Mission San Miguel Arcangel

Friday I headed north from where I had been staying in Nipomo as I would be spending one night on the Monterey Peninsula before heading inland to some of California’s National Parks on Saturday.  I drove north on “The 101” and stopped briefly in the little town of San Miguel.  Just off the highway I found my target.

This mission was established in 1821:

As I had been driving north on the highway I noticed a line of mountains off to my right.  These mountains looked very similar to some I had seen in southwest Idaho last year.  They are covered in tall, dry grass and, from a distance, look like they are soft and blanketed in velvet or velour.