Avila Beach to Los Olivos

When we worked up the courage to unzip our tents this morning at 6:30 AM, a frosty surprise awaited. Cold bathing suits from the hots springs last night held their form and a hot breakfast did little for our chilly toes. As 60-mile days go, it was not roasty-toasty going in the morning, but layers had to be shed in the afternoon. Specifically notable was our lunch stop northeast of Lompoc on Highway 154. Our camouflage bus pulled off in a rocky area with green backdrop where we indulged in Indian cuisine and thin-mint treats for lunch, thanks to great donations from New Frontier yesterday! A large rock-pile also made for entertaining rest (and pebble wars).

Today we rode through agro-central in the Lompoc Valley. Food for thought... according to BeachCalifornia.com:

• California has been the #1 food and ag producer in the US for more than 50 consecutive years
• More than 1/2 the nation's fruit, nuts, and vegetables come from here
• California is the nation's number one dairy state
• California's leading commodity is milk and cream ~ grapes are second
• California's leading export crop is almonds
• Nationally, products exclusively grown (99% or more) in California include almonds, artichokes, dates, figs, kiwifruit, olives, persimmons, pistachios, prunes, raisins, clovers, and walnuts
• From 70 to 80% of all ripe olives are grown in California
• California is the nation's leading producer of strawberries, averaging 1.4 billion pounds of strawberries or 83% of the country's total fresh and frozen strawberry production
• California produces 25% of the nation's onions and 43% of the nation's green onions

As important as feeding the world is, it is good to mention the energy- and resource-intensive nature of conventional farming. Organic, specialty farming is making a comeback all over California and the rest of the US, providing (once again) small-scale and family farmers with the good living they deserve!

For instance, we cruised today and by 2:00 PM we saw ourselves turning into a long driveway in Los Olivos that led to "The Garden of...", an organic farm run by Noey and family. She not only was gracious enough to let us set up tent next to the hoop house and lawn next to the bee boxes, but she got us involved in building her home! Pretty soon we were stomping and turning cobb in our bare feet. With muddy hands, we carried bricks of mud, clay and straw to the upstairs where others packed the last foot of her south wall up to the roof. Her house is amazing! Cobb walls, restored windows, a green roof... and just big enough to meet all of her needs. We LOVE this farm stop (period). Music and great food followed before we tucked into bed for the night.

Miles traveled today: 60
Written By: Adam Hammes