Paso Robles With Susan And Fred

You can visit this wonderful installation too, just google Sensorio Paso Robles for stories and links to everything there is to know. I did see the first iteration of this project in Australia, in the land below Uluru.

We, Susan and I, got to the site just as they opened, 30 minutes before sunset. We both think that’s a key, to get there before sunset and watch the lights come on.

The view from our seats on the terrace. There were levels of seats and fire ‘pits’ behind us. We had paid big bucks for the Primo tickets, seats on terrace and food all ready to enjoy. It wasn’t great food but it was great to have it, and a beverage is included. I did like having the warm place to sit and a table from which to watch the sunset and eat. You can however spend less, get food at the food trucks, enjoy the live entertainment, so there are options.

Here we’ve headed out for the walk. The whole outing was about 5,000 steps so pretty available to anyone. They say “it’s a very easy walk, about .5 miles” and maybe that’s true if you do nothing else, but walking from the parking, back to the start to use the bathroom, milling around in the towers, it’s all much more than .5 miles.

The artist’s name is Bruce Munro. He has many installations around the world, worth a google if you’re of a mind, and this site (you can click on it) was a nice review of the Paso Light at Sensorio.

The site opened in 2019, had a pretty major expansion in 2021, and is going strong as a permanent tourist attraction with many more projects in the works.

All of the lights change colors just slowly enough that you’re not sure. I stood in this one place for a while to get this.

Be sure to check the weather (duhh) because it can be hot hot and get seriously cold, especially if the wind kicks in.

We got up at 6am this morning to start our day at the Franklin Hot Springs. It was a total blast and I would go there again any day of the week. (Fred had coffee ready every morning no matter how early we got up. Yay Fred.) They introduced me to the drill: bathing suit on, coffee in a thermos, a towel, a robe, flips, and we’re off.

Susan and Fred have an annual pass and come often. It’s good to be there early when it’s quieter and the steam is rolling off the surface of a perfectly sulfered pond.

There’s the soaking ponds and the bigger pool where you can get in some good laps if you’re of a mind and where Fred got us the mud for our face masks. Beyond the pool there is a lake popular with migrating birds and year-around ducks.

Floaties!

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After a couple hours of delight we went back to the house and had a yummy brunch, and then Susan and I decided to enjoy a tour around the area and some wine tasting.

First stop: Sculpterra.

Fall in the vineyards.

And the sculptures for which they are known. They tasting was nice too, entertaining, plenty of choices, informative. Well done Sculpterra.

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And our last stop, Still Waters Winery for sunset.

And then a dash back to the house for the last rays from the balcony and to be greeted by dinner that Fred made while we were gone.

(self-portrait)

That’s one of Susan’s roses.

We kicked around a little in the morning, caught a SpaceX launch from Vandenberg, and then took separate cars to an avocado farm, and then into Morro Bay to stop off at Becky and Jack’s for a little visit and home improvements tour. Then Susan went on to the yarn store and I headed home.

Susan is a crafting master, and Fred is always making something too. Susan sent me home with this beautiful thing. I see I missed the base in the photo. It all sits on top of a nice big pumpkin!