This morning (07/02/09) I was in Carpinteria for my four month checkup at the dentist ("Look, Mom, no cavities!) and finished in time to head to "The Spot" for a burger. I was also able to catch the slightly (5 minutes) arrival and departure of Pacific Surfliner 763.
"The Spot" is just steps towards the ocean from the tracks. It's on Linden Avenue and the burgers and fries are still as good as they were when I made my first visit there in 1959. (They opened in 1958.) There is plenty of room to sit with a good view of the tracks and there are tables and benches in back with an even better view of the Carpinteria stop.
For those of you who take the train to SBA for the day I might suggest stopping in Carp for a little variety. You will be very close to the ocean, Linden Avenue and it's shops and restaurants, and Robitaille's Candy Shop. (They made mint wafers for the Reagan White House.) I did some of my growing up in Newport Beach/Balboa and Carp is one of the few California coastal towns that still has that '40's or '50's feel to it.
Frank in SUNNY SBA.
Miss Vicki--That might be a good place to meet you and Art next time you venture north.
Posted by notelvis (Member # 3071) on :
Burgers and fries at the beach......with trains to ride and more to watch?
Sounds like a slice of paradise.
Posted by chrisg (Member # 2488) on :
Don't forgot the Cosast Starlight also passes through town as well!
Chris
Posted by sbalax (Member # 2801) on :
Chris--
Yep, but it moves pretty fast going through. No stop in Carp. The last time I had this nice lunch break I was a bit later and saw the "Stublight" go through NB.
David--
Yep, it's a tough life but someone has to live it. There is at least one other train spotting restaurant in Carp. It has changed names a couple of times but it's on Santa Claus Lane (Extra points to anyone who can explain the name!) and has a nice lawn with picnic tables next to the tracks. I would be just after the Carp stop going NB.
Frank in sunny SBA
Posted by HopefulRailUser (Member # 4513) on :
Miss Vicki--That might be a good place to meet you and Art next time you venture north. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- When should we come?
Posted by Railroad Bob (Member # 3508) on :
Mr. Frank, too bad we can't post some pics of the Carp stop for our faraway members..It is one idyllic place; I go up there a couple times a year to unwind from the big city. I'll paint a word picture: A single track RR line, gently winding through a verdant valley frequently festooned with colorful blossoms emitting spring-like fragrances, surrounding rustic and welcoming shops and cafes, populated by friendly locals and bordered by the undulating Pacific to the south* and gently rising emerald hills to the north.* Plus, one of the BEST beaches anywhere-- not prone to sharks, smallish waves and a remarkably safe ocean lagoon that does not drop off precipitously. Stays shallow way out, so it's good for families and kids. Oh well, that's my take on Carpinteria, CA...practically as good as Hanalei, Kauai Hawaii- which is the BEST beach in the USA. (In a recent 2009 poll.) Edited to correct direction error~~~ Posted by sbalax (Member # 2801) on :
Bob--
You've got it. It almost sounds like a travel brochure. We always say that Carp is the town that time forgot. And I noticed that the Motel 6 (A Santa Barbara invention, btw) had rooms on this holiday weekend for $79.00.
You can also, of course, cook your own steak at The Palms. I only regret that the "Abalone Burger" of my youth is long gone. Yep, they ground up abalone and made patties out of it... Maybe that's why it's so scarce and expensive now.
Miss Vicki--
One or both of us will be around most of the summer. Let us know.
Frank in slowly cooling SBA
Bob -- I just took another look at your wonderful prose and there's a small mistake. The Pacific would be mostly South of Carpinteria. And I think the old sign about "The Safest Beach in the World" is gone.
And Hanalei IS beautiful but there's no train to get you there.
Posted by Railroad Bob (Member # 3508) on :
quote:Originally posted by sbalax: Bob -- I just took another look at your wonderful prose and there's a small mistake. The Pacific would be mostly South of Carpinteria. And I think the old sign about "The Safest Beach in the World" is gone.
And Hanalei IS beautiful but there's no train to get you there.
Thanks Frank-- of course I should have known that Carp is one of the legendary "south-facing beaches." I've corrected the mistake in my post...appreciate your eagle-eye proofreading! Posted by sbalax (Member # 2801) on :
Bob--
It's the teacher in me.
Frank in Sunny SBA
Posted by notelvis (Member # 3071) on :
Here's a link with some photos to whet the appetite - Nice Looking Place Posted by Stephen W (Member # 6059) on :
Great links! Thanks for posting them. I guess I'm going to have to branch out to the right side of the menu next time I'm down there. Vicki and Art and I already have some tentative dates picked out.
Frank in sunny SBA
Posted by railrev (Member # 2640) on :
"Santa Claus Lane" was once the location of "Santa Claus, CA," an obvious tourist trap with a large statue of Santa Claus out front to encourage children to ask their parents to stop. Mine never did and neither did I as a parent. Then when I had grandkids, the whole place was painted white and, I think, closed up.
Posted by sbalax (Member # 2801) on :
Ah, but where does "Santa" now reside? A hint: You could get relatively close by riding a Pacific Surfliner.
Frank in Sunny SBA
Posted by HopefulRailUser (Member # 4513) on :
At The Spot?
Posted by sbalax (Member # 2801) on :
Nice guess, Vicki, but no cigar! This "Santa" is BIG!
I'm doing a test run tomorrow to the bird sanctuary in Carp tomorrow in preparation for your visit in August.
And I might be doing a quick Philippe's run this weekend.
Frank in Sunny SBA
Posted by zephyr (Member # 1651) on :
Ahh, Philippe's. Great place. Lamb dip is my fave. Frank, have one on me. Just tell'm to put it on ole-zeph's tab.
I'll take a crack on the whereabouts of Saint Nick. Santa , of course.
I spent a few days in Santa last year, and hope to return soon. Once a station-stop on the St. Maries River Railroad (formerly Milwaukee Road), and a beautiful place.
Not much there now. Trains still stroll through town, but the depot is gone (but the one at nearby Fernwood is still there). Nowadays, there's just some random homes, an obligatory tavern, and the post office. But the latter gets a-hoppin' during Christmas, postmarking seasonal greetings shipped in from all over the far and wide.
Posted by sbalax (Member # 2801) on :
Great links, Zephyr, but no cigar for you either. "Santa" didn't move very far and he's still next to the 101 (but on the opposite side of the highway) and in a different town and a different county. Think two stops beyond Carpinteria going south (or east).
Frank in Sunny SBA
Posted by zephyr (Member # 1651) on :
Of course, we have our own Christmas, Florida here
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christmas,_Florida). a little hole-inthe-wall 25 miles east of Orlando on Hwy 50, which has its own permanent Santa Claus on display. The post office is very busy around Christmas time with tourists wanting to send cards to their fsamily from Christmas, but, other than that, the area is primarily known as a perennial location for wildfires during our fire season.
Posted by RRRICH (Member # 1418) on :
Can someone tell me how I can send a message like this one above, but instead of having to type the entire URL, I can type something like "here," and when you click on that word (like Zephyr has done above with "Oxnard"), it takes you to the URL? I've looked at the "UBB instructions" here on Train Web, but don't understand then. Can someone PM me about thi? Thanks a lot!!!
Posted by Gilbert B Norman (Member # 1541) on :
[url=the link including http]your caption[backslash url]
Posted by sbalax (Member # 2801) on :
I just copy the url from the website and then paste it into the text. That's on a Mac but I would assume you could do the same thing on a PC.
Ooops, I've given up the answer to where our "Santa" can now be found.
Frank in Sunny SBA
Posted by PullmanCo (Member # 1138) on :
Frank,
Given the Peeple's Republik is having it's "Going out of Business" legislative urinating and defecating contest as we speak...
Do the concession beachront stores at Refugio and Gaviota still do burgers and fries?
John who grew up camping at Refugio, but Dad like fishing off Gaviota pier...
Posted by sbalax (Member # 2801) on :
John--
Good question. I will have to check it out.
Frank in sunny SBA
Posted by sbalax (Member # 2801) on :
Zephyr--
I must have missed your correct answer earlier! I'll pick up your cigar the next time I'm in Havana. Continental, btw, is starting non-stop charters LAX-HAV. The usual travel restrictions will be in effect. This isn't the company's first venture into Cuba. They did flights from MIA and may still do them. No catering for the return flights so it will be double catered out of LAX. They will remove trash and top of the potable water supply. It will be flown with a 737-800.
Frank in sunny SBA
Posted by zephyr (Member # 1651) on :
Frank, what a great prize! I always enjoy a fine Cuban. A Romeo Y Julieta Churchill would be greatly appreciated, amigo.
Posted by sbalax (Member # 2801) on :
zephyr--
Had I only known. Customs at the Port of San Diego after our Spring cruises in South America was virtually non-existent. I know for a fact that many Cuban cigars and who knows what else entered the country that day. I guess Boomer and Boomer+ cruisers don't (thankfully) fit an bad profiles.
Frank in Sunny SBA
Posted by zephyr (Member # 1651) on :
In the past, I could depend on a supply of Churchill's (to my wife's dismay) from a friend who often had work assignments in Russia. He would always return with a load of cigars, tacky Soviet-era posters, and Ruskie vodka. Claimed never to have had a customs issue.
Alas, his assignments now are primarily in Australia. And he's become obsessed with Koala Bears. I swear, if I get one more Koala-Teddy-Bear-thing, I'm going to puke (a hit as they may be with my wife).
But, Frank, please don't risk fines, incarceration, or injury to any of your body cavities smuggling for me. I suppose I can forego my prize. It's the thought that counts.
Posted by sbalax (Member # 2801) on :
Zephyr--
I appreciate your concern for my physical and fiscal well-being.
Tell your mate to go to Bogart's in the Martin Place Shopping Center in Sydney. They have a good selection of Cuban cigars. More expensive than other places, but hey...
And maybe he could bring your a nice bottle of Australian wine. Or two. Ditch the stuffed Koalas. Most are made in China.
Frank in dark and cool SBA
Posted by zephyr (Member # 1651) on :
Thanks. I'll pass your ideas on to him. Hopefully in a tactful way. He's an old friend, and I don't want Koalas to come between us. Maybe it's just me, but I'm uneasy about getting stuffed Koalas from another guy.
He's really changed since he started working in Australia. He's gone from robust Cubans to cute Koalas. Maybe it's a result of his new Aussie work environment, or those old lung and liver health issues he picked up in Russia.
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