West Coast Travel

Weekend in Lompoc, CA

Last weekend was Chapter CA1Y's poker run in Lompoc. We had 5 bikes from our chapter to up there and we met up with 60 ro 80 other goldwings from other chapters that were attending for the same ride.

Several years ago, we rode our motorcycle to Lompoc for the same thing. The weather turned cold and that Sunday, it rained. We were never so miserable as we were that weekend, riding home cold and wet. It was one of our first rides in that type of situation and we were not prepared. We vowed that we would not return unless there was ideal weather. We have since learned how to prepare and are willing to consider less than perfect weather.

But, this last weekend in Lompoc was great. The weather cooperated for us. It was warm and sunny going up on Saturday. We took some back roads going up but when we came to hwy 150, it was still closed due to the floods and rains that we had this past winter. So, we stayed on the main roads where necessary as we worked our way up north.

We stopped in Solvang for lunch at a nice little restaurant called "The Mustard Seed." They didn't have any dishes that featured mustard. Go figure! The worker explained that the name was more of a biblical reference so we let it go.

We stayed at the Best Western in town and had a great room. We had dinner at the little hole-in-the-wall restaurant next door. My dinner wasn't great, but it appeared that everyone else had a good meal. The prices were certainly reasonable. I had a top sirloin dinner for $10.95.

The ride Sunday took us throught the hills to see the vineyards and the fields where all the flowers are grown. It was too early in the year to see the flowers, but the hills were so green from the rains, it looked like we were in Ireland.

On the way back, the ladies persuaded us to stop at the outlet mall at Camarillo so that they could shop at the CHICO store. We spent probably an hour and a half as the women shopped. But they were happy and that makes us happy.

One last stop. Vicki and I and Ray and Nancy stopped at Northwood's for a nice dinner before we went the last few miles home. I love their cheese toast.

posted by tom @ 9:28 PM