In and around SLO

Some impression from our first week in San Luis Obispo. Walking around the town and being in the outdoors around the Cental Coast. 


Well, every American City has it's own claim to fame. Actually, there is more in San Luis Obispo, but Bubblegum Alley is definitely a must-see in SLO. Fun fact: 29 years ago I studied at Texas A&M and there is Bottel Cap Alley


Kreuzberg? Sounds German. Actutally, if you read the story this is what they had in mind bringing some of the Kreuzberg Neighborhood-Feeling to Kreuzberg California ... 


when they opened that restaurant just a few blocks away from where we live. Definitely a place to have brunch sometime. 


"How far is the beach" was a question several people asked us beforehand. There are several beaches, this is Pismo Beach.


Sunny, but still chilly, but this will change soon!


The closest beach is Avila Beach...



where we didn't go to the beach this time, but soaked in some hot springs after the long flight


and went to the Avila Valley Barn. 


Nathan enjyoing some of the sweetest corn you can imagine and



lots of opportunities in this area to enjoy locally grown, organic food.


Besides the farms and the vineries there is the Farmers' Market a few blocks away every Thurday. 


Started origininally in the 1970s to stop kids from cruising this is now one of the oldest Famers' Markets in the US. 


For me also a special memory since little more than 2 years ago it was the first time after Covid that I saw people out on the streets having a good time. 


Next task: find us bicycles. I was lucky at the Bike Kitchen in SLO and for Nathan we found a bike on Craigslist in Morro Bay. 


We just the opportunity to drive a little further north on Highway 1


Passing Cambria and further on.

 
Unfortunately Highway 1 is still closed after Ragged Point, hopefully it will reopen this spring. 



The upside: only few people around!


A quick stop at Hearst Castle, but we didn't go up on the Hill and save that for a day with nicer weather. 


But: normally I am in a rush when driving by, this time we were much more relaxed so we also stopped in San Simeon. 


A few miles further North you will find the Elephant Seals, definitely a must-see. 


They will still be around for a few more week! 


More information: Elephant Seals Return to State Parks on California Coastpage_id=26424


Not that interesting, but on this small excursion we actually hit a 1000 miles total since we arrived. That was to some skiiing which is a different post. 


As close as it looks, due to Highway 1 being closed this is more than a daytrip and we save it for later this spring. But: is is less and less likely to see it opening this spring, especially after what happened a few hours later further north on Highway 1


Morro Bay


and the State Park and some of the inhabitants. 


I mentioned that part about getting ourselves bikes.


San Luis Obispo is a bike-friendly place and the best way to get to campus. 


SLO has this non-profit Bike Kitchen which is a few blocks away from our house. That's were I found my bike. 



Basically, people donate used bikes, they fix them up, sell them, some are getting donated back later and for 10 Dollars an hour you can use their workshop and tools.


This was great to get Nathan's "new" bike ready and it also helped me to fix my bike more than once. 



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