Thanks to a noon check out I was able to take my time in the morning. I checked out at 11:30 a.m. and headed to the nearby mission called La Purísima Concepción, or The Pure Conception for you non-Spanish speakers. This mission was reconstructed in the 1930s.
Most of what I know about missions is what I learned in 4th grade history lessons, like most school kids from the State of California. The park ranger gave me a quick rundown of things to see here as I paid for parking. He ended the conversation by saying, "Once you cross one of the two wooden bridges, you'll be in 1821." I crossed a bridge to see sprinklers running in a pasture area. I doubt Franciscan missionaries or the Native Americans would have mastered water irrigation that well.
I thought I would spend at most an hour there, but I was there for more than two. There was much to see and much to think about. The first place I visited (I didn't have a map of the complex, I just went were I wanted) was the mission cemetery. There were no markers so I wondered about the people who were buried here and where they were from.
The church was also stirring. It was big and cool inside. I was in there by myself and could hear the echoes of my steps.
The mission also showed other types of working and living conditions from soldiers to the natives. There really was more than I expected to see and if I had more time, I probably would have seen it or gone down more trails.
I left here to go to Jamala Beach. It was 14 of the twistiest (if that is a word) miles away from PCH. It took about 20 minutes to get there when I realized you had to pay to get in. So I immediately drove back.
As I drove down PCH, I found out that California Highway 1 actually ends when it meets up with the U.S. Highway 101 south of Buellton. I found this weird because PCH in Long Beach is CA-1. A few miles later I saw a turnout for CA-1, which puzzled me even more.
Anyway, I kept on PCH through Oxnard to Point Magu where I made my last stop of this trip. I got out and looked at the beach and the waves crashing against the rocks. I could have also sworn to see dolphins, but it could've been seals, which I did see.
I got off of PCH at the California Incline in Santa Monica, had dinner with friends and then came home by way of the freeways. Then I decided to get on PCH on more time and got off the 110 onto PCH next to San Pedro and drove west. In little time, I was in Long Beach and turned for home.
Over the past couple of days I have been lucky enough to drive and spend the past week seeing family, friends and things I ordinarily wouldn't have seen. I estimate that I took more than 1,200 pictures.
I strongly recommend this drive to anyone who is thinking about it. I would do this drive again. The only thing I would change is to have company.
And finally, for those of you who have been reading these blogs, thanks. I hope it wasn't boring in any way.
Miles traveled today: 205
Miles traveled total: 1,278
No comments:
Post a Comment