This has been the kind of day I haven’t had on this trip. It has seemed at times that this was more of a mission to accomplish than a trip to enjoy. Today – I enjoyed it. I slept in (till about 6:30) and pretty much just fiddle farted the morning away with coffee and sending out post cards. Decided to try and get the oil changed on the bike, so I drove into Lompoc at a Honda dealer. He said he was short handed, but if I came back the next morning, he not only could get to it, but there would be coffee and donuts. I had some time to kill now, so I went exploring. I found some coastal roads and some roads that went winding through hills and valleys. Got off the bike a couple times to take pictures, although none of them really turned out all that well. The best of them all was coming into Santa Barbara with twists and turns that reminded me of the Cherahola Skyway in Tenn/NC area. The temperature changed that much also – in the valley it was warm, coming up the mountains, it cooled down nicely, and as you got closer to the coast, it got pretty chilly.
My destination for the afternoon was the Santa Barbara Polo Club to watch what I was hoping to be some good 12 goal polo and visit with Kathy and Corky. Well – it was 12 goal polo, but wasn’t very good. I was amazed at the mallet work of the players and the ability of the horses they have. I was also terribly disappointed in that nobody backs the ball anymore. They would rather turn it and make a play, but maybe it’s to justify the dollars they’re making. The field they were playing on (and there were 3 of them) was like a putting green. A little brown in spots, but cut that close, that smooth, and as soft and spongy as you can imagine. The polo club sits at the bottom of some beautiful mountains with condos at one end of the fields, and at the top of the mountains, you can see some lavish homes have been built.
Cork and Kathy really haven’t changed much over the years, although to be honest, had Corky come up to me without Kathy being there, I may not have recognized him. It wasn’t till he got off the horse and got rid of the sunglasses and hat while we were in a restaurant that his features came back to me. After looking at the required pictures that were taken, I swear Kathy hasn’t changed much in the last 35 years. They certainly seem to have developed a good niche in the polo world. They’ve worked hard at it and I’m glad for them. They’re good people.
Trying to beat the dark to get back to the motel was a treat. After having driven this road a couple times in the last few days, I was feeling a bit more comfortable driving it, so the curves at 75mph were a real trip. That was just what I needed to make a great day.
My destination for the afternoon was the Santa Barbara Polo Club to watch what I was hoping to be some good 12 goal polo and visit with Kathy and Corky. Well – it was 12 goal polo, but wasn’t very good. I was amazed at the mallet work of the players and the ability of the horses they have. I was also terribly disappointed in that nobody backs the ball anymore. They would rather turn it and make a play, but maybe it’s to justify the dollars they’re making. The field they were playing on (and there were 3 of them) was like a putting green. A little brown in spots, but cut that close, that smooth, and as soft and spongy as you can imagine. The polo club sits at the bottom of some beautiful mountains with condos at one end of the fields, and at the top of the mountains, you can see some lavish homes have been built.
Cork and Kathy really haven’t changed much over the years, although to be honest, had Corky come up to me without Kathy being there, I may not have recognized him. It wasn’t till he got off the horse and got rid of the sunglasses and hat while we were in a restaurant that his features came back to me. After looking at the required pictures that were taken, I swear Kathy hasn’t changed much in the last 35 years. They certainly seem to have developed a good niche in the polo world. They’ve worked hard at it and I’m glad for them. They’re good people.
Trying to beat the dark to get back to the motel was a treat. After having driven this road a couple times in the last few days, I was feeling a bit more comfortable driving it, so the curves at 75mph were a real trip. That was just what I needed to make a great day.
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