AWAY WE GET TO CENTRAL CA

When dad was called as Bishop (in 1999) the Stake President counseled him to take his wife on a getaway at least every 3 months. With 6 children at home, that was good counsel. There is probably no counsel dad ever received from a priesthood leader he followed worse.   Dad promised mom that a grand getaway would certainly be forthcoming at the end of his service as bishop. That end was extended a couple of years longer than anticipated and then the extension was followed by a "few" more years of commitment and service. So, dad has quite a bit of catching up to do in the getaway department.

One of mom and dad's favorite sports to watch is BYU Women's Soccer (FYI, mom likes sports. . . A LOT.) The team happened to be on a California swing this past week so dad invited mom on a getaway to San Luis Obispo, 3 1/2" north of L.A. where BYU was playing Cal Poly Thursday night.   With mom's birthday in the next few days it was a pre-birthday trip as well.

On the way to the stadium mom and dad stopped at a local hot dog eatery, "Franks".  (Not quite as good a "Dirty Franks" in Columbus.)  It was a wonderful surprise to find the LDS Institute right across the road from the stadium which made for handy (and free) parking.  It was fun to see the Lady Cougs in person.  But alas, the final score, after two O.T.s -- a 1-1 tie.

 

One of the attractions of this little trip was the chance to stay of the world famous Madonna Inn.  On mom and dad's honeymoon trip from Salt Lake to Tahoe, to San Fransisco, to Monterey their last stop before Monrovia was at the Madonna Inn. Each room is uniquely themed.  (Google 'Madonna Inn' to see the outlandish rooms of the Inn.) 36 years ago mom and dad stayed in the "Rocky Mountain" room.  That had to the room they stayed in this time too.  After the game, the warm weather was perfectly accommodating for a moonlit dip in the hilltop swimming pool.

View from the veranda

In the morning, a stop at the Madonna Inn bakery seemed like the perfect breakfast which was enjoyed on the pool deck.  Following breakfast came a walk on a nearby trail.  Returning to the Inn the warm morning prompted a quick refreshing swim and shower in the rock waterfall just before check-out.  Soon they were on the road down the 101.  There was stop in Summerland a little beach town, just south of Santa Barbara for lunch.  The beach really was deserted.