The road to Valencia

The leg to Valencia took about three hours with a stop to fuel up. We travelled along Highway 101, El Camino Real with its mission bells, then veered slightly inland along the Chumash Highway which we had travelled previously.
The Chumash Highway takes you along a scenic route through the Santa Ynez Mountains, eventually reconnecting with Highway 101 as it takes you down a steep 7% grade that drops you straight into Santa Barbara.
I had a knot in my stomach when we negotiated the hairpin bends in the Rialta, and I had the same knot in my stomach as the Alpine propelled down the steep turns.  I am of course, as the passenger, sitting on the side that is closest to the sheer drops at the side of the road.  And believe me, they are sheer.  We dropped from 2,225 feet at San Marco Pass to sea level in about 6 miles, along hairpin twists and turns snaking our way down through the hills.

capturing the mission bells is a feat in itself while
whizzing along at 60 mph  - this one is the best capture
of the several I actually managed to spot and shoot    

at one spot along the Chumash Highway, these "rock dollops"
suddenly appeared and about a mile later, just as suddenly
disappeared

perched in the hilltops is this vineyard with its adjoining winery
that I noticed as we whizzed on down to the coast along our steep
descent into Santa Barbara  - if this looks like it is far below,
 it's because it it really is, as you can see by the scale of the buildings 

Along the next section to Ventura, we were back on Highway 101, hugging the coast and enjoying the view.  The coastal road is flanked by the Pacific on one side and precarious sandstone cliffs on the other, the roadway a narrow black ribbon squeezed in between the two, following the coastline.

more mission bells along this stretch of  El Camino Real

breathtaking views of the Pacific

The rest of our route was along a stretch we had not yet travelled, route 126, heading inland and east towards Santa Clarita.  This portion took us through a valley, every available space taken up with fields and orchards.  Velvety hills loomed on either side. 

By mid afternoon we pulled in to the Valencia Travel Village RV Park. It was once again a thrill to see so many Alpines parked side by side in two rows.  There are in fact 32 coaches at this pre-rally.
The next several days will be active. It's like summer camp for the oldies! On the schedule are social hours, dinners, breakfasts and field trips. We never experienced summer camp as kids, but I imagine this must be similar. It certainly looks like we are about to have a lot of fun.
And of course, I will keep you posted about it all... as time allows.

setting up house for the next few days

That's us, in A-13, on the right.  The couple next to us got
their '99 Alpine in September,  a month before we got ours, and just arrived
here from a trip they took to Mexico.  You know the saying: Have Alpine.....         

Last lingering Pismo memories

Sadly, this is our last day in Pismo. Tomorrow, however, we have a new adventure to look forward to as we join the Pre-Rally in Valencia for the next few days.

It will be a new experience, with new Alpine friends, and some we met previously in Pismo last year.







These are some of the more spectacular sights we enjoyed, of sunsets and beach views, in no particular order -

several napping sea gulls, all in a row

on our walk to the big rocks

mysterious caves carved out of the rock  

white cliffs of Pismo in the sunset

the Pismo boardwalk

the town square, and the singer.... we have seen this same
elderly gent each time we come here, still singing his
heart out for the folks as they stroll on by

view south

going home after a hard day of surfing...

And here are the best of the final two sunsets:

going...

going....

just about..

gone!

Adieu Pismo  - we hope and plan to be back soon again.

What color is the Pismo Clam....

On today's walk I found a perfect Pismo clam shell.  It was a lucky find and the shell now hangs on the side of the kitchen cabinet.
Pismo is famous for its Pismo clam, one of the largest clams along this coast.  The one I found measures 4 inches across the widest part.  I was surprised at how heavy and thick it is.  Typically, the shells are striped in tans and grays.  The one I found is much darker and rather stunning.

On the boardwalk you will see these signs posted:

Here is the description about the Pismo clam, courtesy of the Classic California website:

The Pismo Clam

The Pismo Clam is one of the largest types of clams found along the California Coast. The clams can grow up to seven inches, if not interfered with by hungry clammers and sea otters. Legal size is 4 1/2 inches in diameter; and the proper place to clam is south of Grand Avenue (south of Pismo Beach).

Clams take approximately five years to reach legal size; growing about 3/4 of an inch each year. As clams approach ten years of age, they seldom grow more than 1/8 of an inch per year. The largest living Pismo Clam on record is 7 3/8 inches, however the clam shell on display in the Pismo Beach Chamber of Commerce is 8 inches in diameter. During high tide, the clam is covered with water and can be found just under the sand's surface with it's siphon extended to the surface. Water taken in through the siphon, passes over the gills where food particles are removed and digested. The water is then expelled through the siphon. A 3 inch clam filters an average of 5,800 gallons of water per year. This amount of water contains approximately 3.88 ounces of food; thus clams are very light eaters.

How To Clam 
Before you clam you must obtain a salt-water fishing license, which can be purchased at K-Mart (Arroyo Grande), Longs Drugs (Pismo Beach) and Gotta Go Fish'n (Pismo Beach). Clamming is permitted year-round. You will also need a clam fork and a measuring device called a "caliper"; normally the caliper is attached to the clam fork. If you do not use a clam fork, you can use a modified rake, or any utensil that has prongs a foot or so long.

The limit for clamming is ten clams per day per person. It is a good idea to bring a bucket and fill it with sea water, not fresh water; the clams once in the bucket, will purge themselves of any impurities and will open slightly. This will allow you to remove them from their shells more easily. If you try to remove them from their shells when they are closed, you will quickly learn where the expression "Clam Up" came from.

Clamming Guidelines
According to state law: Clams must measure 4 1/2" in diameter before they can be taken. Undersized clams must be replaced in the very same hole that they were taken from. A saltwater fishing license is required. The annual fee for a saltwater license is approximately $14.20, and a day pass is about $8.40. The licenses are issued by the Department of Fish and Game. Clams may be taken only between a half-hour before sunrise and a half-hour after sunset. The limit for clamming is 10 clams per day per person. Those caught not adhering to any of these guidelines, will be subject to heavy fines. Change: Fee is now $44.85 or a 1-day fee is $14.30. (Reduced fees for Low Income Native Americans, Senior Citizens, and Disabled Veterans)   

http://www.classiccalifornia.com/clamming.htm

              

Our Neighbors

These are the neighbors who moved into the site next door for a few days.  I wondered if they perhaps were celebrities or rock stars.

It was fun watching the couple set up.  The "lady of the house" spent quite a while arranging a tall vase of roses and lilies on the picnic table outside.  And soon after that they were sitting outside with tall wine glasses in hand, in super comfy chairs, the outside bar within easy reach.

We eventually met them.  Even peeked inside the coach which was glitzy and fancy beyond imagination, with glass, mirrors, lights, and fancy display cabinets for wine glasses.  Michael described it best when he said it looked more like a nightclub inside, and it did.  

The coach, a Prevost, drew many admirers who walked by and took photos.  And one gentleman, whose line of business is paint jobs on vehicles, remarked that this is the most beautiful paint job he has ever seen. He may well be right, but I think I will stick with our demure Alpine paint job any day.Apparently, the owner now wants to upgrade to a newer model....which runs about a million dollars. 

This must surely be camping Beverly Hills style! 

that's our Alpine next door to the Beverly Hills 45 foot mansion

Sunsets in paradise (AKA Pismo)

Part of our daily ritual is to go for a second walk on the beach in the early evening in time to watch the sun set.  It is a fitting way to end yet another great day.  Every sunset is a little different but always spectacular.
Here are some my favorite adieus to the day -