Tag Archives: Mission San Miguel

10/12/2016 Almost Ready to Head East

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Well, we got the Jeep set up for more off-road havoc. TAPS in Paso Robles did a good job with the 3” lift, 33 x 18 tires & wheels, front and back bumpers with a winch so we can help rescue ourselves when necessary, and a Flowmaster exhaust to replace the stock one Jeanne rearranged on a prior Jeep run in AZ. Now we can’t wait to get to Moab to play on some of their runs.

Jeanne’s new Death Machine!
“Fun is standard. Pavement is optional.”

In all our trips to see the kids in Atascadero, CA, we pass the Mission San Miguel every time but never managed to stop and check it out. So a short field trip was in order since we were just a few miles away at Vines RV Resort. The mission is currently a restoration-in-progress, probably for years to come. But it still gives one a feel for life back then. The mission still holds Catholic services in the chapel.

When they rang the dinner bells, THEY RANG THE DINNER BELLS!
A front gate of sorts.
“Looky there, Uncle Jed. They had one o’ them see-ment ponds way back then! 
Clay oven for outdoors cooking?
The 2nd Amendment, alive and well… 
Fire the spell checker! 
The bells overlooking the cemetery.
Tour or cemetery? Hmmm, what a choice…
Is it soup yet?
Coulda made good pizza in that bad boy…
Don’t forget to wash up before you eat! 
Chapel. Don’t tell anyone, I used my flash… 

We decided we wanted bicycles so we can take advantage of the many bicycle trails we have encountered coast-to-coast. A quick stop into Foothill Cyclery in San Luis Obispo and, voila, bicycles-in-tow. I do have to say, the science of bicycles has certainly changed since the days of my Schwinn Varsity. It appears you need to be a mechanical engineer to do any “simple” adjustments on these things any more. Oh well, I gots more money than brains these days (now that’s not saying alot!), that’s why they invented bicycle shops. We gave the bikes a short run on the Bob Jones bicycle trail in Avila Beach, nobody crashed and burned, so I guess we are good to go.

Now, we’re ready to ride! 
The Bob Jones trail
The trail runs alongside San Luis Obispo Creek.

With the local fires finished, we took a run up to Big Sur to check out the scenic coastline there. It was a fairly nice day, however the fog kinda hampered a lot of the scenic views (well, OK, in some places on the cliffs above the ocean we could not see ANY water through the fog.) 

Now I know there’s water down there somewhere!
OK, there’s the water. Looking south toward Point Sur. 
The lighthouse at Point Sur.
The light station buildings at Pt. Sur. The whole thing is a former Point Sur Naval Facility turned state park. 

Well, we’re counting down our last few weeks here in California, getting ready for our migration east. And it is just physically impossible for me to close this post out without more pix of Hailey. Until next time…

“I’m still trying to get the hang of this thing with real food!”
“Kiss me, you fool!”
“Ain’t life GRAND?!”