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Published: January 8th 2024
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So this will be my first post in the TravelBlog community. Still learning the ropes on how to use the site.
I have been retired for about a month now. I have decided to revisit a project that interested me before I started doing all the travel for Motorola. My kids explained to me how important it is for young people to have access to the internet. They need either a laptop or tablet to do school work, and to look for work. Having worked in law enforcement for so many years, I am well aware that there are segments of our community that just do not have the ability to purchase a new laptop/tablet. In the past, I was using my time to source, and refurbish 2nd/3rd generation equipment that I could get out to those community members that could not just go down to Walmart and buy a new laptop. I am going to re-tool my original business and turn it into a non-profit and see what I can do to further my endeavor to help the community.
The first step is to replenish my supply of laptops/tablets. I have refreshed my list
of sources and have started to make purchases. I have to start off slow, as I do not want to use all my retirement funds to pursue this. I have a set amount and am scanning government surplus sights looking for equipment. I am still waiting for funds from the severance package I will be receiving. So to start off slow, I have made a purchase from the County of Santa Barbara. I have to drive up to pick up the equipment. So I have a road trip tomorrow to make that happen.
Planning for this trip hit a snag on the very first bit of planning. I found a reasonably priced hotel for an overnight. The Cabrillo Inn at the Beach. In my state of excitement for this first trip since my retirement, I was not paying close enough attention when I made my reservation. I forgot to change the dates from checking in today/checking out tomorrow...to actually checking in tomorrow and checking out Wed. Opps!!! I realized it right away and called the hotel. The young man that was working the check in desk helped me to quickly correct the booking. It is going to
be about a 3.5-4 hr drive tomorrow, (San Diego to Santa Barbara) but I am used to road trips. I actually like driving as it gives you a chance to be alone with your thoughts and to enjoy the view as you drive. I have made the drive up the California coast a bunch of times, but have never stayed in Santa Barbara. I plan to leave in the morning and then explore in the afternoon and evening. Will pick up my equipment in the late morning, and then drive back down south, taking a different route.
Travel day 1
Left San Diego at about 09:45. The drive up through LA was uneventful and somewhat routine. I was making this trip about every other week for various projects I had going when I was still with Motorola. I saw first hand the damage that was done to the freeway underpass a couple of just before Christmas. I feel that the repairs were rushed by the Governor and decided that I did not want to go anywhere near it, so I swung around it on I-405. I wanted to drive up Pacific Coast Highway, so I routed
myself through Santa Monica and drove through Malibu and up the coast towards Oxnard. I have many fond memories of this stretch of road. I once got an awesome photo of one of the Air Ambulance companies in LA County making a landing to pick up a victim from a bad auto accident. I had hiked up an embankment, and was eye to eye with the pilot as he came in for his landing. There is also a restaurant on PCH called Moonshadows. When I was in my early 20's I dated a woman that lived in Santa Monica. This was our special occasion restaurant. Nice memories.
I continued my drive north on PCH. I love the seascapes, and looked for my favorite landmarks. There is a rock out cropping that I have always thought was pretty cool. And just past that is a huge sand slide area, that many tourist climb to the top of, to slide down on cardboard and what ever other material they can find. It looks pretty fun.
I was soon in Santa Barbara, and found my hotel for the night. The Cabrillo Inn is a nice little hotel
just across the street from the beach. It is an older hotel, and the rooms reflect that, but it was clean and well kept. The grounds are beautiful, and the front counter clerk was awesome. I will deff stay here again if/when I go back north to pick up equipment. After checking in and taking a bit of a rest, I went for a walk along the beach to the wharf. It was a nice walk. There was a young man that was doing some dog training in the park alongside the beach. Allowed me to get a puppy fix in. I do this when possible, it helps me when I miss my own pups.
I walked down to the wharf and first checked out the aquarium there. Small, but interesting. The staff are dedicated...very dedicated. 😊
I walked out to the end of the wharf, enjoying the wood structure. It reminds me of the old wood
Embarcadero in San Diego. I used to run there and enjoyed running on the wood structure.
After walking out to the end of the wharf, I started back for my hotel.
I had a seen
a restaurant with a Black Cat logo. I thought I would give them a try, but they were either going out of business, or just setting up, as there was nobody working there. So I continued on down the road and wondered into Santa Barbara FisHouse. I had a salmon dish that was awesome, and a Cider/Mimosa that was pretty good. All in all, an awesome meal, all for under $50.
I decided to walk along the shoreline on the way back to the hotel. I enjoyed a beautiful sunset, set to the sound of surf crashing on the shore.
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