Back in California

Well... actually we entered to California few days ago (Death Valley) but during the last couple of days we really felt California.
From Death Valley we had a long drive, crossing mountains and slowly exchanging the brown desert to green landscape. We spent the night at Flying J gas station (it is not as bad as it sounds) and by the morning got into the beautiful Los Padres National Forest. Slow drive with some snow by the road and a fantastic landscape.



By the afternoon we got to Ojai, where we found a nice county campground next to the river, surrounded by green mountains. After getting some tips and hints from our camping neighbors, we continued to Santa Barbara with not too much of an expectation. They have a film festival and the streets are packed with people (and dogs). We LOVED it!



We continued just few miles to spend the next night by Lake Cachuma. One of the best things traveling off-season is that there are plenty of spaces in all the best campgrounds.



We saw many birds all around. Look at this nice Acorn-Woodpecker - he drills small holes in the bark of the tree and then he hides acorns in it (its squeezed in so hard that even the squirrels can't get it). Enlarge the photo to get better view of the acorn bank.
On the way from Santa Barbara area we passed through the green hills and miles of vineyards of the wine country. We stopped for brunch at Solvang, where we couldn't resist the yummy Danish Pancakes.

on the way the sun and the rain made this full rainbow specially for us
Tonight We are staying in a campground in Pismo Beach and tomorrow we will start driving on hwy 1, along the coast.