Next stop: Santa Barbara

Live is one beautiful trip.

If you have been following the blog for awhile, you know that Joelle likes to drive. I like to hang out the window and take pictures, and say, “Pull over Jo; this looks cool.” This arrangement  works well for us.

We wind our aimless way up the coast and see the exit for Santa Barbara. The TV show Psych tales place in Santa Barbara. For years, I’ve been watching Gus and Sean tool around a pretty cool looking place, in The Blueberry (a Toyota Echo). Sue Grafton’s character Kinsey Millhone (The Alphabet series books) lives in fictional Santa Teresa, which we all know is really Santa Barbara. Sounds like a picturesque place to visit.

Joelle steers Steady Betty down the exit ramp.

Santa Barbara is basking in the sunshine this afternoon, and the sidewalks are bustling with pedestrians. Every intersection seems to be a 4-way stop, which is very convenient for tourists (like us) to make decisions about which is the best way to turn. The sidewalks and parks are also noticeably populated with homeless people. These sad souls are sleeping  under trees, panhandling, and shuffling their way along. Every city, unfortunately has homeless, but their numbers seem swelled in Santa Barbara. I cannot begin to speculate why this is so, and every block we walk, we encounter more of these folks.

Joelle and I aren’t really shoppers, but how can we resist a store named Punch, with vintage psychedelic clothes out front?

 

Where would I wear this, anyway?

We escape without making any unnecessary, and in my case, embarrassing purchases. Joelle put her foot down on the orange hat. Thank you.

We also managed to resist all three Turkish emporiums. We know it is impossible to fit those hanging lanterns in our carry-on luggage once we return to John Wayne Airport.

End note:

In researching the exact make and model of The Blueberry, I found out that Psych is actually filmed in Vancouver. Another illusion busted. 

The Healing Power of Water

Life is one beautiful trip.

I cannot believe we get to sleep on the beach.

Coming to the ocean has always been my refuge, my solace. When Griffin was little, we would pack up the Subaru wagon at 4:00 in the morning and head for The Outer Banks. Arriving way too early to check into a motel, we’d grab a quick nap in the back of the car, change into our suits, and head down to the beach.

When Griffin became a teen, we still took off on impromptu beach weekends. It was during one of these pilgrimages that we both decided to get pierced. An ear for Griffin, the nose for me. Mother/son bonding at its finest, followed by celebratory Cokes at a raw bar.

It was to the ocean that Griffin drove me to heal/be/release after Darryl died. We parked along the road on Sullivan’s Island, SC at midnight and found our way down to the beach by the light of the moon. We stood there in silence, arms around each other, looking at the moon, and let the tears flow.

Found this in front of our campsite. I'm too short to get the whole thing in the shot.

Joelle and I find ourselves at Point Mugu, in Malibu, California, and we are ecstatic we can camp right on the beach. This is peak.

Night falls

Tucked into the top bunk of Steady Betty, window flaps unzipped, there is enough light to see the waves lapping at the rocky beach, just feet in front of me. I sleep to the sounds of the rhythmic surf. These are the sounds and rhythms of Mother Earth. Rocking me to sleep. Soothing my soul. We are tiny beings in a grand and infinitely beautiful universe. Happiness and joy explode from my heart to join with the stars in the indigo sky.

A little bit about Betty

Life is one beautiful trip.

Our magic carpet through Big Sur is a 1985 Westfalia Vanagon. We call her Steady Betty White. Taking a trip up the coast in a vintage vehicle is not for everyone, but it is an absolute joy for Joelle and me. People flash the peace sign at us. Folks stop and ask her age and share sentimental memories of the VDub buses they used to own.

If you are accustomed to modern car conveniences, this is not an expedition for you. There is no air conditioning. The van is old enough that it has triangular vent windows, and the side windows roll down with a hand crank. The battery is located under the passenger seat. The oil needs to be checked at every other gas stop and filled frequently. The wiper fluid tank has a leak, so the windows get hand squeegee-eed at the gas station.

Betty needs a little while to warm up in the morning. She has a maximum speed of 65 mph on a flat road surface. Going up a mountain, you can expect to rocket past the landscape at a rate of 37 to 45 mph. Every other car on the road passes us, including school buses and golf carts. Prius drivers feel superior as they give us a victorious sneer in their rear view mirrors.

Her brakes work well and appreciate a little warning when you are going to use them. For instance, I recommend applying your foot to the brake pedal about 15 yards past a green light in anticipation for coming to a full stop at the next intersection.

Betty is the best camping companion a soul could ever want. She has a propane stove, a refrigerator, and lots of cubby hole storage. The rear seat folds down to a double bed. The roof raises to make room for another bunk that can accommodate two people. In order to pop the top, I stand on the cooler, and Joelle stands on the bed, then we raise a metal bar until it snaps into place.

There is an arm that swings from behind the driver seat, to which we can attach a tabletop. The passenger seat swivels around, and presto! – dining room. Diane and Bill at Safari Vintage Wagon have thought of everything for a comfortable, convenient experience. They stocked the kitchen with dishes, utensils, pots & pans, paper towels, and best of all – a French Press. The van also has flash lights, a portable shower, and two camp chairs included.

Snuggly upper bunk

Spending the night in Steady Betty is an unexpected combination of a tent and cabin experience. Sleeping in the upper bunk is similar to staying in a tent, with side and front panels that unzip allowing in the breeze, the scent of a campfire, and enchanting evening sounds. Did you know that waves are louder at night? Betty provides all the best tent ambiance without the Princess and the Pea discomfort of sleeping on rocks.

Lower bunk, kitchen, dining room

The lower bunk is quieter, warmer, and we believe, relatively bear-resistant. While Betty provides a nice little cocoon, the internal temperature still drops pretty low at night. My glasses fog up when I put them on in the morning. The past two mornings, Joelle and I were both convinced it was warmer outside the van.

Om mani padme hum

Since Betty is our rolling home for the week, Jo and I like to dress her up a bit. Today, she got a fresh quart of oil, a new travel Buddha, and a set of prayer flags to generate blessings to all who enter and follow.

Peace