OK, so I only made it to two missions today. Now that I have had a chance to look it up I think I was only about a block from the third but it was not well signed and traffic was insane and I was more interested in lunch than the mission. Hopefully, I will have a chance to catch it on the way home.
So, the first stop was San Antonio de Padua. An interesting mission in that 
it is located on an Army Base. Kudos to the Army for letting us get in. Unfortunately for me the mission is currently undergoing a massive rehab so the front gallery was all closed down. I did get a look in the chapel and around the gardens so all was not lost. The best part was meeting Rosario, the mission cat. He was very friendly and showed me around for awhile until I decided to go a different direction than he had in mind.
I wanted to say that the reason I like to visit the missions is because they have an interesting history and unique architecture which is fun to photograph. Such as this rooftop bell structure. 
I understand that Native Americans were not treated well by the missionaries and I am not intending to glorify or romanticize them. I just think they are interesting. And isn’t most of history about some oppressor oppressing some innocent people? And how can we do better if we do not study the history that has gone before? And sorry, but I don’t think I should be held responsible for what my ancestors may or may not have done to your ancestors. OK?
OK soapbox moment over. The next mission on my route was San Miguel. Here I found
a classic gallery which seemed to cry out for black and white. And then I snuck around to the cemetery where I found this awesome gate.
I did eventually find lunch in a cute little seaside town called Shell Beach. The Shell Beach Brewery was in fact the name of the restaurant and they didn’t even mind that I ordered wine with my meal. Then I checked into my hotel for the next five nights. Check out the view from my room. If you like that wait till you see the sunset pictures I just shot!
Tomorrow, fingers crossed for sea otters. I think Road Scholar is going to keep me busy so I hope I have time to process my pictures and post a blog.