Friends "Have you been to Ojai (pronounced Oh Hi) yet?"
Me "No not yet, why is it nice?"
Friends "Lovely little Spanish Village about 80 miles north of LA, you must go"
In actual fact Ojai is 83 miles north of LA on Route 33 off the 101 Pacific Coastal Hwy. So how did we nearly make it to Bakersfield on the I5 after hubby had spent 30 mins looking at Google Maps and declaring "I know where we're going."
20 miles into the journey driver says to navigator,
"Just put it in the GPS"
"Put what in the GPS? you said you knew where we were going"
"I do, just want to be sure (that short statement deserves a paragraph of explanation but not here)
"An address?"
"No don't need just the town it'll take us to the centre"
It doesn't and didn't hence a hasty exit off the I5 park up and attempt to cool the ever increasing temper(ature) in the car, not all due to the sun either.
"Lets just go back to LA!" declared the driver
"NO we've come this far" said the navigator
So applying that wonderful thing called female logic in conjunction with the other female in the thingy (GPS) I attempted to get us going in the right direction, et voila job done. Might admit also to stopping and asking for directions en route, JUST to be certain. Which ladies we know is a female thing only because it makes perfect sense and is the easiest solution ...... I shall not gloat at this point.
Back South we go along the I5 picking up the CA 126 West, just past Six Flags Magic Mountain Theme Park http://www.sixflags.com/magicMountain/ which boasts the world's tallest looping, roller coaster and to think I've NEVER been (add to bucket list!) This is the more scenic route to Ojai, found more by luck than design but found none the less. Real horse country, heaven for one who loves all things equine (ME) passing many ranches and a really neat farm for little ones that's both educational and fun
http://www.ourpaintedponyfarm.com .......
One relaxed, uneventful hour later ...... OJAI!
Ojai is indeed lovely, with tempers calmed and disagreements left on the highway we strolled hand in hand around the village, had lunch and an enormous hand made ice cream for desert. Ojai has wonderful clothing boutiques, gift shops, galleries, plenty of strolling and window shopping to be done, and what amazing weather to do it in. Discovered Hatties and some lovely linen fashions, yes I did indulge only a little though http://hattieojai.com/ was tempted with much more, especially a gorgeous cashmere sweater but we are traveling in a shoe box, remember.
Being the only customer at the time the lovely assistant, originally from Yorkshire, and I had the opportunity to get better acquainted starting with "Where are you from?" she heard the accent, always a great conversation starter connecting with someone from the "Old Country" Eventually we got around to the subject of travel, which I love to talk about. Sharing our travel lifestyle secret (well not that much of a secret) of house sitting always get the "Really? that's amazing" response but time certainly flies when ladies get chatting, after about 30 mins John walked through the door and I'm sure he thought I was buying up the shop, the look of relief was all too apparent when I said we'd been talking house sitting, giving him the opportunity to join in. After another 20 mins worth of chat we were on our way.
Her parting words were "You're both an inspiration!" ...... that's house sitting for you!!
No personal photos I'm afraid, forgot the camera although I DID get us to Ojai and home again ... chuckle, gloat!!
http://www.ojaivisitors.com
Me "No not yet, why is it nice?"
Friends "Lovely little Spanish Village about 80 miles north of LA, you must go"
In actual fact Ojai is 83 miles north of LA on Route 33 off the 101 Pacific Coastal Hwy. So how did we nearly make it to Bakersfield on the I5 after hubby had spent 30 mins looking at Google Maps and declaring "I know where we're going."
20 miles into the journey driver says to navigator,
"Just put it in the GPS"
"Put what in the GPS? you said you knew where we were going"
"I do, just want to be sure (that short statement deserves a paragraph of explanation but not here)
"An address?"
"No don't need just the town it'll take us to the centre"
It doesn't and didn't hence a hasty exit off the I5 park up and attempt to cool the ever increasing temper(ature) in the car, not all due to the sun either.
"Lets just go back to LA!" declared the driver
"NO we've come this far" said the navigator
So applying that wonderful thing called female logic in conjunction with the other female in the thingy (GPS) I attempted to get us going in the right direction, et voila job done. Might admit also to stopping and asking for directions en route, JUST to be certain. Which ladies we know is a female thing only because it makes perfect sense and is the easiest solution ...... I shall not gloat at this point.
Back South we go along the I5 picking up the CA 126 West, just past Six Flags Magic Mountain Theme Park http://www.sixflags.com/magicMountain/ which boasts the world's tallest looping, roller coaster and to think I've NEVER been (add to bucket list!) This is the more scenic route to Ojai, found more by luck than design but found none the less. Real horse country, heaven for one who loves all things equine (ME) passing many ranches and a really neat farm for little ones that's both educational and fun
http://www.ourpaintedponyfarm.com .......
One relaxed, uneventful hour later ...... OJAI!
Ojai is indeed lovely, with tempers calmed and disagreements left on the highway we strolled hand in hand around the village, had lunch and an enormous hand made ice cream for desert. Ojai has wonderful clothing boutiques, gift shops, galleries, plenty of strolling and window shopping to be done, and what amazing weather to do it in. Discovered Hatties and some lovely linen fashions, yes I did indulge only a little though http://hattieojai.com/ was tempted with much more, especially a gorgeous cashmere sweater but we are traveling in a shoe box, remember.
Being the only customer at the time the lovely assistant, originally from Yorkshire, and I had the opportunity to get better acquainted starting with "Where are you from?" she heard the accent, always a great conversation starter connecting with someone from the "Old Country" Eventually we got around to the subject of travel, which I love to talk about. Sharing our travel lifestyle secret (well not that much of a secret) of house sitting always get the "Really? that's amazing" response but time certainly flies when ladies get chatting, after about 30 mins John walked through the door and I'm sure he thought I was buying up the shop, the look of relief was all too apparent when I said we'd been talking house sitting, giving him the opportunity to join in. After another 20 mins worth of chat we were on our way.
Her parting words were "You're both an inspiration!" ...... that's house sitting for you!!
No personal photos I'm afraid, forgot the camera although I DID get us to Ojai and home again ... chuckle, gloat!!
http://www.ojaivisitors.com
