To San Luis Obispo

We left Phoenix last Wednesday morning, feeling as we lost sight of the city that we were finally starting our journey.



It is a long, hot, empty drive between Phoenix and L.A., so once we were through the city and caught our first sight of the cool ocean, we had to stop.

TOES in the sand for the first time.

We planned for our first night to be spent in San Luis Obispo, a place neither of us had ever been, but which sounded pretty and inviting. Following the advice of Google Maps, we ended up taking a long sort of detour off of the 101 north of Santa Barbara. It was not a disaster by any means, but it did involve thirty plus miles of windy mountain roads that it seems could have been avoided by staying on the main highway. Anyway, on scenic route 134, we discovered the Santa Ynez Valley, where we found this idyllic view of vineyards and rolling hills:

Making the best of the detour

We made it to SLO by dinner time and checked into these fancy accommodations before setting out to find food.

Lou at the Sunbeam

In the morning we did a little sightseeing, enjoying SLO's lovely downtown and famous mission.

In the Chinese district


Old theater, new movies


A close up of cool public art spotted on an electrical box


Maybe someday!


The Mission...

And, of course, our favorite part: The Gardens in the Mission's courtyard

Grape arbor, with great, big bunches of green fruit

Hydrangeas, found everywhere

Wildlife enjoying the flowers as well