2017/4/15 Brown Ranch, Santa Ynez, SYVR

Once again the Santa Ynez Valley Riders were graciously allowed access on the private Brown Ranch in the heart of the Santa Ynez Valley wine country. Surrounded by prestigious wineries and historic ranches, this cattle ranch is a slice of the old Californio Tradition, and we were fortunate to take a spring stroll across the magnificent landscape.
In all our ride was 4.5 miles done in a 2 hour walk. We went from an altitude of 1,026' to 1,1426', in a leisurely stroll.

Our host Lance Brown met us in the meadow where we staged, and welcomed us to the ranch. About two dozen of the club members were along for the ride, and the animals were glad to be getting out and seeing landscape after such a wet winter.

             And so the trek begins.

Past blasted oaks on the hillsides, through grasslands dotted with solitary Coastal Live Oaks, sentinels of the ages, in a landscape the hand of man has touched only lightly by the introduction of cattle.

In the hundreds of years these trees have stood watch they have seen the Chumash Indians walk by on their way to the mountains, to collect piñon nuts, chia seeds, and sacred white sage. Then the vaqueros on horseback, driving herds of cattle through from ranchos to the south all the way to the gold fields of the north, feeding the hungry miners driven by dreams of striking it rich. And now, just a few cowboys move the resident cattle from one grazing area to the next, and keep a close watch on fences that protect the valuable grape vines of the neighbors, destined to become world class wines.

And how is it that I am so fortunate as to be experiencing this very private hidden gem of a ranch? Why, all thanks to the SYVR club who gain access, and my Kentucky Mule, who is my sturdy legs as we explore the insider locations in California that clubs like the SYVR are so lucky to be invited to see.

A moment ago it was a wet winter, yet already the lush grasses are sere and giving way to summer. Their light color contrasts with the evergreen of the live oaks, highlighting the terrain with canyons and ridges where the flora responds to the availability of water and sunlight.

With the blue hazed mountains of the Los Padres National Forest in the background, the feeling of timeless beauty and extremely low population density is calming.











In just a few minutes from this tranquil place the bustling urban area of Santa Barbara will bring the traveler right back into the present day.
But not yet,
today is a stroll through the past.

Up on a ridge top several of the resident cattle gaze down upon the slowly walking group of riders. I didn't see any of the horses noticing the cows, but Tobe Mule was quite aware, with his big ears pinned in their direction and his big brain paying attention to this oddity in the environment.

Not that I would say Tobe Mule has Cow Sense, he's only worked cattle a few times and the result was more humorous than effective. But he does have Mule Sense, and I rely on it.

Next we came to a fence line and looked over into the winery next door.  A tidy and controlled contrast to the natural world we have been walking through.

And from an elevated point we look out across the valley to the sea, the source of the vital mists and cooling breezes that have allowed this region to gain world renown for the quality of the wines produced under the Santa Ynez Valley AVA, granted in 1983, an American Viticultural Area of 67 square miles. It is part of the larger Central Coast AVA, and contains the greatest concentration of wineries in Santa Barbara County.

  

Just before the end of the ride we came to this idyllic spot, eucalyptus trees surrounding a little lake. After hours in the sun this was a welcome sight, and we stood in the shade a little while letting the animals cool off.

Of course, cows are no fools when it comes to comfort, they were there already.

 

And so we moseyed back to the ranch, and another day in the saddle was completed.
Thanks to the hospitality of the Browns, for a lovely afternoon well spent.


"I never said all actors are cattle; what I said was all actors should be treated like cattle."
                                                                          -   Alfred Hitchcock

I paint from the top down. From the sky, then the mountains, then the hills, then the houses, then the cattle, and then the people.
Read more at: https://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/keywords/cattle.html

I paint from the top down. From the sky, then the mountains, then the hills, then the houses, then the cattle, and then the people. Grandma Moses
Read more at: https://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/keywords/cattle.html

I paint from the top down. From the sky, then the mountains, then the hills, then the houses, then the cattle, and then the people. Grandma Moses
Read more at: https://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/keywords/cattle.html

2016/3/9 Brown Ranch, Santa Ynez Valley, SYVR

On a mild and misty spring day I was fortunate to be allowed to ride on the beautiful Brown Ranch, a historic piece of old California on Foxen Canyon Road in the Santa Ynez Valley. It was my first time out with the Santa Ynez Valley Riders, and we were escorted across the property and through many gates, seeing the verdant growth of the season, nourished by recent rains.

Two dozen of us rode 3.86 miles in 1.36 hours, a leisurely stroll through a landscape changed very little by human hand.

We started out walking up the old ranch paths and immediately the lushness of the hillsides filled our senses. Down on the coast the drought is unmistakable, and the nearby Lake Cachuma is very low, but here the spring rains have renewed the land.

The massive trees that ennoble the habitat are Quercus lobata, the Valley Oak. Living hundreds of years, they have seen many droughts come and go.

They stand sentinel on the ridges, providing habitat and shelter for the creatures of this place.

The tiny specs in this shot are black cattle who scattered out of the way of the riders. By the time Tobe and I moved up into position for a photo they were just a series of skid marks in the grass..... did someone talk too loudly about Santa Maria style bar-b-que?

Green pastures like this are a mule's dream. He can eat a more varied banquet than a mere horse, so while he was attending to the business of carting me around the 4 miles he was casting yearning looks at the aromatic bouquet of greens.

Lots of tiny spring flowers were in bloom, fiddleneck and blue dicks, lupine and chamomile, and a sprinkling of California poppies.

Better photos could have been had if I'd dismounted and hunkered down, but I was on a mission.

The mist rolling in is the secret of the vineyards that fill the lowlands in this valley, now becoming world famous for the fine vintages produced. And it made our ride pleasant and cool.

I am ever grateful that my stalwart beast carries me to see sights such as this.

"Ah, shucks, Ma'am," says my Kentucky mule. "T'ain't nuthin'."