Chasing Clean Air

Clean Air San Luis Obispo

San Luis Obispo is the most gentle of refined California places with rolling green hills and unpretentious people. 

I passed San Luis Obispo--SLO --countless times enroute to San Francisco, my hometown, never realizing this vibrant small city was the place to pause and explore a diverse landscape with much to offer the adventurous spirit.

Now before I dive into my clean air review--San Luis Obispo is pronounced Luis not Louie. Okay, here we go!

Basking under California's sun, San Luis Obispo (also SLO for way of life) is surrounded by wineries, bike paths, and the Seven-Sister volcanic peaks, which offer unparalleled hiking opportunities and the "rock" of nearby Morro Bay.

 I especially loved kayaking near that rock on calm, beautiful waters.

The National John Steinbeck Center & Driving from San Luis Obispo to San Francisco

I learned driving north with the sun beating through windows making me tired that The National John Steinbeck Center in Salinas was the perfect pick-me-up.

I pulled into town and took a literary tour.

"It is very hard to raise boys to love and respect virtue and learning when the tools of success are chicanery, treachery, self-interest, laziness and cynicism..." so he wrote a friend upon returning to America from England in 1959. Somehow that stood out to me as the truth of many Americans still today. Our country founded on the pursuit of individual happiness... has a price.

Kayak Horizons, Morro Bay

I woke to the sort of cold weather where one might say, "Fine day for kayaking?"

My car had a coat of frost.

Therefore by 8 a.m. I headed out from the Embassy Suites in San Luis Obispo dressed in my wiki cold weather shirt, sweater, jacket, and windbreaker plus hat and gloves just in case--to begin my Morro Bay Kayak Horizons adventure led by tour guide and recent engineering graduate, Anastasia Mylonas.

Morro Bay is close to my heart, yes, because of the late exercise guru Jack LaLanne, who lived here til age 96 with his wife, exercise, juicing, and clean air.

Jack motivated my mom to exercise, who motivated me to exercise, who inspired millions more to exercise and embrace a healthy lifestyle, too:

Life's greatest joy, which brings me to my Kayak Horizons adventure on Morro Bay.

What a delight!

By the time Anastasia and I set out in orange and yellow kayaks, the sun warmed the sky and I pealed off one clothing layer at a time until I was left with only the thought of a tee-shirt.

The one thing I didn't bring.

Morro Bay is home to over 80 species of birds that migrate.

I brought my long lens and binoculars, and when you come, I suggest the same.

Or simply live in the moment and enjoy paddling through calm waters, breathing clean air.

You never know what you'll see. Heron. Turkey Vulture. Morro Bay Man.

Morro Bay offers some of the calmest waters on the west coast for kayaking, and if you have young children who'd like to give it a try, the water here can be shallow enough to wonder, Will I run aground before reaching shore?

Mornings in the spring and winter I was told offer ideal conditions, in part because  afternoon winds may kick up so its advisable to kayak in the mornings. Yes, I just repeated mornings.

As the day moved toward afternoon, our winds kicked up but it was nothing my Jack LaLanne inspired arms (I weight-lift) couldn't handle. Nor was it lost on me that winds meant more toned arms.

Anastasia led us to the bird sanctuary where I saw tree fulls of turkey vultures and herons posing like Vogue models. Then we headed to the sand spit of Montana de Oro State Park, where we went ashore to explore and we saw a school of small birds observing big birds, and we saw sand dunes that we walked over like adventurers, and we enjoyed a view of both Morro Bay and the Pacific Ocean.

Yes, in one moment our eyes settled on the calm of Morro Bay and the next we witnessed the spectacular   crashing waves of the Pacific.

And before I knew it a few hours had passed and it was time to head back to the mainland bouyed by the kayak experience and, naturally, clean air.

But first I felt like capturing "the joy" and made a request of Anastasia.

Okay, now!

Jump!

I highly recommend you come out to the central coast and experience clean air and a Kayak Horizons tour at Morro Bay.

You can reach Kayak Horizons at (805) 772-6444 and click here for more information.

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The Road to San Luis Obispo

California's rains washed away brown hills and ushered in rolling green landscapes, one after another.

Beauty everywhere!

It was as if I drove through Austria's Sound of Music and Washington State's lush landscape earning its nickname Evergreen but this green landscape didn't require a plane ticket. Nor did it take careful planning.

I simply drove up the 101 and discovered a California born anew thanks to heavy rains after California's long drought, which left me feeling lucky that I didn't need to leave California to experience green riches and clean air. 

Nope.

The Pacific Ocean was drenched in light. Diamonds danced on its velvety azure, while hawks spread wings overhead eyeing prey, and I pleasantly rolled up the 101 in my 1997 Lexus (yes, it still runs well), driving from Los Angeles toward San Luis Obispo, the newly crowned happiest place in America... green riches to my left, front, and future.

Yes, I perked up.

I think it was that innate human sense to jump toward ones environment. Match it for better or worse, richer or poorer.

And in the case of driving a fantastic stretch--Santa Barbara to San Luis Obispo--I rose to meet vibrant green hills!

Nourishing and life affirming nature!

Fresh air and blue skies!

And I took a roadstop to walk and heed a Blue Jay's call.

San Luis Obispo turned out to more beautiful than I imagined with green rolling hills, manicured vineyards, and quaint facades reminiscent of a Leave it To Beaver wholesomeness a'la an eco-conscious and trendy vibe, without pretentiousness. 

If you'd like to learn more about my experience, stay tuned...

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