"Howdy, Yall" - Central Coast, California. Mid-State Fair

           How vast seems the sea when you break through the mountains and finally reach the coast. California is one of the most riveting geological locations in the country, you can be literally swimming in the ocean in the morning and by the afternoon be snowboarding down a mountain without a care in the world. Driving up to and up the coast of California is the most beautiful depiction of what heaven must be like. Driving through the mountains, passing the fruit fields and rural America, singing at the top of your lungs while the sun beats down on your face – there is nothing like the feeling of California in summer.

Coming from the suburbs of Los Angeles in the valley you have to drive up and out to get to the Pacific Coastal Highway that leads north. Highway 126 is a country road that leads to Santa Barbara; it is nestled between the mountains, which are covered with green shrubs, fruit fields and vineyards.  The smell of fresh fruit and flowered trees fills the air, you cannot resist but to keep the windows down and experience the freshness of the earth. The mountains climb steeply up to points and when the sun hits them just right they look like golden satin blankets freshly lain out on top of pillows. There are farmer’s stands that dot the highway which have some of the freshest, organic fruit you can get, we stopped at one briefly for some apples and honey sticks before continuing on into the afternoon, deeper into the mountains and closer to the ocean.

We finally broke past the mountains and could feel the change in the air as it became more salty and earthy, it had just rained briefly so we were getting a wonderful fresh mixture of wet bark and foamy brine.  My two friends, one whose house we were headed to and the other an age old friend from back home who had never experienced California before, were taking in the scenery as we pealed off onto the PCH or highway 101. You almost feel as though you have to hold your breath, you know that the houses on your left are just barely hiding the ocean and you are just craning your neck to try to see it – it’s so close! As you round the corner of houses it comes into view as if you are opening your eyes for the first time, it feels like a bright reflective light just passed in front of you lighting the way. It calmly laps on the shore and you race the tide along the highway. The great cliffs reach up hundred of feet high, as if they are going to topple over onto you, plunging into the road that is sturdily keeping the two worlds – mountain and ocean – from mixing together. Houses are enfolded in the cliffs and you have mixed feelings of envy and happiness for them that they get to wake up every day to look out over this beautiful vast ocean.

As we drove up the coast the sounds of the road became background while the birds and ocean took over, Santa Barbara flowed past as we continued onto our destination – Central Coast, California. Clouds were rolling in from the ocean but the sun beat down on the hood of my little red car as we listened to my friend from back home wonder at the sights he has never seen before. We timed it just perfect, as the sun was slipping slowly down towards the horizon and the air shimmered orange, we broke over a big hill that got us high enough to be able to see miles down the breaking coastline. Palm trees lined the beach and hung over people who were lazily lounging underneath.

As we got closer to San Louis Obispo area we had to stop at Pismo Beach, one of the most beautiful and relaxing beaches around. The beach town was streaming with people and miraculously we were just lucky enough to get a parking spot right as another family was leaving for the day. The walk down to the beach is riddled with beach stores and some of the best restaurants you could want. We stopped at this place called Splash Café which had the best clam chowder I’ve ever had, served overflowing in a bread bowl. Pismo beach was teaming with people today, most of them relaxing during the California Mid-State Fair which was our final destination. We had a few moments to take in the sights before heading out and continuing our trek up the coastline, the sand welcomed our heavy feet and tried to convince us to stay a while. After purchasing a famous Pismo Poncho, we made our way back to the car and pushed forward.

The drive the rest of the way was practically completely uphill, massive grades that are sometimes the death of cars that cannot huff and puff their way up. Frequently you will see stranded people waiting for their tow service. Every time we climb the grade it feels like a metaphor for life, once you make your way completely up the hill you are able to then glide down, relaxing while you enjoy the scenery. The mountains that encompass you as you journey are magnificently stark, they are so tall and yet seem gentle against the sky.  Depending on the time of year, it either feels like a golden African prairie land or beautiful green German countryside. There is livestock along the side of the road that have no care or concern that you are hurrying to your destination.

As you get closer and closer to Atascadero – where the State Fair is housed - The great Hurst Castle rises out from the hills in the plains and keeps watch over the lands. The herds of animals roam the fields, zebras, horses and all sorts of exotic animals that you would never expect to be housed there. The Madonna Inn, one of the most exorbitant inns this side of the country, flashes pink along the roadside – you almost miss it if you aren’t looking for it.

Finally we reach Atascadero, our home for the evening and next day. The three hour drive was more tedious than it should have been, the excitement only to begin. Dropping the bags off at the house and throwing on the cowboy boots we couldn’t wait another minute. Freshened up and back in the car we bolted for the food that would clog your arteries in minutes, the rides that would make you lose it all and the dancing that would make you feel like you won the evening. Feeling lucky to be alive we excitedly met with our friends and burst into the gates. What to do first, we couldn’t decide, so we started with what we knew best – the food.

The California Mid-State Fair is a quite diverse fair. There are so many different types of foods to chose from along with the normal deep-fried EVERYTHING. We started off with something light, fried pickles, funnel cakes and lemonade before heading off to look at exhibits. The night was already in full swing with Keith Urban at the big stage, people were swarming from place to place, games and rides, food and beer. This was a place to be seen and a place to feel like you were at home. The watering hole towards the end of the strip was where everyone was, you couldn’t get too far into the group of people but you sure did try. Swing dancing and laughing the whole way, we pushed our way though to the front, people were being thrown around and no one cared, it was a massive party and a happy environment.

There were cowboys and businessmen, ladies and rednecks, kids and old people talking to each other and scoping the scene, no one held back their emotions as they whooped and hollered, pulling their friends through the crowd and tipping their hats to the pretty lady that crossed their path. As the hours wore on we all were getting tired, we had danced the whole time and could not move anymore and sat down right before taking off. My friends went to grab something to drink and eat while I opted to hold our spot at the table while they got.

“Excuse me, Ma’am, but you were lookin’ pretty lonely over here. Would you like to dance?” mortified I looked up to see a tall, handsome cowboy reaching his hand out to me.

“Well, I…” didn’t have words, “Sure.” I half smiled as I took his hand. He grinned as he spun me around and took me out to dance. I couldn’t believe how good he was, I have always had a problem with following but maybe that was just because I danced with guys that didn’t know how to lead. It was like magic and I knew it looked good. I could barely look at him in the eyes I was so impressed. I knew I was blushing the entire time. After a couple songs I caught a glimpse of my friends who were all beaming and whispering back at the table with their mountain of fried unmentionables – thank goodness the song just ended. After thanking him and returning to the table I knew that this would be a night I would never forget.