25th ( Wed – Solvang to LA)
Tue morning set off from Monterey and headed south on Route 101 through one of the most cultivated regions of this coastal swathe. The valley was about five miles wide, around one hundred miles long and just brimming with all sorts of produce, cabbage; strawberries; asparagus; vines; ground berries; peppers; sometimes with several species in the one field, some growing whilst others were being picked or harvested.
There were literally hundreds of workers out in the fields either tending or lifting the crops which were boxed there and then ready for moving on to the markets.
Working conditions were much better than they had been in the past with big shades over the machines, “portaloos” on trailers and coaches to bring the labour force in and out the area.
It was very hot again, and from the news we found that there was an unusual heat wave in the whole area, 90+F where we were and as high as 114F in Los Vegas, even the locals were commenting.
Our final destination for the day was only a relatively short run of one hundred and twenty miles, the town of Solvang, California, which was even stranger than a mirage in the desert.
This town, many years ago was by passed by the new Interstate highway and found itself literally dying on its feet, so the Town Fathers and people got together and came up with the idea of turning it into a theme village and decided on a Danish theme, so all the properties on street fronts were rebuilt to look like a a Danish Village and the shops sell Danish and Scandanavian type products.
Very surreal experience, however it seems to have worked, the place is busy enough with tourists to keep the locals happy, but that's what it is , a tourist trap.
Off this morning through the cut in the mountains and then down to the coast to Santa Barbarbara where the sea mist was lifting and just lying off shore, while the town was bathed in sunshine and a pleasant 76 F. We went to the Mission there where our driver and Tour Director took group photos using everybodies cameras.
Not sure where we stop next but it is on the outskirts of LA where we are just going to put off time before we get to the final stop at our hotel and the group breaks up.
More news when we get somewhere sensible
Tue morning set off from Monterey and headed south on Route 101 through one of the most cultivated regions of this coastal swathe. The valley was about five miles wide, around one hundred miles long and just brimming with all sorts of produce, cabbage; strawberries; asparagus; vines; ground berries; peppers; sometimes with several species in the one field, some growing whilst others were being picked or harvested.
There were literally hundreds of workers out in the fields either tending or lifting the crops which were boxed there and then ready for moving on to the markets.
Working conditions were much better than they had been in the past with big shades over the machines, “portaloos” on trailers and coaches to bring the labour force in and out the area.
It was very hot again, and from the news we found that there was an unusual heat wave in the whole area, 90+F where we were and as high as 114F in Los Vegas, even the locals were commenting.
Our final destination for the day was only a relatively short run of one hundred and twenty miles, the town of Solvang, California, which was even stranger than a mirage in the desert.
This town, many years ago was by passed by the new Interstate highway and found itself literally dying on its feet, so the Town Fathers and people got together and came up with the idea of turning it into a theme village and decided on a Danish theme, so all the properties on street fronts were rebuilt to look like a a Danish Village and the shops sell Danish and Scandanavian type products.
Very surreal experience, however it seems to have worked, the place is busy enough with tourists to keep the locals happy, but that's what it is , a tourist trap.
Off this morning through the cut in the mountains and then down to the coast to Santa Barbarbara where the sea mist was lifting and just lying off shore, while the town was bathed in sunshine and a pleasant 76 F. We went to the Mission there where our driver and Tour Director took group photos using everybodies cameras.
Not sure where we stop next but it is on the outskirts of LA where we are just going to put off time before we get to the final stop at our hotel and the group breaks up.
More news when we get somewhere sensible
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