Those of us that are old, rememember the photo above.  To those "youngsters"  television was not always on 24/7.  It was required to shut down nightly to perform engineering maintence.  

If you are new to the blog,  please read the archives.  And all return in May to continue the
Adventure!

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In Spanish it is called Montana de Oro.  Another great side trip not far from Morro Bay, six miles. From San Luis Obispo, about twelve,  A wonderful place to camp for a few nights too.  Camp closer to the enterance and lay in your tent or your RV  listening to the surf.   During the Winter, view the storms for some dramatic sights and photographs.  Wind and rain blowing at gayle force somtimes.  Waves crashing into the cliffs!  The thunder of the crashing, pounding waves can be almost deafening.

Montana de Oro  got its name from the golden wild flowers in the park.  The only riches here however; are the 8,000 acres of cliffs, sandy beaches and the many hiking trails  and equestrian trails.

Islay Creek Campground can accomdate both RV's and the tent camper. Across from Spooners Cove and a short walk from the beach.  About fifty camp sites With fire rings, picnic tables and water.   This is a popular campground and most Summer weekends are booked well in advance.  Open all year, but the
chilly ocean air can be brisk in the Winter.

After a day, or several days, at the beach; as you drive out one of my favorite dinner houses is
​JIMMY BUMPS  Pasta House located in Los Osos and run by my friend Jimmy Delmore.  

Wonderful food.  Nice wine selection.  The menu is down to earth, traditional Italian. As the name implies, offering up great pasta, but also Chicken Marsala, Eggplant Parmigiana  and some of the best Calzones and pizza to be had.  You cant go wrong with JIMMY BUMPS!

​SPOONERS COVE

One of the many great roads to ride - or drive - in San Luis Obispo County is Santa Rosa CreekRoad.  Located about a forty minute drive north of San Luis Obispo in beautiful Cambria.   However as stated here before don't ride, or drive, straight  up.  You may want to stop in Morro Bay.  I mean you do have all day.  Make it memorable!

Take time to explore the many shops.  If you are in there in the morning, grab a coffee and a cinnamon roll on the embarcadero.  If lunch, I recommend the Hofbrau for a Prime Beef Dip sandwich - Yummy!

​Be sure to drive out to the "Rock" and watch thr Sea Otters.

After a break in Morro Bay drive North on 101 to Cambria.  Now if you have stopped in Cayucos or 
Harmony on the way up and time now for lunch; try the Main Street Grill and have a Tri Tip BBQ Sandwich.  Or go drive/ride Santa Rosa Creek Road and come back to Cambria for a gastronmnical treat.  Top off with a stop at Linns Bakery for a slice of  Olallieberry pie or other fine offering.

Cambria is quaint little town. Stroll around and enjoy the shops.  When it is time to hit the road - Santa Rosa  Creek Road; you will find it south of town.  Just follow Main Street until you see the street sign.

Santa Rosa Road is a great motorcycle run; but a nice drive as well.  Takes you up into the hills and ends
at Haighway 46 which you can follow back to Highway 101 or turn left and go into Paso Robles and do some wine tasting.  Santa Rosa is just one of the many great rides in San Luis Obispo County.  Enjoy!

Oh,  and the music bed in the video, dosen't have to be a FANTASY just go do it.   And be GHROVIN' ON A SUNDAY AFTERNOON!

Found in the rolling hills and the  many horse ranches in the Santa Ynez Valley  you will find one of the great  California "Wine Trails" North and a bit east of Bullton or Santa Ynez.  Foxen Canyon is the home of some very fine winneries -  Fess Parker, Firestone, Zaca Mesa, Costa De Oro about fourteen in all.  You can also find Foxen Canyon from southern Santa Maria.  In southern Santa Maria exit Highway 101 at Betteravia Road and wind your way to the beginning of the Foxen Canyon Trail.  For motorcycles it is a great run with some fun high speed sweepers; but caution, it can be hazardous, I have seen more then one accident.  If coming from Santa Barbara, I would suggest exiting Highway 101 at San Marcos Pass, Highway 33.  As you climb up the road you will leave the views of the Pacific Ocean and when cresting the top will desend through the Los Padres National Forest.  On the other hand continue up 101 and enjoy the beauty of the coast line.  Oh, as a side line, it is here, just south of Gaviota, that a Japanese submarine shelled the Richfield Oil field in 1942.  About twenty 5 inch shells were fired causing little damage and no casualties.  Interesting to note it was the first time the U.S. Mainland had been attacked since the War of 1812.

Santa Ynez Valley offers a lot to do.  The art galleries, cafes and dont miss the Santa YInes Mission..  For the adventurous, take a sailplane out of the airport.  At an altitude of around 3,000 feet you can enjoy the sights from Lake Cachuma  to the many vineyards and ranches - even Reagan Ranch.

For a side trip just minutes from the "Trail" is the town of Solvang. Founded by Danish immagrants in 1911 and well worth the time especially if you are looking for a cup of coffee and a "danish".  Many fine bakeries and shops to be found.  Additionally motor up 101 to the town of  Los Alamos and visit THE UNION HOTEL. Established in 1880 and a wonderful example of "old" California.  Not only will you find a great meal, be it a lunch or a relaxing dinner; but you my recognize it in one of many productions shot here.  among the notables have been Michael Jackson and Jon Bon Jovi's music videos. 

While living in San Luis Obispo, FOXEN CANYON WINE TRAIL has always been on of my favorite runs on the motorcycle.  Whether you ride  or drive it; take your time, with so many wineries and so much to see in the area. it is easy to spend two days or more,  

This iconic winery is the home of many fine wines -  Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah,  Malbec all grown here in Santa Ynez.  

For many years my other favorte is FESS PARKER WINERY.  Located just  up the road from Firestone and the second on the tour if heading north east.    Established in 1994 by - "Davy Crockett and Daniel Boone";  well perhaps more accurate to say by Fess Parker who of course stared in those great TV series many of us grow up watching.  

Yes, that is indeed  a "Coonskin" hat for your bottle of wine!  Just like ol' Davy's just a bit smaller.
So saddle up and go  for a ride on the FOXEN CANYON WINE TRAIL!

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It was an early drive out to the Amish farms.  Sunrise as you can see.  Bit brisk at 21 degrees; and behold the Amish are up before dawn.
The video below was shot over about a 90 minute time. with the exception of the closing footage that was around 3PM.   

I have a tremendous respect for the Amish.  They work hard from before dawn to after sunset. Sometimes in harsh weather too.  The  young man on the push scooter was on his way to work.  Even the kids have a positive work ethic.   Great sense of family and community too.  As to that, we all can learn from the Amish. 

Wishing you all a Happy New Year!  

As this year is racing to its zenth;  looking forward to the adventures and travels of 2018.  Do hope you have enjoyed the posts of years past.  If you are new to the blog be sure to read of the great destinations, hotels, and fine resturants you may wish to visit.

Please allow me to ask, you see as an old "warrior" of the Vietman War, it is a struggle to foot the costs of all this travel, often for the sole purpose to bring you, my reader some "intel" on what this Great Country has to offer.  So as the saying goes: "Hey, buddy can you spare a dime?"   Thank you to all of you that have helped out this past year with a donation, or purchased photos.  Every little bit sure does help!

​So, while we wait for the snow to melt, I dream of the West - Alwasys the West.  Love the deserts, the mountains - the open spaces!

Sand Dunes at Totem Pole,  Monument Valley

Sunrise at the Badlands NP, South Dakota

Million Dallor Highway, Ouray, CO

Turks & Caicos Sunset                              Over looking Avila Beach, CA             Old Custom House, CA

So continue to enjoy the blog and many thanks for your help in bringing it to you - See You Down The Road!

In the preceeding post, you read I was out and about during the "First Snow".  Well the following day
bumped into a couple of gentlemen that had just aquired a 1938 Plymouth Pick Up.  I just couldn't pass up the opportunity to take advantage of a great "prop".   So bellow is the film -  "89 Meets '38.

​

OK then, a very short post.  Gotta get out and do some Christmas shopping.   

December 9th the first snow of the season arrived with the dawn.  Plesent light snow fell all day.
Total was about five inches.  Since the temperatures  have been well above freezing, the sidewalks and
streets remainded mostly free of snow; although did ice over night.    Love that type of storm - don't have to shovel!

I drove around my "backyard";  above here is the Rock Ford Plantation.  A wonderful 18th Century home of Edward Hand who served as Adjutant General to George Washington during the American Revolution.  Fully restored and used for many evets, weddings being one.  The Plantation is about 33 acres and the Conistoga River runs through it surronded by woodlands.  Below are some of the wildlife encounted on the drive.

Couple of the  more odd animals incountered Ram and a Lama.

Of course I had to see if the trains were running at Strasburg Railroad and like the "Post Office"  "...nether rain or snow..."  keeps them off their schedule.   Although the photos below are from the day after; the video shows how brutal it was.  

​As is the case, the morning after the storm broke with a promise of a great day.

​Of course had to go to the train station to get some shots before the crowd showed up and the icicles melted in the morning sun.

Yes, I believe it is.  

For those of you that travel and who doesn't, or if you are looking for a fine camera that can do it all
very well, take a look at the Sony RX10 Mark 4. Fixed lens from 24mm - 600mm!  Weather and dust tight.  Shoots 4K video.   Lots of information on the net and Youtube.

In my phography career I have shot Leica, Linholf, Sinar, had many Hasselblads, Nikons; shot Rolli's.
Minolta, and even a Minox.  For those that know, way back then - mid sixties - experimented with the Minox half frame shooting Panotomic X and developing in Micodol.  Was able to print life size images of man size images. But I digress.  For those readers of this blog, for about a year now most of the images are from the Sony RX10 Mark III.  Upgraded to the Mark IV at it's release date last month.  The Mark IV has many upgrades my  reason was for the improved forcus and focus speed.

The old story goes "bigger is better".  Might be true in racing engines and sex; but in photography it all comes down to what your end result is.  While a professional photographer in Los Angeles so many years ago, most of the studio work was shot on either the 4x5 or 2 1/4 . Flash forward to today and well into the digital age of photography and the arrgumet is the "full frame sensor"   Being from the old days I struggled with this.  Full frame senors are found in big heavy multi lens cameras.  Before commiting to the RX 10 Mark 3 I had a Nikon D810 with lenses from 14mm up to the 200 - 400 zoom.  However the D810 would only shoot 1080p and I wanted full 4K.  Bought the RX10 Mark 3  for video and found the still images were really impressive.   Last month Nikon released the D850 and it has a full sensor and shoots 4K.  I struggled with buying the Nikon and all the glass - ruffly a $20,000.00 
investment, plus having to lug all that stuff around, or upgrade the  RX10 .   I opted to go with the Sony and saved $18,000.00!  Additionally everything fits into one small camera bag! 

​Cropped

​Extreme crop

        
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600mm   Some post processing.  

Todays video cameras are so much better then the 16mm Bolex, Arri's and Eclairs of yesteryear.  Here is a hand held video test  shot in the "Auto" setting and with the internal mic. ​