Ginky's Albums - California Christmas 2002

Ginky's Albums

California Christmas and New Year

Our 2002 Christmas treat (courtesy of Andy and Gretchen) was a train trip to Santa Barbara with our bicycles in order to: (1) ride bikes, (2) do research on Fred's family, and (3) get away from business as usual and have a good time. We did all three! Fred took his tried and true folding Montague, and I was able to put my Bike Friday to the test as a travel and touring bike. It passed with flying colors!

We spent our first day in Santa Barbara loosening up with a get-acquainted tour of the city. Bicycles and bicycling accommodations abound!
Our Christmas Eve ride took us up through Montecito, home of Julia Childs and other rich and famous. We didn't see Julia, but we had a great and scenic ride...
...followed by Christmas Eve dinner with Ralph Fertig, bicycling advocate and vice president of the Santa Barbara Bicycling Coalition.
Ralph was an invaluable guide, with suggestions of where to ride and what to see. He also surprised us by posting this photo on the SBBC web page the same day he took it in front of his house.

On Christmas Day we stopped at this county park between Santa Barbara and Ventura. Mrs. Claus from a nearby picnic table brought us some cookies to add to our lunch of fruit and crackers.
Our destination that day was Oxnard and Port Hueneme, site of one of the lighthouses managed by Fred's great grandfather. We spent a whole day visiting libraries and historical centers.
Back in Santa Barbara, we did more sightseeing around town...
...and met Tim (right), who uses the kayak to traverse the mile or so to the boat where he lives. Tim is doing his part to influence ecology in transport!

Our most challenging ride was from Lompoc to Jalama Beach, the nearest access to the Point Conception lighthouse, which had also been managed by Fred's great grandfather.
It was a long and winding road (and back again). This is a view from near the top of the pass.
The gate to Cojo Ranch was as close as we were able to get to the lighthouse. A visit requires a special Coast Guard escort, which we were not able to arrange during the holidays.
You can't have too many bicycle bougainvillea pictures. This one is at the Jalama Beach Store, where the hamburgers were as good as we'd heard they were.

The city of Lompoc is an outdoor art gallery with murals everywhere. This mural shows the lighthouse we didn't get to visit.
We're back in Santa Barbara for New Year's Eve and a night on the town with Ralph, who takes us to the blue whale skeleton outside the Museum of Natural History and other points of interest.
Of course we had to start the new year with a bike ride, and Ralph offered to be our guide. Also of course, we had frequent stops so he and Fred could discuss bicycle facilities and options along the way.
On New Year's night we rode our bikes back to the Santa Barbara train station, packed them in their bags, and were ready for our two-day train ride back to Austin.

California Christmas and New Year Our 2002 Christmas treat (courtesy of Andy and Gretchen) was a train trip to Santa Barbara with our bicycles in order to: (1) ride bikes, (2) do research on Fred's family, and (3) get away from business as usual and have a good time. We did all three! Fred took his tried and true folding Montague, and I was able to put my Bike Friday to the test as a travel and touring bike. It passed with flying colors!
We spent our first day in Santa Barbara loosening up with a get-acquainted tour of the city. Bicycles and bicycling accommodations abound!	Our Christmas Eve ride took us up through Montecito, home of Julia Childs and other rich and famous. We didn't see Julia, but we had a great and scenic ride...	...followed by Christmas Eve dinner with Ralph Fertig, bicycling advocate and vice president of the Santa Barbara Bicycling Coalition.	Ralph was an invaluable guide, with suggestions of where to ride and what to see. He also surprised us by posting this photo on the SBBC web page the same day he took it in front of his house.
On Christmas Day we stopped at this county park between Santa Barbara and Ventura. Mrs. Claus from a nearby picnic table brought us some cookies to add to our lunch of fruit and crackers.	Our destination that day was Oxnard and Port Hueneme, site of one of the lighthouses managed by Fred's great grandfather. We spent a whole day visiting libraries and historical centers.	Back in Santa Barbara, we did more sightseeing around town...	...and met Tim (right), who uses the kayak to traverse the mile or so to the boat where he lives. Tim is doing his part to influence ecology in transport!
Our most challenging ride was from Lompoc to Jalama Beach, the nearest access to the Point Conception lighthouse, which had also been managed by Fred's great grandfather.	It was a long and winding road (and back again). This is a view from near the top of the pass.	The gate to Cojo Ranch was as close as we were able to get to the lighthouse. A visit requires a special Coast Guard escort, which we were not able to arrange during the holidays.	You can't have too many bicycle bougainvillea pictures. This one is at the Jalama Beach Store, where the hamburgers were as good as we'd heard they were.
The city of Lompoc is an outdoor art gallery with murals everywhere. This mural shows the lighthouse we didn't get to visit.	We're back in Santa Barbara for New Year's Eve and a night on the town with Ralph, who takes us to the blue whale skeleton outside the Museum of Natural History and other points of interest.	Of course we had to start the new year with a bike ride, and Ralph offered to be our guide. Also of course, we had frequent stops so he and Fred could discuss bicycle facilities and options along the way.	On New Year's night we rode our bikes back to the Santa Barbara train station, packed them in their bags, and were ready for our two-day train ride back to Austin.