Cayucos: The Rest of the Trip

A few months ago when Brett was working a booth at the Equine Affair, he talked to some people at a neighboring booth about a horse vacation place in Central California.  Brett thought it sounded interesting and like a nice guest ranch, similar to the Alisal that we love so much.  It was about an hour and a half inland from where we were staying in Cayucos.  What else to do on a rainy day?  We started driving.

The drive was beautiful -- narrow roads through wooded canyons...

...and velvet hills.

The "resort" was located in Parkfield.  Population 18.  I kid you not.  Rusted cars, abandoned farm equipment, a rustic lodge and a cafe.  We ate lunch at the cafe (where resort guests take all their meals).  All the beef is from the ranch, grass fed, and Brett's burger was delicious.  We asked if we could see the ranch but were told you had to have prior permission.  Brett had tried to call before we left, but no one answered the phone.  The cafe guy said no one was answering his phone either.  The ranch was not near the lodging but a few miles further up the road.  We drove up to the gate and then turned around and headed back to Cayucos.  It wasn't bad but it certainly wasn't the world class resort that they portrayed in their literature.

On the way back, I noticed a small cemetery as we driving along -- in the middle of nowhere.  We pulled over and explored.  Brett and I love walking through old cemeteries, reading the headstones, and imagining the stories.  

The rain started coming down as we walked amongst the gravestones.

34 years old.  How sad is that? 

The graveyard looked abandoned; all overgrown with crumbling headstones.

But there were also a few more recent headstones, like this one from a World War II vet.  I loved the iris.

We got back in the car, thoroughly drenched but happy.  The cemetery was much more interesting than the "resort" and worth the drive.  My wool coat was wet and the car smelled like a wet sheep and my boots were soaked all the way through -- but I didn't care.  I researched Imusdale and learned that it was a small homesteading community, lasting about 25 years in the late 1800s.  It was probably part of the short lived mining boom.  ...think California gold rush.

Back at the Cass House, we dried off and relaxed with some wine and cheese (complimentary) before dinner.  The dinner was awesome.  Truly awesome.  Four courses, -- four imaginative, artistic, delicious courses - with a wine paired to each course.  It was one of the best meals we've had and we've had some doozies in France and here in the US (French Laundry, etc).

The dessert "ants on a log" sounds strange but it was amazing.  The celery sorbet was light and refreshing and the different parts played like a symphony.  I'm not kidding.

Sunday morning was sunny and cold with a high surf warning.  After another great breakfast, we walked over to the beach to check out the waves.  On a normal day the surf looks like this (picture from Saturday morning):

Notice how far below the pier the waves are breaking.

 This was Sunday morning:

Just to the left of this photo there were two pier supports, broken and washed up on the beach.  Yikes!

Needless to say, we didn't venture out on the pier.  Nope, we went back to the inn and relaxed on the front porch until it was time to check out.

Cayucos: Saturday Morning

Saturday morning, we weren't sure how we were going to spend the day since the forecast was calling for rain.  We headed downstairs to the restaurant for breakfast and discussed our options over fresh squeezed orange juice, coffee, yogurt parfait with berries, torta, pork loin and chocolate muffins.  The food was amazing.

After breakfast we went for a walk.  The downtown is two blocks long so we walked both sides of the street and then out onto the pier.  It was overcast, but not raining.

Down the front porch steps, past the aquarium, and turning left towards town.

There are many murals, depicting the early history of the town.

I had never seen these before.  ??? Juniper berries maybe??  Cedar nuts???  I'm  at a loss...

I love these huge cypress trees. 

After our walk, we headed back to the inn and went for a long drive.  More on that in another post.

Cayucos: Friday

Friday morning, Brett and I rode Flash and Winston around the ranch before leaving town.  Brett and Flash went on a long trail ride earlier in the week, on the flat, and Flash did not get sore in his back at all -- despite wearing the trail saddle.  The problem is definitely hills, and most likely his hocks.  When Dr. Thacher comes up later this month to do vaccinations we will have her examine them.  Winston was relaxed and happy.  The only time he balked was when we got back.  He didn't want to go back to the barn.  I put him away and groomed Jackson while Brett got hay set up for Amy, who watched the animals for us while we were gone.  Jackson was gimpy all last week.  Sigh. 

We picked up Camille from school when she finished class and headed out of town.  We took a round about route to avoid the Friday afternoon LA traffic.  We drove through lemon, orange and avocado groves before coming out along the coast in Ventura.  From there, we followed the ocean up to Santa Barbara where we turned inland to take San Marcos pass through the coastal mountains.  As we came down the backside of the pass into the Santa Ynez valley, there was an old convertible in front of us, driving erratically.  The car kept sliding over to the center line and then back over, onto the shoulder, and back again.  When Brett passed him, Camille and I got a good look at the driver.  He looked like Willie Nelson, stoned out of his mind: long pony tail, bandana, whiskers, and a vacant stare on his face.  When he veered all the way across into oncoming traffic, Brett called 911.  A few miles down the mountain, we passed a highway patrol officer sitting on the shoulder waiting for Willie.  He pulled out behind the convertible and a minute later his lights came on.  The guy couldn't even pull over without almost taking out a guard rail. 

The rest of our drive was uneventful.  We picked up Kyle at Cal Poly and drove the rest of the way into Cayucos.  After checking into our inn, the four of us went across the street for dinner.

The Cass House Inn and Restaurant

We had dinner at Schooners which has my all time favorite clam chowder.  Camille and I both had a big bowl.  The night was cool so the chowder was perfect.  Brett had seared Ahi and Kyle had a calamari steak. We ate on the upstairs deck which isn't fancy but has a view that can't be beat. 

I took this picture the next morning when they were closed, but you get the idea.

After dinner, we took Kyle and Camille back to Kyle's campus apartment where Camille spent the weekend.  Brett and I went back to the Cass House and hit the sack. 

Captain Cass: he founded the town and our inn was his home.  Circa 1867