As I arrived in Santa Barbara I looked on my map to find the way to Buellton, where
I had reserved a room at the Motel 6 for one night. The map showed me a road up to Cachuma Lake. I choose this road and because it was very misty at Santa Barbara
I almost saw nothing on the ride. I could only feel, that I was driving a pass, because my ears got hurt of the ascent. Sometimes I could see, that the road was very narrow and that red big rocks were on every side.
I don’t know, how long I drove. Suddenly the mist began to clear up and through them appeared a very friendly shining sun, that warmed the land. On my right side I could saw the Cachuma Lake and the morning sun reflected in the water. Whew....! What a beautiful sight! Immediately I parked the car and sat me down on a rock near the lake to enjoy the warm morning sun and the sight.

After I relaxed a while I got on the road again and droved to Solvang. The View of the little town Solvang surprised my very much. It looks like you would be in Denmark. All of the houses are in Danish style and a big windmill is standing in the Main Street. In the shops they sell “Kuckucksuhren” how we here in Germany say. They are producing them here at the black forest. Maybe I had everything expected but not this! Surprisingly looking by as I drove through, I got further on my way to Buellton.

In Buellton I missed the exit to the street where the Motel 6 is located and had to turn a round. As I turned, the front of my car showed to a sign on which was written: “Christal and Handreading” . Very interesting, I thought.

I got the right exit and checked into my Motel room. I was in the meantime a little
bit hungry and decided to go to “Tacco Bell”, to have some junkfood. Not bad!:)
After the refreshment I got back on the road to Solvang. I wanted to discover this nice little town. I parked my car and strolled around in the streets. At a bookstore
I stopped and went in. I asked for the book “The little Prince” from Antoine de Sant Exupéry. They had it and I bought it. I got another refreshment at an frozen yoghourt shop. I have to admit, I love those american frozen yoghourt shops! This is really my type of drink and I couldn’t get enough of it, when I was in California. During drinking my strawberry shake I wrote a dedication into the book and wrapped it in gift paper, which I bought in another shop. Now I was ready to discover where is Neverland.

I drove from Solvang to Los Olivos and then straight ahead into the Santa Ynes Valley, along big Ranches with white fences. This was more the view I had expected as Solvang, the nice Danish town. At a point on the road, the ranches ended and a more pure country appeared, with big hills and deep valleys.      

I drove back to Los Olivos to the gas station. At this day I wore black pants and a white T-Shirt with a monkey on it, eating a pink banana. During the man on the gas station filled up my car, he looked at me and asked me, if that is a monkey on my shirt. I said Yes and he told me that he knew a monkey, Bubbles, Michael Jacksons monkey. He saw him many times at the gas station, where he also filled up his car.
I asked him if he knew where Michael Jacksons estate is and he told me, if I will drive straight ahead 9 Miles I will find the gate of Neverland. So I did it and it was the same way I was coming from. On my first way I have seen the gate and supposed that it could be the gate of Neverland because I had seen it on picutures, but had thrown away this thought because it felt too simple to find it so easy.

She said no and that it would be better to move on. So I asked her if she would be so friendly to bring him the gift over, that I had in my hand. But she had so much fear to take the gift that I said to her, she don't have to be afraid, the gift is only a little book, not a bomb. Even then she hadn’t take it. So I took the above picture of the gate and mailed the book by post from Los Olivos. I hope he got it! :)

Later I drove to Solvang and wrote a few postcards to my family and friends at home. Then I got a little snack and drove back to my Motel room. I took a shower and changed my clothes. Fresh as I was, I went to the “Christal and Handreading” house. Her name was Diane and she was a future reader. I experienced this for the first time and it was very nice to watch her, what she had to say. I paid 25.- $ for reading me from the cards and it was really very impressive. I renounce here to say, what she had read me from the cards, because that will be my secret. After the session I bought from her a small christal for my necklace. She said it would be good for my mind. And so it is. I have this christal until today.

As I got back to my Motel room, I swam some rounds in the pool and began to read a book I had bought in Solvang. I went early to bed, because I wanted to take off in the next morning to the Highway No. 1.

If you would like to read about my experiences on the Highway No. 1 and how
I almost got in jail on my 30th birthday, then you can discover it in my other stories about my visit to California.

Close simply that window and choose a new story to read...

© Claudia Wildner