Types.

Typing.

Putting my thoughts in this void.

Words.

Here I go again.

I’m unsure what or even when my last post was. A few weeks?

Looking back at the latest entry, I touched upon my last trip.

I’m back.

I hiked.

I explored.

I napped ’cause I got fucked up.

Here I am.

Typing.

My little planned extra-long weekend was successful.

I had a great time and a tiring time hiking and doing some minor exploring in Santa Ynez wine country.

I stayed in Buellton, a few miles from Solvang.

I headed straight to Los Leones trail right after dropping Pickles off for boarding.

The hike itself wasn’t bad. Not as strenuous as I thought it would be. There wasn’t much shade, but that’s all right. I did it first thing in the morning.

I see why it’s such a popular hike. At 7 miles round trip, it’s a good long moderate hike for people who doesn’t like Runyan. It’s for people who are looking for a decent hike.

I would do it again and I’m grateful to know that it’s so close.

The views up at the top should be amazing but the marine layer was burning off when I got there. I still saw the Pacific and took in the views.

I had places to be and I was running a little late. I know that there was another trail at the top that connects somewhere else. I might look into it and stretch it out to a long hike sometime in the future.

My next stop after Los Leones was Ojai. I hiked the Santa Paula Canyon Punchbowls.

It is a poorly marked 8+ mile round trip hike along a creek. I lost the trail a few times and ended up on the wrong side of the creek a few times.

At the big punch bowl with the waterfall, I sat, cooled down, relaxed, and fueled up as I watch people swim and dive off the cliff.

Me. Water. No good.

I enjoyed my time though.

When I started the hike, there were two overweight women who started at the same time as I did. I started close to 12:30 or 1pm. When I left, they haven’t gotten to the punch bowl yet and I passed them while they were resting.

I praise them for making the effort to do it. I praise them for wanting to see the punch bowls. It is pretty.

I praise them for wanting to make a change and get out in nature.

I thoroughly hope that they finished the hike and got back okay, and I wish them both the best and that they loved every single second of it, even though I imagined it being so tough on them.

Good for you.

Good for you.

I hiked close to about 17 miles that day. My Fitbit said 19 but I know that the calculation is off a little bit. I split the difference between the trail lengths and my Fitbit, plus I explored some bits here and there.

17 miles.

Sore. Tired. I got to the car and fucking continued the long ass drive to my hotel. Man, that was a long ass drive.

I lucked out for dinner and made a quick reservation at a fine dining place that got a Michelin Plate award.

It was pretty good. I did the grand tasting menu. It was like 5 courses for $90 and had a few glasses of wine.

The duck wings were pretty fucking great.

I walked around a bit, exploring downtown Solvang and then drove back to the hotel.

Tired.

Full.

But fucking tired.

Morning morning.

Bright and early, ready to go.

I got to my first trail close to 8 in the morning.

Inspiration Point.

There wasn’t any parking at the trail head, so I had to find street parking and there were so many cars lined up already. On the way up, I saw a few people hiking up the street.

Overall, it wasn’t a bad hike. It was a quick 2 miles up to the top.

The marine layer was thick that morning. I didn’t see much at the top. But I explored anyway.

Hot. Sweaty.

Thankfully it wasn’t hot hot. The temperature didn’t rise till afternoon and the marine layer didn’t burn off till then either.

I spent a lot of time at the top exploring all the different small trails that went nowhere.

More and more hikers were coming as I was hiking down. Thankfully I got done when I did. Being stuck behind them would suck.

One thing that I noticed about hiking in Santa Barbara, it was very dog friendly. They’re allowed off leash.

Beautiful.

Just. Beautiful.

My next hike was meant to be somewhere in Rattlesnake Canyon State Park.

I didn’t know what to expect, but I thought the State Park would be like a State Park. It wasn’t.

The area was designated as a state park, but no parking lot. No gates.

I drove up and up and up the mountain and couldn’t find anything. I decided to then do the Rattlesnake Trail but came across a different trail.

West Fork Trail.

It’s what Benjo’s friend classified as Disaster Porn.

You start the hike by going down the valley. It’s about 1.8 miles to Cold Spring and another .3 to the road. The trail itself was good. No shade, but I got the marine layer.

The downside was hiking down first.

Tired.

There were some areas where the trail was covered by loose sand and gravel from landslides, but it wasn’t that bad.

At the bottom came a fork and I wanted to do more hiking. I tried to figure out where the other trail went and found out it went on this giant loop.

That’s what I did.

East Fork Trail.

I got lost and went the wrong way and went a long way around, but it was fun. Tired.

I didn’t even go to the lookout that I was aiming for because I was almost done.

I eventually meandered my way back to the Cold Spring and then I had to hike back up to my car. 1.8 miles up.

1.8 miles.

UP.

The sun was coming out. The temperature was rising in the valley.

Hot hot heat.

I was so done.

I was on my 13th mile, heading onto my 14th and I was done.

I was cursing myself.

Done.

Done.

I managed to get to my car, and I drove to downtown SB and said fuck it. Ice Cream.

I got some ice cream and then I decided to get some lunch.

The Habit.

While there, some fucking kids decided to take my table and move my shit.

Fucking rude.

Fucking rude.

I wish death upon them.

I really do.

No, not really, but I do.

I really fucking do.

Over and done.

Done and done.

I drove back to the hotel.

Beaten and broken.

Everything fucking hurt.

Knees.

Feet.

Back.

Hips.

Body.

Done.

I showered and rested a bit before I headed to Solvang for dinner.

I didn’t have much of a plan for dinner at Solvang.

I parked and just walked around. I tried to find something that interested me, but nothing did.

I ended up getting Vietnamese food and I was satisfied.

Ice cream again for dessert and it was a good night.

I stopped by a Tiki Bar for a glass of wine and some live music and called it a night.

Tired.

Broken.

Beaten.

Rest was what I needed.

Rest.

Day of relaxation.

I slept in.

I managed to sleep in.

I didn’t leave the hotel past nine and I did something I haven’t done in a while.

I got breakfast.

The plan that day was wine tasting.

I needed something in my stomach.

I went to a local diner and after, I chilled a bit in the hotel before I left.

I didn’t have much of a plan that day. I didn’t know where I wanted to go, but I know that I wanted to start in Santa Ynez.

After some quick research, I decided on SunStone.

It was good. I like the person that helped me. She was good.

The tasting wasn’t bad either, a mixture of white and red.

The tasting was for six and she gave me about 10 to try after finding out that I’m more of a red. She had some great recommendations and I got some balsamic vinegar and a bottle of the petite Syrah. That was yummy.

While I was there, I overheard her tell a couple about a winery in Los Olivos where you can paint while you drink.

I thought that sounded interesting and that was my next stop.

Not what I was expecting.

Not at all.

It wasn’t like a paint and drink thing.

They had one easel with a pad where you can paint, but that was it. They have their own gallery and was showcasing a local artist.

Her work wasn’t bad.

They had a lot of paintings from past people who dabbled on the pad posted on the ceiling.

Overall, I hated every single tasting at this winery.

Every.

Single.

One.

I think they poured me 11.

So, I was fucked.

I drove back to the hotel. Don’t remember much of it and just passed the fuck out.

Got back close to 3:30 and woke up around 6:30.

I grabbed dinner in Buellton at some warehouse area. Tapas.

It was pretty fucking good.

I over ordered like I normally do, not knowing what I was getting into. You order at the counter, get a number and that was it.

The food was good. Modern. American.

The thing that surprised me was the rabbit liver.

So fucking good.

I didn’t sleep well that night. I stayed in and did some painting on the iPad and then called it a night.

Didn’t sleep well.

Bright and early Monday, I drove home and that was it.

I got home before 9AM.

Good trip.

Great hiking.

Definitely will need to do again.

I think I already have my next place lined up.

Just need to do some research.

Looking forward to it.

Here we go.

Here.

We.

Go.