn, Path just outside your room.

We're staying at the Bluebird Inn for the first time in Cambria.

  Everything here is great; the location to shopping and restaurants. 

This would be a nice place for the Harley and the rooms 

overlooking the back of the property are so nice 

with the path to the creek.

     Quick fresh-up for dinner at Robin's....just a short walk away. 

We were also pleased to find some shops that we hadn't discovered before: especially this cheese shop.....RIGHT next door to the Inn. Score!

      Indigo Moon ... apparently, it's also a small restaurant, with a cute patio outback. Just cheese for now....lunch or dinner next time!

Josh from Tolo recommended Dubost winery. We noticed the sign along the road and it didn't look like much. So, for Sunday we planned to visit. 

After a long, fun drive down their dirt-road, we discovered an old shed filled with old cars and trucks...then the Adobe style building. 

Kate, co-owner, welcomed us and served us up some outstanding wines along with great stories. They are working on their new tasting room, and we look forward to coming back in warmer weather to enjoy one of their outdoor parties. 

 Dubost Winery

Dubost, has some great reds: we loved their Tempranillo, and the Vingence, which is their huge red. A lovely blend of Tannat & Syrah. This bottle is rather expensive, but will be great to share on a special night. But, they also have a great $20 Blend of 7 reds called the Homestead Red. 

Kate's son, who recently passed away, painted this.... it has great meaning to her.

Winery cats.... Rule!😣

  

Incredible Walnut bar taken from fallen tree on the property.

A frequent winery, but always incredible, is Venteux. 

 Love their wines so much right now. Especially, the  Dry-Farmed Cab. We had the magnum over Friends-giving and it was delish. They pride themselves on unfiltered wines, and it's obvious with the sediment left in
your glass.

  Chuck, our favorite wino, was there and gave us a few minutes....love how he describes the tastes of the wine on your mouth and tongue :) 

Turley Cellars 

A spontaneous turn and we're at Turley Cellars. They pour primarily Zins. Their vineyards and grapes are from all over California, so you get a
great variety of wines from different regions. We all really liked it. Such a beautiful tasting room, too.
    Besides a wine club, they also offer a Mailing List. Where you get offered wine discounts 2 times a year, without a club commitment.

 We did get quite a few bottles.....that's what happens when you find great wines. 

Cheers, til next time :) 

Gorgeous night sky just before the lunar eclipse (red moon)