Menu

Summerland

Surprise-run-2019-07-20

Saturday Trip – Surprise Breakfast!

, , , , , 0

Summerland/Santa Barbara, CA – 2019.07.20

Our Surprise Breakfasts are always a lot of fun, and this one did not disappoint!

We gathered on a perfect So-Cal Saturday morning at the Copperhill Walmart for coffee and chatter before the drivers’ meeting where we were promised to be taken west along Highway 126 towards the coast. There, we would be given additional instructions.

The Corvette caravan made its way to Ventura, where we were instructed to take a right at the Pacific Ocean, and head north on the 101 freeway.

Twenty miles or so up the coast we were told to take the Evans Ave. exit, and BOOM, there it was–the always refreshing Summerland Beach Café! There was much rejoicing.

Having the outdoor patio reserved exclusively for our group was nice, and we could not have asked for a more perfect coastal morning to dine alfresco. The food, as always was very good. From the Crabby Bill’s Benedict and Wonder Wa-Full, to the Marvelous Mary and the Bikini Factory, the funky beach menu has something for everyone. Of course, the chilled water and fresh squeezed O.J. are nice added offerings.

With breakfast done, we were told about the second leg of our surprise adventure- the historic Santa Barbara Courthouse.

Normally a trip to any courthouse comes with an expected level of anxiety in anticipation of the bureaucratic experience that awaits us, but not for this trip.
This magnificent, ninety-year-old facility is steeped in Santa Barbara history, and contains a treasure-trove of art and craftsmanship that has to be seen to be believed.


Surrounded by its extraordinarily beautiful architecture, the facility is awash in original art and murals that include the incredible wrap-around mural in the appropriately named, Mural Room.


The highlight of the tour is the clock tower that not only houses the intricate clock mechanism, but offers an amazing, 360-degree view from the top of the tower itself.


Although as beautiful as the courthouse is, it would not have been presented in its true historical lime-light without the amazing staff and docents who went out of their way to provide the best experience possible for our club.


All in all, our Secret Saturday was another excellent adventure. If you missed it, be sure to watch the club calendar for your next chance to participate – you’ll be glad you did!

 

Shutterfly – Santa Barbara Courthouse Pics

 

weekday_run_summerland

Weekday Run: Summerland

, 0

Story: Mike Woodings
Photos: Judy Woodings

There seems to be no shortage of club members who are available for a weekday run, even one where the destination has not been announced prior to the drivers meeting. Tuesday, Nov 28th was one of those days. Thirty-eight, should I say retirees, in 22 Corvettes, assembled in the Walmart lot at 10 AM, ready to go to parts unknown.

Janene McDonald drove up with her injured co-pilot and gave us all the update about our heretofore mystery run to Summerland and breakfast at the Summerland Café. (You will have to ask Dwight about the injured accelerator leg.) Then it was outward bound on an ideal morning with a very impressive caravan lead by Jim and Glenda Fulmer. Glenda kept us on our toes with hazard alerts about patio chairs in the roadway along CA 126 and all was well for our travelers until the CHP pulled into the middle of the caravan to create a traffic break for debris removal. Sheila Percivalle by default became the caravan leader of the back half of the caravan and did a fine job leading them in to Summerland. She has a lot of tail gunner experience, but could there be a road captain dangle in her future?
The folks at the Summerland Café gave us the entire back patio and took good care of our drive and eat needs.

Once we had dined, we had the day ahead of us and the 22 Corvettes were in the wind to a score of different spots before rolling home. I heard that shopping might have been included in some of the subsequent stops and another destination might have included some new Grand Sport fender stripes.

Great idea to get out on Tuesday. Netflix has a lot to offer, but it really is about the Corvettes though, isn’t it?