Montecito Hike

Montecito is the very wealthy town

east of Santa Barbara.

think Oprah, who a friend said, spends a lot of money 

to keep the weather just right

in this region.

:)

we passed many walled and gated 

compounds before reaching this trailhead.

a shady yet sometimes steep

creekside hike

with water features!

cacti

poison oak

(everywhere)

and multiple varieties of

fern

 the trail occasionally opened up

to sunny views

at 1.5 miles up the trail...

... I discovered Christopher

had been there the night before!

a hazy day.

center of the photo is Montecito,

that silvery line, far-ground right

is a Santa Barbara city street.

 and yet again, on the horizon

are the Channel Islands

but only the very top of their mountains, 

the bulk of the islands 

are hidden in the haze.