7 Days solo roadtrip in most southern parts of California 2017 (Part 1of 4)
I had a dream going to see poppy fields in California. Year 2017, Spring Super Bloom in California, I planed my trip to visit most of southern parts in California for 7 days. My trip was memorable and I want everyone to see. or maybe could have a road trip likes I did. I divide this trip in 4 parts
part 1 wildflower
part 2 desert blooming
part 3 desert dry land
part 4 sierra mountain.
This part 1 should go early Spring for wildflowers blooming. My thinking was right, California Spring Wildflower sprung beautiful. So instead of seeing only poppy flower, I planed for most different parts of Southern California, little parts of Eastern Yosemite and Sierra Mountains.
My solo trip had started by research, reading my travel books, taking and preparing map on route to drive to. I like to get rental car for my travel that way I could get to each places by calculated all times I might take on the roads and spend for my pictures. I brought cheap airplane ticket to Los Angeles(LAX), then got SUV car rental at the airport. For rental car I chose on a nationwide company, because I wanted professional services and time consuming for getting and returning my rental car.
I got to LAX in the morning then took about half an hour to get a rental car from Hertz $275.76/week rated. The reason I got a standard SUV because there were some parts of this trip that I would have to drive on a dirt road and I might have to sleep in the car for some nights.
Day 1
Antelope Valley Poppy Reserve 1hr 37min from the airport. I stopped for lunch an exit before destination, Burger King. For some reason they had gotten my order late so they gave me an apple pie for free. I took my lunch to eat in the car at poppy field. When I got closed to Antelope Valley I could see the orange flowers miles away. Then along Lancaster Road there were poppies on both side of the road. Due to traffic I parked the car on the side of the road then took off for some pictures. To walk on wildflower fields I recommended to walk on trails for your safety from snakes and bug bites and save flowers for others.
Carrizo Plain Wildflower Meadows 2hr from Antelope Valley, on the way was beautiful scenic road. I chose to take Gorman Hills which there were flower fields along the roadside. The whole areas were hills and wildflowers. I did not stop for pictures but when getting to Carrizo Plain there were many areas that I could stopped and found good spot for my photos.
My first day would end at San Luis Obispo 2hr 6min, I reserved a bed at HI SAN LUIS OBISPO HOSTEL $29.50/night which it was the closest hostel to the trail I planed to walked. Nearby the hostel there was a train station and beautiful small town. I got myself enough time to walk around town, check out Mission San Luis Obispo and shop around. At the hostel they cooked breakfast, which I met other guests and brought a strawberry basket from them for my hike snack.
Day 2
Point Buchon 36min from the hostel, the trail opened Thu-Mon 8am.-4pm. parking is at the south end of Montana de Oro State Park. There was the sign-in station on private land owned by PG&E, then hike on 1 1/3miles loop to see seashore, glass land and sink hole. This is a beautiful short trail and there is a campsite on the beach at Montana de Oro State Park. After hike on this trail I got a long drive to San Diego, so I did not take much time here an hour was okay to see things and got some great pictures. This morning was cloudy and forecast for rain on the afternoon. So I planed for a queen mission in Santa Barbara to see one of the most famous historical Spanist Church
Santa Barbara Mission 2hr 5 min (107mi) Yes it was a bit raining, so walked in a historic church was a good idea.$9 self-guided tour 9am-5pm last ticket 4.15pm. It was a good place to see colonial era art and sculptures.
Mysterious Tower of Laguna Beach 2hr 27 min (152mi) Los Angeles traffic was so bad I got another 3 hours extra to go on this destination. Luckily, I did a lot of research on this site, so I could find parking in the residential area. Parking was hard, but there is a step go down to the beach to see the tower. I got there just before the sunset. Ocean tide was too high to walk to get a good photo. But I recommend everyone to check it out if you could, it is a great place. My second day I got to San Diego with the horrible traffic. I do not like HOV(High Occupancy Vehicle lane) cause I traveled alone. Finally got to the HI Hostel in San Diego 1hr 2 min(69mi) plus traffic I got to the hostel around 10.30pm with little hot dog at the gas station. It was a tried day. I was so exhausted from LA traffic. Oh! On the way there was a toll way which I got to get on internet to pay for toll after I used. The official toll fee asked for license plate and date that I would use the toll way...this was a new thing for me.
