Natalie has come up with the brilliant idea of A Walk About Town, a weekly feature hosted at Coffee and a Book Chick. Anyone can participate…just write about a spot in your town, or a spot you’ve visited.
I’ve been trying to entice myself into walking more by going on different hikes to areas of the county that I’ve never seen. Which means I’m cheating a bit, and doing A Walk About the County. Today I’m going to share with you part of our local state university.
Poly Canyon is well-known to both students at Cal Poly and locals of San Luis Obispo (the city that Cal Poly sits on the outskirts of). It’s a popular hiking/mountain biking/running trail. Despite the fact that I spent 6 years attending Cal Poly, I hiked the Canyon once (which says something about me and exercise). And that one time I still managed to miss the Design Village. So last weekend I set off with James Dean (my trusty new camera…he’s a Canon Rebel). And even though there was a big sign posted on the gate warning people about MOUNTAIN LIONS (eep), I forged ahead. I figure if anyone had really been eaten, it would’ve been on the news.
Cal Poly is very well known for its Schools of Architecture and Engineering. Back in the ’70s, a contest was started for students to design structures and live in them for a weekend (all material have to be carried in). The Design Village is about a mile up Poly Canyon and is the site of the contest, which still happens every year. There are also a few permanent installations, and they’re fun to explore.
The entrance:
And then a wacky cactus-like sculpture:
And the cool geodesic dome, that looks like it was made of Tinker Toys:
And then the Underground House, which is no longer underground because of water issues, but looks like something that Hobbits built:
It’s also inhabited by aliens:
Then more concrete thingies:
And the Greenhouse, which is having some sign issues:
And the Shell House, which didn’t get explored because all I could hear was the zzzzzzzzzzzzz’ing of bees:
And no, I never saw a mountain lion. But there was this guy. He and his buddies provided a constant chatter of moos as I was traipsing around the hill.
How interesting! Some of that stuff definitely has an 80s feel to it.
I love it! That cow just wandering about is a treat with the landscape in the background. It’s amazing to see all of the incredible areas around us, and I just love the Design Village! Creativity just bursts out everywhere, for cryin’ out loud. That greenhouse is pretty fantastic as well… and man, oh, man, I just wish I had something slightly resembling a green thumb. We have no plants in our house. NONE. I need to remedy that.
Thanks so much for participating and allowing us to take a peek into your town! (And by the way, your James Dean is pretty rockin’ – great pictures!)
Oh man, this is cool! So many interesting things to look at and explore! It’s almost like you never know what you are going to find hiding in that place. I would love to see that for myself. It’s awesome, and I have to agree with Natalie…nice camera!
Lovely! MOOOoooooooOOOO
I have NEVER been up there! Color me lazy.
I’ve never heard of this! Much more interesting than any walk I would take around town!
Those structures are all very…strange. Especially that cactus one. Though I like the tinker toy one!
I live in rather boring flatlands, so I’m very jealous of your awesome hiking experience.
I’ve been thinking about joining the walkabout journey as well as I’ve been trying to take pictures of things other than the babe. (we’re Rebel twinners).
My favorite might be the cow.
but some neat sculptures, too. Like Trisha, I live in boring flatlands. Flat as a pancake.
Crazy cool! LOL at mountain lions eating people.
That looks like an awesome walk!
Love these. I fear that Santa Clarita is not all that interesting. Except we have the William S. Hart house and old movie lots.
Wow, there are so many cool things to see in your area! My area is way the hell too scary to walk, although I used to adore walking in our national military park before my knees decided to rebel on me and act all rickety and old.
What a fun idea for a feature! I enjoyed looking at your pictures.
Well, I just leaned something new today:) Loved seeing all of this.
I love sculpture gardens (areas) — very cool walk. THanks for taking us along.