Little Thoughts: April 27, 2013 Santa Maria to Solvang; Hwy 101 to Hwy 1

It is a beautiful, sunny, coolish-warmish day (Warm in the sun, cool in the shade). About noon we head out for fuel and then take Hwy 101 south. It is three, then two lanes of highway. Along the way are mission bells, some with signs “Historic El Camino Real.” “The mission bells seen on the 101 Freeway and other locations have been in place since the early 20th Century to mark the original route of El Camino Real (Spanish for Highway of the King or Royal Highway) from San Diego to Sonoma. The 700-mile-long El Camino Real linked California's 21 missions, which were founded by Father Junipero Serra and spaced approximately one day's journey apart by horse. Over the years, El Camino Real gave way to modern highways, principally Routes 101 and 82”. http://www.laalmanac.com/transport/tr32.htm

Lots of fields of strawberries and grapes along with yellow ice plants and other pink flowers blooming profusely. Here and there, cattle graze. Very peaceful settings among the green mountains.

At Buellton, we turn off Highway 101, go over the Santa Ynez River and enter the town which sports “Avenue of the Flags.” Buellton is “Home of the Split Pea Soup.” This Santa Ynez Valley boasts of their perfect weather – Summer temps 70-80 day/50 night with winters around 55/33, 9-17” of precipitation and smog-free.

We head from Buellton to Solvang, three miles east on a tree-lined highway. Solvang is a Danish community and has many clues as to it’s heritage, from the names of the streets (e.g. Copenhagen), names of businesses, architecture, and food choices.

Some of the sights we see as we drive through Solvang. We find a place to park easily and are greeted with sweet bells ringing at the 1 PM hour from this beautiful bell tower. The street leading to the bell tower is closed off to traffic and is packed with Datsuns for a car show. They are lined in two rows a block long and gleam in the sun, their proud owners glad to talk about how they found their particular gem.

We find Solvang Restaurant which we had picked out from many choices.

We choose some Danish choices: Jerry had the Danish hot dog topped with French friend onions and a curly cucumber (in vinegar) garnish in a paper cup. (LOL he said they could have skipped that it was so small…) I had the Danish meatball, sliced on a croissant with Tilsit cheese (very creamy with a tang). Yummy. For dessert we had to try their famous Aebleskiver (a round pancake served warm with raspberry jam and powdered sugar. Delicious. They sold the pans and mix if you wanted to try to make them at home.

This windmill was another sign of Danish heritage.

Jerry looked at the cars while I browsed the shops nearby.

Then we cruised around the area, finding lots of crops and harvesting operations. I spot kale, cabbage, lettuce and ??? Skirted Vandenberg AFB and some NASA buildings.