The hotel reminded me of childhood stays in Myrtle Beach. Generic as they come, but with a great view of the ocean and the recurring sound of crashing waves throughout the crisp, clear night. After the previous night’s rainfall and ale consumption, the start to the day was a relaxing one. Something that remains constant when traveling with my dad: opportunity for a great breakfast. That day, we went to Penny’s for black coffee and diner food (and I mean that in the best way possible). And without further adieu, we departed for the next town on the list: Morro Bay. Thus far, we’d driven from Los Angeles, stopping in Santa Barbara for lunch and passing through Gaviota for a hike, moving north through Lompoc on SR-1 and then onward to Pismo Beach.
Several silent moments passed atop the hills in Morro Bay and the nearby town, Los Osos, and then… Pizza. PizzaPort had a Morro Bay location, so we refueled before heading inland to San Luis Obispo. SLO, as it’s commonly called, is a small town nestled perfectly in the hills between and inland from Avila Beach and Los Osos. The San Luis Obispo County seat and home to California Polytechnic State University, SLO serves as a college town for the local and politically opinionated population. A liberal place with a thriving art scene and great nightlife that seems small enough for people to know each other. It’s a beautiful place that reminded me of Raleigh. If Raleigh, NC weren't the state capital and lacked a belt line, it would be the east coast’s SLO. Minus the beautiful coastline nearby… Ahh who am I kidding? San Luis Obispo is one of a kind. Lucky us, we were there for Thursday night’s local downtown farmer’s market, granted access to locally sourced food, food vendors, art galleries and plenty of cool bars to frequent. Good vibes were upon us, which made for a really pleasant Thursday night
The following morning, we woke up to a steady rain. The same string of systems bringing rain to all of Southern California. It was the day to return. With stops at undisclosed locations along the coast, worthy of healthy detours, we made our way southeast, back to the City of Angels. With just enough timing to see the sunset from Griffith Park’s Observatory.
During this tough time (regarding the state of our country, specifically), I still feel grateful to be an American. To be a Californian, a skater and a free man in these contrived times. As we approach the end of this first month of 2017, I wish everyone a great New Year and an extraordinary year ahead.
The world is still beautiful.
- 7Ply Epic