Nojoqui Falls, Solvang, CA

Last June when we went to Solvang, we took a ride out to see the Nojoqui Falls in Solvang.  It was a beautiful drive through the Santa Ynez valley and countryside.  We walked through the woods for a about a mile.  We were all a bit nervous because the sign at the park said to make a lot of noise so as to not startle a mountain loin.  We had our dog, Leo so we hoped that would help.  When we finally got to the falls, they were dried up.  Apparently, there is more water when there is more rain.  As we were walking back, my daughter, Daphne was a bit nervous about the mountain lion sign.  She was anxious to get back to our van.  All of sudden, Daphne stopped and said, "Mom, is that a mountain loin?"  I looked at where she was pointing and it looked like a mountain lion crouched down and ready to pounce.  My heart sank a little.  Then I looked a little closer and it looked a little too dark for a mountain lion.  We started to walk closer and we realized it was a log made to look like a mountain lion with ears and everything.  Maybe the forest ranger made it.  We laughed with a sigh of relief.