Cold Springs Arch and Waterfall?

We saw an amazing Civil Engineering Monument and then went on a short hike behind the cutest little tavern on a back road where stagecoaches used to stop before the amazing Civil Engineering Monument was built. Can you guess what the amazing Civil Engineering Monument was?...A Bridge!!! However, the waterfall was not all that it was made up to be. It was a little stream coming down the mountain from a couple of springs-not impressed. But, I loved the little tavern. I will be back! We brought a picnic with us today and went up on a mountain to read and have our picnic, the views were loverly. A lady came by on her horse while we were there, how fun!

El Madonnari Festival

Cameron and I went on Memorial Day to this festival where artists do Chalk Art on the cement in front of the Old Mission near downtown SB. It was way more beautiful than I imagined-so colorful. There was delicious food and fun music and I think I got a little sunburned even though it was a perfect day and I had put on sunscreen-I guess not enough for my fair skin.

Old Stuff in Santa Barbara

The 'Old Mission"

De La Guerra Plaza-above and below
This is a small park in the middle of the city with some historical significance, but I can't remember what!
One of the oldest adobe houses.
The oldest street in SB, sorry, Ican't remember the nam of it.

I'm sorry to say, I can't remember what all these pictures are of-senility is setting in. They are some of the oldest buildings in town. We found it so interesting that #1 they were still standing and #2 they built a street right through the 'Old Mission.' Cutting a piece of the 'U' shaped mission out to make their road grid. Of course, hindsight is always 20-20. I'm sure the new town fathers wish the old town fathers would have had more foresight than that. I wish I knew in my twenties-what I know now, and I am wondering just how much smarter I'm going to be as I get older-wouldn't it be great to have some of that knowledge already? Now I'm rambling-does anyone even know what I am talking about?

Santa Barbara Courthouse

The Courthouse is an interesting building with unbelievable tile work and wide open grounds around it. There is a tower that you can go up in and see all the red tile rooftops in the city. Because of all of the earthquakes and fires in this area-the have been able to put building codes in place to bring in the Spanish, other European, Mexican, and Indian influences into the architecture. It feels so 'California' here.

We're gonna go to the zoo, we're gonna go to the zoo. Yep, yep, yep, we're gonna go to the zoo!

My ex-brother-in-law said that alot or at least he must have because-I say it often, (according to Cameron). Cameron had the opportunity to go down to the LA Zoo and hang out with the Earl's a few weeks ago. Apparently Ikey-boy can imitate monkeys identically and they reponded to him loudly. Everyone within earshot got a kick out of that. I think the boys will be jokesters just like their dad-Noah and Isaac are both pretty good teasers in their own right already.

This fun stop is called Painted Caves

Chumash Indians lived in the Santa Barbara area before Europeans came in and settled here. So, we are talking a long, long time ago these pictures were painted in this cave, aren't the colors still incredible? The views were gorgeous up here in the Santa Ynez Mountain Range, this last picture is Lake Cachuma- How do you like our attempts at self portraits? They are always fun to try for... when I take them-I am always in the picture, when Cam takes them-he is always in the picture. His are usually better than mine-but then you should see how long his arms are! In the first picture you can see SB, the Pacific Ocean and the Channel Islands in the distance.

Goleta

There is a cute little train station museum in Goleta and a fun nature walk around a pool with farm lands in the same area. They have free train rides for kids on Saturdays. The weather was picture perfect when we went out to visit this area, and we only saw half a dozen people while we were there-very serene.

Carpenteria Bluffs and Seal Rookery

Doesn't this sign crack you up? Anyway, you can obviously view the seals from a bluff overlooking the ocean and there is a docent there to answer questions, etc. Isn't it so cool?

The flowers are Babies Breath, this was a fun walk along the ocean. A little bit further down from the seals was the pier where the workers come in from the oil rigs, there are 6 of them that you can see from the Santa Barbara area. Walking further west, (remember Santa Barbara faces south), we went down and walked by the beach. Great seaside campground there in 'Carp' as the locals call it. At the beginning of the walk is a field where there were lots of water color artists and a hot dawg stand. You walk along the railroad tracks for part of the walk. I am planning on going back to Carp to go to Santa Claus Lane-they have Christmas stores open year-round on that lane-the exit for it is right in Carpenteria and I hear they have a cute downtown area-I will let you know...

San Rafael Wilderness Hike

These yellow wildflowers were all over the countryside in this area over the mountains from Santa Barbara. We also saw the ruins of a lovely house on the top of a mountain overlooking Lake Cachuma. What a gorgeous view. Friends at work tell me there was a horrible fire in that area and it is probably what was left of the house after the fire went through. There are lots of wineries and a great camp ground in this area. The campground is next to a winding river and has lots of swimming holes in it. On a warm day, we are planning on going swimming and having a barbecue over there.

California 'Happy Cows'