Day 140 - Palm Springs to Santa Barbara, California, USA

We wake up with a real pang of sadness this morning. Firstly, as it is Saturday it means that this time next week we will be home and also with booking the last hotel for Santa Barbara that is the last piece of travel admin we have to do - something that has dominated my existence for the past 6-7 months. However, we still have a week to go so the sadness doesn't last too long. Especially when we open the curtains to see this view. 

We get packed up which is now considerably harder due to the amount of shopping we have done and set off. 

Another gorgeous day in Palm Springs. Oh to live in a place with over 300 days of sunshine a year!

Nice of the Hard Rock valet to line my car up for a perfect photo opportunity. 

After grabbing a Starbucks for the road we head off for the 250 mile, 4 hour trip to Santa Barbara. Once again we are hit by crazy weather as we leave and rise into the mountains. The temperature soon drops considerably yet again and the wind really picks up which makes sense considering all the wind farms we pass on the way. 

After a a good few hours cruising with the top down we soon hit LA which is pretty much where we come to crawling pace on the 6 lane freeway for the next hour and a half. The traffic is crazy, particularly for a Saturday. We soon hit Ventura and pick up Pacific Cost Highway for the gorgeous coastal drive up to Santa Barbara. 

First view of the ocean which we haven't seen since BA. 

We arrive at about 4pm at our lovely little Days Inn motel. I must admit I do love staying in an American motel although I am not quite used to them costing $170 per night as this one does! Santa Barbara is not a cheap place. 

Our little room right next door to reception on one side and the ice dispenser on the other. Classy. 

We dump our stuff (obviously quite easily as the car is parked right outside our room) and head out for an explore. First stop is down to the ocean front to the Marina. 

As you would expect the Marina is lovely and is full of gorgeous boats and yachts. 

Nat is really getting into traveller mode now with her new head scarf on to go with her baggy traveller pants... (The elephant prints are in the wash). 

Nat's attempt to photoshop a picture of her old self onto the picture of her new self in a feeble attempt to prove that she hasn't changed. 

After a bit of Sushi we go for a drink overlooking the harbour at a lovely bar which is aptly called the Endless Summer Bar. 

Did not know that Angkor Wat was next to the harbour. 

Living the Palm trees. They look so good with the amazing blue sky behind them. 

We then have a walk up to State Street which is the main street with all the bars, restaurants and shops. Santa Barbara is absolutely gorgeous. Such a plush place - everything is so traditional and pristine. 

Love this picture of them changing the sign of the old cinema. So love that they are half way through changing Arnie's name. Think he will need to move his ladder down a few times to get all the letters of Schwarzenegger off.  

We get to the top of the street and find a lovely little restaurant called Tupelo Junction Cafe where we decide the eat after being tempted by the lovely looking menu. Good choice too as the food is delicious. 

After dinner we have a walk back down the road towards home. Food coma has hit again so we need a good walk. 

The gorgeous State Street. 

You can tell the area is wealthy when even the fire hydrons are made of gold!

I must add that on the way home we passed a gorgeous theatre where all the glamourous people from town were dressed up to the nines queuing to get in. Well not quite all. Shockingly and hilariously there was a group of the worst looking, roughest chavs I have ever seen (think Aintree x 10). The best one had a tatto on her face that made Mike Tyson's look small, that included big writing in italics down her jaw line (from ear to bottom lip) and a big one on the same side similar to Tyson's that went up over her eye from her cheek. I have never seen anything more disgusting. And to add to the look she had an electronic tag on too. A girls got to accessorize right? I very nearly got a picture but one of them clocked me and scared the living daylight out of me that I was going to get beaten up so I had to quickly turn and take a picture of something else. Close call. I think that was the most danger I have been in on my whole travels! ;-)

Our crazy late nights out continue as we grab a tea and head back to the hotel at about 9pm. But not before we have a productive visit to the Coach outlet store and I treat Nat to a new bag and myself to a couple of belts. That is definitely my whole new wardrobe done now for the rest of the year! Got back and Match of the Day was on. Result!!