California Mission Tour Trip 1 - San Luis Obispo to San Buenaventura (5 Missions)

July 16, 2011 - 394 miles

After completing the California Parks Adventure in 2008, it was about time to embark on a new quest. This time the new California Mission Tour was the goal. So on July 16th, Michael and I set out on a trip to visit 5 of the 21 missions. Since the threat of traffic with "carmageddon" which was the closure of the 405 freeway through Sepulveda Pass ruled out a trip south to San Diego, I decided to do the next set of 5 missions and leave the southernmost 5 missions for another trip.

The day started out nice. The foggy mornings of the previous weeks had given way to hazy sunshine at dawn. So off I went on the Concours at 6:00 am north on I-5 to meet Michael and his CBR at Gorman. At 6:45 we were back on I-5 heading north. Getting off at Copus Road, we sped west through the farm fields of the central valley to Taft and our first gas stop. Then it was north on CA-33 and then west on CA-58, a road I love. CA-58 between CA-33 and US-101 is just a fun road. 70 miles of motorcycling heaven. Arriving at US-101, it was a quick trip south to the first mission, Mission San Luis Obispo de Tolosa.

Arriving at 9:20, we spent about 15 minutes posing the bikes for the pictures and enjoying the quiet morning. Mission San Luis Obispo in right in the heart of an old downtown area and there is a short riverwalk there. The mission was founded in 1772 by Father Junipero Serra. It was the 5th mission. The building was built in 1793-1794. The mission had changed throughout the years, wooden siding was added at one time, but it was restored to its Spanish-style appearance in 1933.

Now with the first mission done, it was time to head south and go to La Purisma Mission near Lompoc. We followed the railroad from San Luis Obispo to Pismo Beach, first taking Broad Street and then Price Canyon Road. Topping off the fuel tanks at Pismo Beach Michael and I then went south on US-101 to Clark Avenue and then cut over to CA-135 south, and finally took Harris Grade over the hill to La Purisma Mission State Historic Park. It does cost $6 each for a day use fee to enter the park. The mission is not on a street or even in town like San Luis Obispo was, so taking a picture of the bikes with the mission is not possible. So we parked the bikes and walked to the mission buildings. Founded in 1787, the mission was the 11th mission. An earthquake in 1812 destroyed the original mission. The present mission was began in 1813 at a new site about 4 miles from the original mission. La Purisma Mission was restored in the 1930's by the CCC to give a view of life in the 1820's. We decided to recreate the photo that is in the passport booklet for the required documentation photos.

After spending some time exploring La Purisma Mission, we hit the road again traveling on CA-246 for the short trip to Mission Santa Ines on the east side of Solvang. Arriving at the mission at 12:30, we took some time posing the bikes for the photos. Michael was laying down in the middle of the parking lot trying to get the perfect shot. Mission Santa Ines was the 19th mission in California, founded in 1804. The original church was damaged in the 1812 earthquake. Then current church was dedicated in 1817.

After Mission Santa Ines, we stopped at Cold Springs Tavern for lunch.

Then we continued on CA-154 over San Marcos Pass and then CA-192 to approach Mission Santa Barbara from the north, avoiding the congestion of State Street. The mission was busy as usual with several tour busses in the lot. We made a quick stop in front to grab out passport booklet photos. Mission Santa Barbara has a unique column design to it's church. The mission was founded in 1786 and was the tenth mission. The current 1820 building is the fourth church built. The prior one had been destroyed in the 1812 earthquake. We left the mission at 2:25 and worked our way southeast to US-101 and the ride to Ventura, home of the last mission of the day.

We got lucky in Ventura and got into a parking space across from Mission San Buenaventura. This mission was the ninth mission, founded in 1782. The current building was completed in 1809. A wedding was in progress at the church, with the limo waiting to take the happy couple to the reception. We left the mission a little after 3, got some gas, and then took off east on CA-126 through Fillmore. At the CA-126/I-5 junction, I waved goodbye to Michael as he was heading east to the Antelope Valley, and I went south to the San Fernando Valley.

It was a great day and I can't wait until the next trip which should be the southernmost 5 missions.