I left San Simeon around 7:30AM and headed south on Hwy 1 towards Morro Bay. Asphalt_Carver had left an hour earlier. My mileage counter was showing 106 miles and I figure I had another 30 miles to go before reserve. So I decided not to gas up at the only gas station for the next 30 miles, which was in Cambria. About 10 miles later, my low fuel warning light went on at 116 miles! WTF! I had to turn around to Cambria to fill up at an ass-pounding $4/gallon of premium!
I cruised down at a steady 80 to Morro Bay. There was hardly a soul around that early in the morning Saturday. For whatever reason, my alert receptacles were on high and every suspicious vehicle I saw looked like the CHP in their notorious black and white Ford Crown Victoria's. I reached San Simeon to catch the 101 south for the slab back to Los Angeles. Again, for a long while I kept my speed at 80 for fear of the fuzz. This was CHP territory afterall. On that stretch of the 101, there were two lanes going in either direction divided by a dirt embankment. The 101 was mostly flat and boring and empty and it was very, very easy to maintain a speed of 90+. Wisdom however, got the better part of me and I kept the speed down for a while.
I didn't stop until my low fuel warning light went on again around 125 miles somewhere around Buellton--Home of the Split Pea Soup! My indecision caused me to miss my chosen exit, so I got off at the very next exit for fuel. That's when I saw something that looked familiar. Across from the gas station was The Windmill Inn from the movie Sideways! Except it's actually called the Days Inn. Nevermind that. I thought it was fun and interesting to see such a movie icon/landmark.
At the gas station across the street, I drank a hot cup of chocolate to warm me up. This guy with a pick up truck parked next to my Firebolt approached me and asked about where I was heading and from where was I coming from. Then, he asked me for $5 to help him fuel up his truck. I was feeling good and generous so I handed him the money, then helped him push his truck to one of the fueling stations. I went back inside the gas station mini-mart and I asked the attendant if the Hotel across the street was indeed the place where they filmed "that movie". Before I was even able to finish my sentence, the attendant smiled and said yes. I guess a lot of people have asked him that question before! I rode across the street to take a nice picture of The Windmill Inn. I couldn't leave without that! |
