In conclusion

Here’s the round up, or “best of”:

Favorite mission: Mission San Antonio de Padua, because it is the most original in terms of scope and supplemental structures to the main church complex, has the most original rural setting, and the least crowds.  Plus you can stay overnight in the original padre’s quarters

Most unusual mission: Mission San Fernando Rey, because it had a very weird museum, even the parking lot was unusual for having a huge power line tower placed in it.  Even the Bob Hope Memorial Garden was unusual in appearance compared to the other mission gardens and cemeteries.

Favorite food: Too difficult to say, because I had so many good things to eat on this trip!  However, my favorite place to eat was Solvang, because there were so many good things to eat all over town.

Most interesting food to try: Danish ice cream at Ingeborg’s Danish Chocolates in Solvang.  This was vanilla ice cream in a waffle cone, topped with strawberry jam and a Flodeboller – a giant chocolate-covered handmade marshmallow. 

Most interesting food experience: Dandelion Chocolate in San Francisco, where they import chocolate beans in the pod, extract them, roast them, grind them and make them into wonderful chocolate treats, and encourage tasting of the roasted beans and chocolate made from beans imported from different regions.

Favorite sightseeing (excluding missions and food): I had to think hard about this one, but would have to say the Monterey Aquarium on Cannery Row, Monterey.  It is fun and educational for all ages, and they have so many different kinds of sea life to watch, like otters, puffins, squids and jellyfish.

Favorite campground: Another difficult one (although I can say without hesitation my least favorite was Newport Dunes), a tie between Monterey's Veteran's Park and San Onofre State Beach.

Favorite thing overall: riding my bike through so many different places, from rural farms to wild forests and small towns to big cities.  The sights, sounds and smells are so much different, and heightened, when experienced from a bike compared to when you’re riding in a car.