Journey From Ojai

Continuing the story of our Ojai visit...

Driving down to Ojai we'd taken the 101 freeway, paralleling the coast but usually not close enough for a sea-view. It had no surprises save for an Elvis-themed McDonald's somewhere along the way.

On the way back, we took Hwy 33. What a difference!  
It was a journey somehow reminiscent of LOTR, though we drove not rode and carried no fearful token.

The road climbed quickly once we left Ojai Valley, winding through the forest, crossing a waterfall, diving through several tunnels including two that were back-to-back, ever upward. And then, like magic, at about 5,000 feet: Snow! Not a lot, just a dusting on the pines and a frosting on the shrubs, a shadow under the plump gray clouds (East Coasters may stop snickering now. It's been two years since I've seen snow. I still find it entrancing.)

And then we were rapidly descending. Now the terrain changed quite suddenly. The road ran along a valley floor walled by deeply eroded mountains. Between the road and the dry river bed, the plain grew chaparral including that iconic wild west plant, the tumbleweed.

The valley was empty, the road straight and flat. This was the day before Thanksgiving, and only a few miles away, the I-5 was undoubtedly crowded with cars.  We saw few vehicles, no people, no buildings.

Until we came to Beautiful Downtown Ventucopa.

(Next post: The Place in Beautiful Downtown Ventucopa.)

Beautiful Downtown Ventucopa

Continuing our journey from Ojai on Highway 33...

A cluster of buildings lined Hwy 33, and a sign announced "The Place." It served beer, and coffee, and ice-cream, and meals. There was nothing for miles in either direction. We stopped and went in.



If this had really been a Traditional Fantasy Journey instead of just evoking one, it would have been filled with carousing travelers, some unreliable, all talking and singing.

Instead, when we entered the place we felt like we'd stepped back in time. No one was there that afternoon, but for the genial white-haired host who we learned later was Alick. (It's Alick and Vicky's place.) The decor was from a bygone era,  complete with a stag's head over the well-used fireplace.



The time-travel ambiance made up for the lack of elvenfolk, wookies, and other fantasy fellow-travelers. We ordered coffee, which was good, and a bean soup, which was excellent. We'd expected something from a can, heated in a microwave, but no. Vicky -- who came out later -- made it from scratch, even soaking the beans herself.

"The Place" the menu read, 'in Beautiful Downtown Ventucopa."



It was such a step back in time that I was surprised, later on, to find that The Place has a Facebook page! And is reviewed on Yelp!

A brief stop, but a memorable one. (Next up, Soda lakes , Nodding Donkeys and Peacocks in Parking Lots.)