Last spring several friends from SoCal and us planned a joint camping adventure to the Santa Barbara County Park -
Jalama Beach as a fun get together. Jalama was chosen as it's approximately half way between the San Diego and SF Bay areas. It's also been
a long time favorite campground because of its remote location, dog friendliness, and long sandy beaches in a rare undeveloped area along the California coast.
After packing up XSC8POD (our
2014 Free Spirit Sprinter van), we head south on
Hwy 101.
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| On the road again - XSC8POD reflected on tanker |
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Just before Gaviota Pass, we take the Lompoc exit onto the
California Coast Hwy 1 to Jalama Road. The narrow two lane blacktops curve through farms and ranches as we make our way towards the Pacific coast.
When we made our reservation for a group site many months
ago, we knew we were taking a chance with the weather. Fortunately
Mother Nature smiles on us by bringing in the last heat wave of the
season. While temps hover in the 90-100 F range in the cities and
interior valleys, the day welcomes us with warm sunny weather, calm
winds and clear skies as we approach Jalama... or in other words perfect
beach weather.
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| Jalama Road winds through large ranches |
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| Good thing we have reservations |
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| Almost there! Look, the Amtrak Surfliner is approaching, be careful going over the tracks |
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We couldn't have asked for better weather as we check-in at the gate and find our group camp site. Several of the others are already there and have started to set up. We back into our site, plug into the utilities, extend the patio shade, and we're done.
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| Entering Jalama Beach Park |
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| John sets up his camper's canopy |
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| Camp site at Jalama Beach |
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After greeting everybody and helping to set up extra shade canopies over picnic tables, we leash up the dogs and head down to the beach.
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| Jalama Beach Campground |
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| Ahhh - now that's a BEACH! |
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When we return to camp, it's happy hour and we toast our good fortune with wine and margaritas.
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| Jamie with his margarita |
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| White wine anyone? |
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| Suzie with margarita in a REI cup |
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As Jamie and Suzie prepare gourmet hamburgers and sausages for our first dinner, the rest of us watch the sunset and prepare for a fun evening together.
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| Sunset at Jalama |
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| Party lights are up and ready |
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