Ojai

It’s beautiful and a great getaway! Camping at Lake Casitas is the best!

There are book stores and then there are book stores… It would be hard for any booklover not to wander among the maze of bookshelves here and not be giddy… My first thought when I entered was what a cool place to get married—or have your ashes spread!

Bart’s Books is quite the antidote to the sterile chain bookstore. A written desciption would hardly do it justice; maybe someone will post a youtube video of the place someday…

It also acts as a counterwight to the pretentiousness that is so prevalent among those enclaves of the Central Coast where ordinary people are being slowly squeezed out. Others may go to any number of the frou frou spas and resorts around Ojai for rejuvenation, but I got all I need wandering among the asiles of Bart’s, thank you very much.

I looked for a month for a spa to go to. I would highly recommend The Oaks
I loved everything about it. The price was reasonable. The food was healthy and tasty. The classes changed all the time so I could try Yoga, Water exercises, Qi Gong, Tai Chi and even Belly dancing. Now that I know what stuff like Pilates are, I’m not afraid of these classes anymore. Everyone was dressed very casual and super friendly. They are celebrating their 30th year this Oct. and the owner Sheila age 72 is just a delight. She is training for competitions in Ice Skating! Elenore is 82 and helped make up the menu and still teaches Yoga.
This pic was shot from my room’s window one early morning.

We were on vacation. My mother’s best friend while growing up, Lorraine, lived here. We stopped by to visit one day. I was just a kid. Visiting with a bunch of grownups that you don’t know can be pretty boring.

4-8-2007
On my motorcycle trip on the way back from Paso Robles, we gassed up at this burg.