March 14, from Soledad

A couple weeks ago Harlan and I made a meal of driving to Tubac, Arizona, south of Tucson, near where his folks winter from Ohio. We took a bit more than three days so we could explore some roads along the way and visit friends in La Jolla. 

First morning on the road, we did sweet ride out of Soledad into the Carmel Valley. We rode this last in 1978, separately at the time, part of our first century rides for both of us. There are a lot more vineyards along the way now, but not much else has changed.

Before heading south after the ride we checked out what's left of Mission Soledad, founded 1791: not a lot. The roof in the background below is an attempt to slow the rest of the remaining walls from melting away. But you could easily make me believe these grape vines are 200+ years old, they are that impressively venerable.

next: March 15, Palmdale