A Day in the Life of Santa Barbara County, CA - A Pashnit Ride

[pashnit]

The ride went something like this:

Up at dawn to a foggy morning, the air moist and wet. The one and only road that's paved, and accessible to the ocean in this region is Jalama Beach Rd. Very cool road, lots of surfer traffic even at the early hour.


Good Morning Santa Barbara County!!! Pashnit is here crossing off roads.



Endless twists and turns- were you expecting anything else on a Pashnit Ride?



Looking north- that's Vandenburg AFB in the distance. They test ballistic missles out there launching them over the ocean every once in a great while.

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The Pacific Ocean at Jalama Beach- just south of Vandenburg AFB

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The Pashnit Hayabusa at Jalama Beach:



Then backtracking on over to Santa Rosa Rd

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Vineyards, orchards and farmland along Santa Rosa Rd



Then on over to Alisal Rd - very cool ride past Nojoqui Falls (another must see) on into Solvang...



...and ride right past the Solvang Motorcycle Museum.

I didn't have the time to stop, but here's a teaser pic from a subsequent ride.



Windmill in the Danish town of Solvang

[pashnit]

Skip north out of Solvang on Ballard Canyon Rd (might need a county level map to find it- I did. Truth be told, I needed a city street map of Solvang to find it, but then again, I came prepared. )



What dreams are made of.

[pashnit]

Then a few miles later- it was time to assail the Adventure Ride known as Figueroa Mountain Rd! Had no idea what to expect. And it started off pretty good.



The view of Figueroa Mountain Rd back at Solvang as the elevation began to climb.



Although I quickly began to realized it was not for the wimpy wimpy.

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Near the summit, a sign pointed to the Summit Lookout. Hmm, okay. Mine as well.

Note how steep. What goes up must come down.



Quick detour off the main road to the summit went something like this. Too bad I hadn't brought that Buell Ulysses for this. Where no Hayabusa has gone before. Quickly realized this was a poor choice. I survived. There was no lookout, just a picnic area.

[pashnit]

However, along the way was this amazing view! I would have missed it if I'd stayed on the main Fig Mtn Rd & hadn't taken this gravel road to the summit.



After my anti-climatic detour- Back on Figueroa Mtn Rd continuing eastward, the view though was incredible!!! We go that way!!!

[pashnit]

My own private paradise.



Although keep in mind we're riding atop a moutainous ridgeline.
Which of course entails jaw-dropping view!! That's Santa Barbara below the fog. My magazine cover shot.

At the summit


The Panoramic - Scroll --->>> Welcome to Santa Barbara County!!

[pashnit]

The descent. Not reccomended for most. An adventure to the rest!! Okay, so 95% was paved. Sort of. The fog got so thick, I could see about 20-30 feet in front of me. Now descending. Road name change to Happy Canyon Rd.

You call that a road? Not so happy. Tepid at best.


Couple water crossings



The happy part