A few more days in a more rustic setting

Santa Paula, CA

Today I travelled south on Highway 101 from Avila Beach, near San Luis Obispo to Santa Paula, and to Ventura Ranch KOA. I was looking for somewhere to kick back for a few days before hitting the Orange County area and then on to San Diego. This definitely fits the bill. It’s like being in the wilderness, but with all the amenities. I’m looking forward to resting my SI Joint, and doing some reading. So you may not hear from me for a few days. Although there is Santa Barbara and other beach communities to explore……

Enroute today my only substantive stop was in Solvang, California. It’s just east of Highway 101 on Highway 246. I had read a little about it and so spontaneously turned off to have a look. It’s only 5 km or so off Highway 101 and worth a quick stop, especially if you’re looking for a meal or a snack.

Solvang was originally settled by Danes after the first world war, and over time it has transmogrified into a major tourist attraction. The locals started building things using the Danish traditional style and they even furnished the town with copies of the Mermaid from Copenhagen and a bust of writer Hans Christian Andersen. (I didn’t see them in my brief wandering). Build it and they will come, I guess.

One of my books on the area says there isn’t much to do in Solvang except “walk, gawk, and buy pastry”, so I did just that. Couldn’t pass up on buying Danish pastry in this environment.

The campground I’m in is very nice, with great facilities, and doesn’t appear to be very busy. It’s got great things for kids to do, but I’m only here for days during the week so don’t imagine I’ll see many around. What I have seen are wild peacocks which have the run of the campground. Seems very strange.