Post PCT - Santa Barbara

Santa Barbara didn't make a great first impression on me, but on the other hand what was I even expecting? It was your typical beach resort where rich(er) and middle classi(er) people were coming to have fun, get drunk, sail on a boat, buy a cheesy marine themed souvenir and rave hard at a stag or hen's do. It was loud and cheerful all around, well at least on the two main roads along the beach and the nearby shopping centre. Once you hit the back alleys it was quickly getting quiet and ordinary which personally I didn't mind at all.

On the first day I only had enough time to walk the wharf and check the surrounding beach, the verdict for camping here was negative, the beach was way too shallow and busy, it wouldn't be comfortable or particularly safe to spend a night here. So I activated plan b - I made my way over to one of the surrounding trails and found a good enough place to camp. Trail was called Hot Springs Canyon and it was situated on the outskirts of the city. After about half an hour of hiking I found a semi decent spot on the rocks by the spring just off the trail, it wasn't particularly leveled or wide but it was the best I could find in the area. There was plenty of tiny grey frogs and crickets to keep me company at night, once in bed I managed to spot through the fly net a shooting star crossing the sky, I made a wish and fell asleep.

The following day I hiked around the trail back to the beach and walked the length of Santa Barbara stopping at the wharf again to take more pictures of resident pelicans then at the harbour and Point Castillo viewpoint right next to it. After that I went to Von's supermarket to buy some Ben&Jerry's and as it was getting late I made my way through the State Street, the main shopping area towards the backcountry. It was really nice over here I stopped for a while listening to the piano guy playing people's requested songs and passed next to three cinemas! Someone's car closing alarm went off 52 times (they beep over here for car closing and opening, it's quite disturbing) it was an undisputed record so far.

Further down the road I discovered my favourite part of the city around Old Mission building, the parking lot in front of it was covered with some excellent (but quickly fading) street art and the park right next to it was also very inviting, it was a perfect antidote for people willing to have rest from the noisy beach area.

I carried on walking until I reached the chosen overnight campsite area called Rattlesnake Canyon and after fifteen minutes of hiking I managed to find a decent side path with a sheltered and fairly leveled ground. 

It's all dark and peaceful now except for mandatory crickets and frogs serenading the canyon to sleep, it should be a decent last night of camping at the American soil before going back to LA tomorrow.

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