Day 3: Daytripper

Milo


All of us at Surfer's Point at Seaside Park



Thinking time

The missions were kind of boring today. I barely liked any of it. But after we saw the two missions, we went to the beach. That was great. Here are some pictures. I'm going to bed.


My buds



Liam, Cameron, and I trying to race the waves

 Mom

Scintillating commentary from Milo, no?

We headed out of Solvang around 10:15 after spending 20 minutes looking for Liam's iPod Touch. Apparently, I had packed it with Milo's and my iPods so we wouldn't lose it. But it took a stroke of inspiration from Lisa to look in the iPod case. So much for my masterful organizational skills!

The missions today were Santa Barbara and San Buenaventura. A quick 30 minutes down 101 got us to the first mission. Along the way, we were treated to the site of dolphins and seals swimming in the surf. One of the reasons I love the ocean is that you can stare at the waves for hours and it constantly changes. Driving next to the coast has always been one of my favorite things to do. Maybe next year, we'll road trip Highway 1. I haven't done that in forever and I think Milo would dig it.

Wait...I was talking about missions, not walking memory lane or waxing ecstatic about oceans. Anyhoo...Santa Barbara was first. Upon arriving at the mission, we saw a gorgeous fountain and some very cool chalk drawings on the blacktop. There was also a cool wooden cut-out of Franciscan's that the kids could put their heads in.

There was also the requisite El Camino Real Bell and Frey Serra statue. The really cool part of the Santa Barbara mission was the cemetery. There were about 15 crypts with random headstones as well. There didn't seem to be much rhyme or reason to where people's remains were interred. One crypt had an amazing stained glass in it, but you really had to look to notice it.



 I was transported back to Ms. Hawley's fourth grade class when I found the plaque for Juana Maria, the woman who inspired The Island of the Blue Dolphins. I read that novel in 4th grade and it was one of the first texts to inspire my love of history. I bought Milo a copy in the gift shop along with some Old Mission Santa Barbara Sangiovese and Sauvignon Blanc.

Also of note were the three skull-and-crossbones reliefs over the door from the cemetery back into the church. We planned to ask the museum people what that was all about, but of course, Milo found a plaque explaining their purpose and read it to us. They just told visitors that there was a cemetery there (I'm guessing the big marble boxes weren't enough of a clue).

The other mom on this trip, my great friend, Lisa Smith, has been our official photographer. Every picture on this blog is one of hers and I have to share two more from Santa Barbara. Lisa has a great eye and I envy her ability to create art out of simple things. Enough gushing...check out these shots of the devotional candles.

After a marvellous lunch at Arroyos on Figueroa Street in Santa Barbara, we were on the road again...this time to San Buenaventura Mission in Ventura, CA. This mission is a bit smaller than the others. The tour was shorter with only the gardens and sanctuary open to the public. Just as you exit the gift shop to begin the tour (did I mention that all of the missions so far, with the exception of La Purisima, begin and end the tour in the gift shop. How is that for brilliant salesmanship?), there is an exquisite fountain. The tile work is in white, blue, and gold. It's almost Moorish in design.

The other thing of note at San Buenaventura is the bell tower. It was rather imposing.

This tour took all of twenty-five minutes so we decided to hit the beach for a bit. The kids had a great time chasing and being chased by waves. The boys also built a sand "structure" (wouldn't exactly call it a castle). We check into our new hotel and chilled for a minute before heading to Ventura Harbor for dinner at Blackbeard's BBQ. Pirates can cook! The night ended with a movie in the Smith room and a little reading before bed. Night, y'all. Four mission down...kayaking tomorrow. Until then...