bardsmaid's ongoing photo diary - page 10 - a winter hike at Satwiwa in the Santa Monica Mountains


6-30-2003 Daytrip to the central coast hills
For three years in the late 80's, we lived in Lompoc, a little town nestled away in the valley among the hills along the central California coast. Our favorite Mexican restaurant is there, and lately the boys have been saying, "We really need to go to Lompoc and eat at Don Pepe's." When Annie came over on Sunday, she said, "You know, we really need to go to Lompoc sometime and..." well, you can guess. So today the four of us (Annie and I, Paul and Ben) took a quick trip to Lompoc and environs.
Path in the park where we stopped. I know I've been living in too populated an area because when I got out of the car, I was assaulted by the vivid fragrances of a coastal California summer: warm dry grasses and shrubs, oak trees and a few redwoods. It was wonderful.	A canopy of oaks with trunks like driftwood cover the picnic area like umbrellas. Most California oaks are naturally bonsaied from lack of water, but they also grow into very beautiful shapes.

Park flora includes vinca (above) growing in shady spots and wild sweet peas (right) in the sun.
A few miles up a windy road brings you to this point where the Pacific Ocean is visible. The area off this point is infamous for its treacherous currents, which have grounded many ships.	Looking the opposite way into the hills. California summers are painted in palomino tans and muted browns, gray-greens and purples.
	Coastal hillsides (at left) cloaked in the low-growing, scrubby plants that comprise the chaparral give way to the long valley above, where a handful of ranchers live a quiet existence grazing cows and sheep among secluded hills.
Roadside flora included the small orange flowers above, which covered large areas, and the sturdy, drought-tolerant evening primrose at right


Of course, we couldn't leave without a stop at La Purisima mission just outside Lompoc. Established in the late 1700's, it was in its heyday in the 1820's but fell into ruin soon thereafter when the Mexican government rescinded the Church's land rights. Rebuilt in the 1930's, the mission is furnished as it was when the original residents lived there. It's a great walk back into history.
View inside the sacristy includes the chest, made in 1699, where the priests' vestments were kept.	One of two fountains in the formal garden. Huge white matilija poppies bloom in mid-field at left.