Top of the World (aka "Sideways")
Date Of Event
Saturday & Sunday, May 21-22, 2005
Trip Leader
Jim Lupinetti (#558)
Location
Big Caliente Spring Trail & Camino Cielo Road in the hills above Santa Barbara on Saturday.
Solvang, Santa Ynez, Ballard, and Los Olivos on Sunday.
Vehicle & Driver Requirements
Trip OK for any stock Land Rover, and drivers of all experience levels.
Meeting Place
Land Rover Santa Barbara
Santa Barbara Auto Group
401 South Hope Avenue
Santa Barbara, CA 93105
Notes:
1. Special thanks go out to Matt Baran (new Car Sales Manager) and
the management of Land Rover Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara Auto Group, for hosting the meeting place.
2. In appreciation of Land Rover Santa Barbara, SCLR will allow a limited number of prospective members (to be determined from the number of SCLR member RSVP's), to attend this SCLR trip to learn more about us in person.
Driving Directions
Note: The dealership is north of downtown Santa Barbara, just off Interstate 101.
North bound on Interstate 101
- take the South Hope Avenue exit toward La Cumbre Road, go 0.2 miles
- arrive at the dealership, on your left
South bound on Interstate 101
- take the La Cumbre Road exit, go 0.1 miles
- turn left on South La Cumbre Road , go 0.1 miles
- turn right on Calle Real, go 0.3 miles
- turn left on south Hope Avenue, go 0.1 miles
- arrive at the dealership, on your left
Details
This trip is rated "Easy" on the fire roads above Santa Barbara. These trails are both paved and dirt. There are water crossings that are rated "Easy".
This trip makes for a great family weekend. If you want to go "rock crawling", this trip is not for you.
This trip promises spectacular views of the Pacific coast line, Channel Islands, lakes and interior valleys. Hopefully, the wild flowers will still be in bloom. Don't forget to bring your cameras (film, digital, videocam)!
Please arrive at Land Rover Santa Barbara by 8:00 A.M.
- with your gas tank full
- an *Adventure Pass for your vehicle
- picnic lunch for Saturday and Sunday
- lawn chairs, hat (for sun), insect repellant (there are bugs), swim suit and towel
- motel, hotel or campground reservation for Saturday night in the Solvang area
We will have introductions and a drivers meeting before we leave. Please be on time.
We plan to leave Land Rover Santa Barbara by 8:30 A.M.
Saturday
The first trail will be the Big Caliente Spring Trail (approximately 5.5 hours). This trail starts on San Marcos Pass (California 154) just above Santa Barbara. On this trail there will be many places to stop and experience a "Kodak moment". This trail has views of Gibraltar Lake and the Santa Ynez River. We will be going to Big Caliente Spring natural hot spring, with a parking area, picnic area, toilet and changing area. Beside the parking area there is a rectangular concrete tub about 3 feet deep for soaking - the water is warm to hot. Here we will have a picnic lunch, and an opportunity for those that want to try out the hot springs. We will come back on this trail to San Marcos Pass (California 154). Each vehicle requires an *Adventure Pass.
The second trail will be the Camino Cielo Road (approximately 2.0 hours). This trail starts about a mile south on the other side of San Marcos Pass (California 154). This trail will also have many places to stop and experience a "łKodak moment'. This trail has views of Lake Cachuma, and the Santa Ynez Valley. We pass close by the Ronald Reagan Western White House (I have not been able to determine exactly where it is located, damn Secret Service). We will come back to Interstate 101.
From Interstate 101 we will head north to Buellton for dinner at Pea Soup Andersen's (approximately 0.5 hours). After dinner, head to your motel, hotel, or campground in the surrounding area.
The trip will take approximately 8 hours.
Sunday
Sunday is open to do as you please. It is fine if you don't plan to join us for the wine tasting, and you plan to explore the area.
For those interested, wine tasting and a family picnic are planned at the Gainey Winery at 12 Noon. The Gainey Winery has a big picnic area with grass and tables adjacent to the winery. From the picnic area, you can watch the gliders on the approach to the Santa Ynez Airport.
Solvang was founded by Danish settlers in the early 1900's, and is noted for the Danish architecture (by city ordnance) in the downtown area, pastry shops (you really do need to experience them), and shopping (the wives have to love it). Also, the Santa Ynez Valley has a number of wineries (Black Jack Ranch as seen in the movie Sideways), bike trails, and more shopping. At the Santa Ynez Airport there is Windhaven Glider Rides, if anyone is interested in taking a glider ride. There are also back roads into the Santa Ynez Valley and on the other side of Lake Cachuma to explore just off of San Marcos Pass (California 154). There is also the Chumash Indian Casino in Santa Ynez.
*Adventure Pass is required for using the Southern California National Forests (Angeles, Cleveland, Los Padres, and the San Bernardino) when the vehicle is parked. A daily pass is $5.00, and the annual pass is $30.00. Please purchase before Saturday, May 21, 2005. See the link below for vendor locations in your area.
http://www.fs.fed.us/r5/sanbernardino/ap/vendors.php
Radio
FRS and CB, Channel TBD
Questions
Email Jim Lupinetti