Chillin' California Style (but without the drugs)

The laundry is done, we have clean clothes again, and the batteries are recharged from gentle strolling around Paso Robles and San Luis Obispo. Both lovely small towns with character and history and ... shops!

We spent most of today half an hour down the road in SLO (as it really is called, I didn't just make that up), enjoying the peace and quiet of the church and gardens of the original Mission built in 1772.

The mission bells, in a lovely peaceful garden.

Spent a while chatting to the owner of the "Just Looking" gallery, trying to decide whether to mark our trip with a piece of Steve Thomas's art, reminiscent of the railway posters of the 1930s. In the end we passed, so I hope we find something better somewhere along the road. We love to have something on our walls to remember a trip - it can be a framed tea towel or a (cheap) masterpiece - we aren't that fussy, just as long as it evokes the spirit of the trip. In the end we weren't convinced this did it so we moved on.

We did of course find the "world famous" Bubblegum Alley, a frankly disgusting narrow lane with bubblegum stuck to the walls along its whole length. Not sure who started this craze or why it has continued, but whoever it was, it was a crap idea. Cheap touristy selfie had to be taken of course. "World famous" here usually means famous in the USA, but in this case I think it might mean famous amongst the teenagers of San Luis Obispo. Basically, yuck!

SLO is the bigger, better known cousin of Paso Robles and we had spent some time deciding which one to stay in. I think we made the right choice in the end, PR (as actually nobody calls it) is smaller, more downbeat than SLO and actually perhaps even prettier in the centre especially. And the hotels are cheaper! But we still enjoyed our few hours wandering the streets, finding coffee shops (of course), and at times sitting and watching the world go by. So not a lot exciting to write about really. Found some lovely neighbourhoods though!

As I write now we are back at our Paso hotel, Nareesa doing a bit of work, me concocting this tripe and considering whether or not I brave the outdoor pool. The sun is certainly warm enough but is the water? I'll let you know tomorrow.

Have just got off a FaceTime call with my cousin Allan in Weyburn, Saskatchewan, where we are heading when we re-enter Canada. They have just had 30cm of snow with more expected this week. And the mercury shows no intention of climbing much above zero before the end of this month. Gulp, I hope May brings some spring weather or we might be re-routing.

This on the other hand is the forecast for Death Valley, where we will be a few days time. Might be too hot!

To conclude for today, I did of course find myself, accompanied as always by my long suffering wife, in the inside of Pappy McGregor's last night for the obligatory scotch in memory of my dad. Lagavulin 16 year old. Won't be repeating that though, it cost a fortune!!! And no, I didn't buy the vest!

Last few pics. A SLO fan of Britain presumably!

Riverside walk, SLO

We wrap our trees in yarn!

Gardens at SLO Mission

So, overall a very gentle and peaceful few days. Tomorrow we head inland...