The Travels of the Agnew Family

A coffee and danish from the bakery across the road from the motel was included with our room. The danish was so good we bought a few more treats for our lunch.

La Purisima Mission in Lompoc was built in 1787 and destroyed in 1812 by an earthquake and winter rains. The mission moved about four miles from it's original location and was rebuilt in 1813. More than 100 years pass and La Purisima became a pile of melted adobe. Under Roosevelt's New Deal the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) came to rebuild the mission on the original foundations. After 7 years of back breaking work, La Parisima was done. Today volunteers and state park staff host thousands of visitors each year. After walking around this mission I have a good idea of what living in a mission was like.


The main chapel.


The inside of the main chapel.


The abode of a native --- I wonder what the natives thought of the huge structures the padres built.

The city of Lompoc is known for fields of flowers (Lompoc is one of the biggest seed producers in the US) and murals. It was too early to see the flowers so we saw the murals instead.


This mural depicts a band of ladies that joined together to fight the evils of alcohol. In 1883 they were a part of a vigilante group that strung a rope around building, yanked it off its foundation and pulled it for a block --- booze spilling out as it went.


Ever wonder where pine nuts come from? Italian Stone Pines. These threes were planted in 1940 and are worth over 3 million dollars.


During our drive from Solvang to Lompoc and Lompoc to Pismo Beach we passed rolling hills, fields of grape vines, strawberries and other crops. I think I'm a farm girl at heart.


The wind was really blowing again today. The brown in the sky just below the hill is blowing sand.


Standing on the pier looking back at Pismo Beach.


Pismo Beach ... for some reason all beach towns kinda look the same.

A little off the PCH is the cute town Avila Beach.




A different view of the pier at Avila Beach.

A quick stop at the San Luis Obispo de Tolosa





We stopped for the night in Morro Bay. Ed noticed a photograph of the Morro Rock at sunset in the restaurant where we ate dinner, now he wanted a photo of Morro Rock at sunset. As the wind was still howling I suggested going back to the motel for a change of clothes --- I put on my long underwear, socks, running shoes, a light sweater, a hoodie and Ed's down vest. Yes, I did think about the winter coat but I thought that might be a bit much. As long as I was moving I managed to stay warm.


While we were waiting for the sun to set, we walked along the waterfront. These trees remind me a trees from fantasy movies like Lord of the Rings.


The Rock at Sunset photo. Mission successful. While Ed was taking sunset photos I was watching and listening to (they're pretty noisy) a platform full of seals. The platform is on the right side of the photo near the rock.