California Day 13 - Lompoc to Santa Barbara

 It was another beautiful morning in California.

All the climbing today was in the cool, comfortable morning. I had to clear an 1100 foot ridge to get back to the ocean, but it was a long, easy grade, and no big deal.

As soon as you clear the top, the temperature drops, it gets foggy, and much more humid.

Then there is a white knuckle plunge down a steep, twisty highway (101) from Gaviota Pass. Here is a picture looking back at it.

Next thing you know, the road is running along the ocean, pretty much for the rest of the day.

That railroad on the trestle is active. All the Amtrak trains up and down the west coast go on that track.

The only real challenge today was the complete lack of food for the first 46 miles. Despite having a big piece of German chocolate cake before I left, and hitting the snack bag heavily and consistently, I was pretty weak and lightheaded by the time I got to the outskirts of Santa Barbara, where services resumed.

Lunch as at Pollofino's, a Mexican BBQ chicken place in Goleta. Which is just a storefront with styrofoam plates and plastic utensils.

But it was sure good and it totally hit the spot.

I got the chicken and tri-tip combo. Because I will eat as much tri-tip as possible before I get home and it turns back into pit beef.

The Pacific Coast Bike route includes nearly 10 miles of really nice bike trail coming into Santa Barbara. The trail goes right through the UC Santa Barbara campus, then loops around the airport.

I am determined not to waste another day of my bike ride at Motel 6. I think I can do hostels and camping the rest of the way to San Diego. Tonight it is a hostel.

The hostel is in a super prime location, it's right by the "Funk Zone". The Funk Zone is a neighborhood where there is a huge concentration of brewpubs, wine bars, and restaurants. They even have a meadery!

Which was closed for a private party, dammit. But that didn't stop me from going in, chatting up the owner, and wheedling myself some samples. This is more mead that is sparkling, light, crisp, and dry.  They had an interesting attempt at watermelon mead, which did in fact have some watermelon flavor.

I wound up at the Validation brewery taproom.

Where I had an excellent Irish Porter, a smoked Hefeweisen, and these wings.

We sure are far from Buffalo. I told the bartender they were really hot, and he said they make them with Jalapenos (mistake) which vary widely in how hot they are. 

Santa Barbara is a fun place. This is a great overnight town.

Here is the Strava track.  https://www.strava.com/activities/17847079212/overview