As you leave Santa Barbara and head towards the small town of Solvang, you pass Lake Cachuma, an artificial lake created as part of the Bradbury Dam construction in 1953.
The views are breathtaking and camping is allowed, though it seems to be a very popular and extremely overcrowded destination. No swimming is permitted in the lake, but boating is popular and it’s not uncommon to see boats pepper the waterline.
As you pass through to Santa Ynez Valley you’ll see breathtaking views of farmland and vineyard and hopefully get the chance to experience one of the many wineries or fruit stands that line the road.
The weather here is apparently pretty consistent though some of my cyclists friends have said that when it rains in the Santa Ynez Valley, it pours in relentless sheets.
