Nightglow Window

North

Big Red is all packed. We're putting our trust in her again as we head north to Santa Barbara, then up to Big Sur and San Francisco. I play a monumental game of "Slug Bug No Punch Backs" with Sydney as we drive through L.A. She conks out for a nap with the score tied at 14. (Of course, then I spot 8 VW Beetles heading through the Valley while she sleeps.)

We drive around UCSB, get mildly lost, hit a supermarket, toy with the idea of camping at El Capitan State Beach, before heading up that marvelous, lonely stretch of coast west of Santa Barbara to Gaviota State Beach. The campground is deserted. So is the beach. It's warmish, but a sweater feels good. After knocking around the pier and gazing longingly up the coast toward Point Conception and the very private and very epic surf spots of The Ranch, we load back into the car and head back to Santa Barbara.

What a gorgeous town this is, and it's a perfect afternoon. We have lunch at Ruby's and then go to The Bee Movie. The girls love it. Christy and I both fall asleep for 15 or twenty minutes or so. It's already been a full day.

Back at the campground we have a cheap and easy dinner of split pea soup and S'mores. The air is damp and dew hangs heavy on everything. The long, rust colored trestle is near our campsite, and three times during the night we're awakened by the loud rumble of freight trains. It's startling each time but wonderful to drift back off to the sound of the receding train and waves crashing on the shore.

The view from the pier looking west toward "The Ranch" and Point Conception.

The Bean at Gaviota State Beach.

The long metal trestle dominates the scene.

The girls back in Santa Barbara.

Beautiful Santa Barbara.

Dinnertime at Gaviota.

The pier, seen with a 30-second exposure.