Best Western's Travel Blog - You Must Be Trippin' - Day Six: Morro Bay to Los Angeles, CA

Day Six: Morro Bay to Los Angeles, CA

October 18 2010 by Jason Fogelson

We woke early on Tuesday morning. We had a full day of riding ahead, and I had planned a new route home, through a different part of the state than we usually traveled.

The ocean air was cool and moist. We had slept with our window open last night at the BEST WESTERN San Marcos Inn, and the soothing sounds of the surf mingled with the barks of the seals to produce a relaxing night of rest. Robin and I were both eager to get home, but bittersweet to end a ride that had been so rewarding. We had a quick cup of coffee at the hotel's breakfast buffet, skipping over the pastries and dairy products this time. We had a brunch destination in mind 160 miles away in Ojai, so we were saving our appetites.

Loading up the Electra Glide for the final stretch, I was once again amazed at the capacity of the bike. It happily swallowed all of our gear, allowed us to ride safely and comfortably, and sped down the road while averaging over 40 miles per gallon all trip. The beautiful bike never gave us a hiccough of complaint, despite traveling from sea level all the way up close to 9,000 feet. What an amazing machine.

We left Morro Bay in the mirror, and jumped on US 101 for a few miles down to Santa Maria. There, we took Route 166, the Cuyama Highway, into the Carrizo Plains. You know that you're in for a good ride when you pass a sign that says "Next Services: 60 miles." The Cuyama Highway turned out to be a gorgeous road, twisting and turning, climbing and diving through the brown hills and ranch land along the border between Santa Barbara and San Luis Obispo Counties.

Just past the town of Cuyama, we turned down Route 33 and headed south into the Los Padres National Forest, a national park that encompasses over 1.75 million acres of land. I have been traveling from Los Angeles up to San Luis Obispo for years, and I can't believe that I have never taken this route before. The road through the Los Padres National Forest is stunning and beautiful, with great trees, rocks and vistas. The roads are designed for meandering, with tight curves and quick changes of direction that follow the landscape. One of the great wonders of California is how close real wilderness lies to urban sprawl, and the Los Padres is one of those great wildernesses. I'm so happy that we discovered this route, and I plan to return to it many times in the near future.

Just below the Los Padres sits the artsy hamlet of Ojai. We have a favorite breakfast restaurant in Ojai, the Eggs N Things. We hit Ojai at noon, just in time for a well-deserved ham and cheese omelet. Nothing tops a morning of riding through the forest like a plate of eggs and meat.

Ojai is a destination in itself. The village is nestled in a beautiful spot, and its unique arcade-style architecture makes downtown Ojai a delightful place to walk and shop. Ojai is also known as a Mecca to golfers, with several world-class courses to choose from.

We didn't dawdle in Ojai on this ride. We ate our eggs, then saddled back up for the final push back home. Continuing south through Ojai, we picked up Route 126 through Fillmore and Santa Paula, then rode the 118 freeway back to Interstate 5 and home.

Our dogs, Layla and Truman, were thrilled to see us return as we pulled up in front of our house. Sabra had done a great job of taking care of everything. Only the pile of mail on the dining room table gave any indication that we had been away.

After riding over 1,400 miles, we had only scratched the surface of what California has to offer to travelers. Every single stop that we made merits a return trip, and most of the places that we simply rode through demand to be explored in the future. Riding through California reminded me why we moved here in the first place, and gave me hope for the future of the state. Any state with this many natural resources, and this much natural beauty, can overcome the political and financial bumps in the road. I can't wait to explore more of the state as soon as possible, and to show off some of my discoveries to friends and family.

But now, it's time to think about my next motorcycle trip for this blog.

I think it's time for a trip to Milwaukee. It may be time for a ride through Florida. Or I may need to take a dive into Arizona.

Any suggestions? I'd love to hear them -- where should I ride next?

Miles ridden: 258

Total Miles for Trip: 1,425

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