We made it to San Luis Obispo in the early evening and checked into the Peach Tree Inn, a fantastic (and reasonably priced) motel. Even though S.L.O. wasn’t an overnight destination on our original plan, we’d arrived on the best night to be there. Every Thursday the centre of town is over-run with people for the weekly Farmer’s Market. The streets are lined with stalls selling everything from fresh plump strawberries to Tri-Tip Sandwiches (a very good steak roll). The market is also filled with buskers and all sorts of other random stalls. The busiest stand was the beef rib stand, after sampling their product, it was clear why. The public transport is fantastic, we joined all the pensioners on the old trolley bus, which felt like something out of a Disney World ride.

As we left San Luis Obispo, stopped off at Pismo Beach and then ventured into a really beautiful part of California. While most people associate Californian wine country with the area North of San Francisco, there are some amazing wine farms in Foxen Canyon. Apparently the area has become a lot more popular since the Film Sideways was released, I can’t really comment because I haven’t seen it.

We drove alongside some fairly dry and barren cotton fields and grape vines. A lot of the scenery brought back memories of reading The Grapes of Wrath at University.

We settled on Zaca Mesa Winery in Los Olivos for a spot of wine tasting where Ana-Paula was flattered to be asked for ID.

Eventually finding our way back to HWY101, we took off for Santa Barbara. We had booked a room in Parkside Inn, which required us to check in at a larger sister hotel. This worked out in our favour as they upgraded us to stay in the swankier Hotel Mar Monte instead.

As evening settled, we went in search of more seafood and strolled along the incredibly long boardwalk, while skateboarders, roller bladers and cyclists flew past.

The clam chowder and fresh fish we had at Brophy Bros was the ideal meal as we overlooked the Santa Barbara docks and watched a seal playing in the water between luxury yachts.

For after dinner drinks we talk a walk along the peer and went into Longboards Grill. It’s a kitch but cool cocktail bar, serving massive, elaborate cocktails on tables made out of surfboards. Barrels of monkey nuts are always within easy reach and it became apparent, by the mess around the bar, that patrons are expected to simply drop the shells on the floor, adding to the relaxed atmosphere.

The next day started with a visit to the original Santa Barbara mission, which is still in use today. We didn’t go inside but there was some interesting history to be learned from the welcoming area alone.

Leaving Santa Barbara we found our way back to HWY1 for the final league of our road trip to Los Angeles. En route we stopped for lunch in the beautiful town of Ventura. The town clearly appeals to artists; the streets were lined with artwork like an outdoor gallery and with students practising and taking lessons on every corner. After an great Italian lunch we hit the road once more.