La Jolla to Santa Barbara

A wrench leaving La Jolla and the new Mr and Mrs. We probably won't see them again until June 2015 and not likely together over to La Jolla again until 2016. The end of 8 wonderful days but the start of 12 rather exiting days as we explore new areas of California.

Today we travelled to Santa Barbara which is about 80 miles north of Los Angeles. It was a journey of some 215 miles along the I-5 and Highway 101. The 101 took us right past downtown Los Angeles and out by Hollywood. We just caught a glimpse of the iconic sign on the hillside.

An interesting journey, not the most picturesque, as we travelled through almost 200 miles of urban sprawl with very little countryside and a considerable volume of traffic.

Very difficult to find somewhere to come of the Interstate for a coffee and other purposes. Just dived off at one junction and found a Westfields Mall which provided coffee and the other much needed facilities. It was hot where we stopped, 36c at one point. Thank goodness for the aircon.

Santa Barbara is a lovely place, harbour, pier and beach. The hotel is good - Lavender Inn by the Sea. A bottle of (Californian) champagne in the fridge, free wine and cheese aperitifs and cookies and milk in the evening.

We enjoyed a stroll to the beach and pier to watch the sun set over the mountains before eating at Chucks Waterfront Grill for our evening meal. We both had cocktails, shared a calamari starter (for free) and both had a delicious fish stew.

Tomorrow we are aiming for Cambria, about 140 miles north along Pacific Highway 1. But we'll have time to look at the Main Street and shopping are before we leave.