California Has LOTS of Open Space!

In a search for my next adventure, my wife Jeannie and I took a four-day trip to the Mendocino Coast area and stayed in Fort Bragg, CA for two nights (not to be confused with one of the nation's leading combat-ready military installations in Fort Bragg, NC). We chose to drive 'the 101' northward through San Luis Obispo County (above) and connect with the PCH - Pacific Coast Highway, CA-1, north of San Francisco (below).

Considering a move to the Central California Coast from North Carolina 20 months ago, my general perception was that California was the country's most populous state (true) and that the State was crowded and highly over-taxed with people, buildings, suburbs, cars and freeways (partly true).

Turns out that yes, the major population centers of Los Angeles, San Diego, San Francisco, San Jose and Sacramento ARE highly congested - however, there are MANY, MANY areas that have NO people or very few - with some very intriguing towns/small cities to boot. One of my favorite towns - so far is Morro Bay. Situated on a perfect harbor on the Pacific and guarded by Morro Rock, (below) the town is part commercial fishing and part tourism.

More of the type of 'open space' (below) found in valleys just across the coastal range from the Pacific - dry in the summer - and the fields are golden, taupe, buff or sienna (never brown!).

Wine-making and grape-growing are BIG Business in California and the Central Coast is no exception. Popularized in the movie "Sideways" Santa Barbara County and San Luis Obispo County have large tracts of vineyards - and vintners, too. These are typical south-facing hills (below), although the vines appear to grow very well on 'the flat' as well. The vines in the rear of the photo are covered with a bright green netting to allow a harvest undiminished by local birds. It's odd to me that there is such panache surrounding the production of wine. Apples? Almonds? Citrus? Hops? Strawberries? Veggies? Wheat? Even when literally 'feeding the world' farmers are regarded as just that - farmers. However, grow a few acres of grapes, ferment the suckers and you're a celebrity! Or will attract them. But be sure you grow winegrapes. Tablegrapes just don't cut it, either! Much more on the local wine business another time.