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Signs of the Times 2012
updated: Jun 09, 2012, 10:15 AM

By the Urban Hikers (Stacey Wright and Peter Hartmann )

Now that we've walked each and every street in the City of Santa Barbara we're still wandering along the coastline and into Montecito. We had hoped our story this week would be a continuation of our coastal trek - down the railroad tracks from Miramar Beach at Eucalyptus Lane to the point at Summerland, with a return route along the beach. But that story is loaded with magnificent sights and lots of history, and this month has already been a very busy one. So we'll have that story in a couple of weeks. For now, we think you'll appreciate some of the amusing and interesting signs we've seen along the roadways of our town. This first one caught our eyes because of the graffiti scratched into it. While we don't like to highlight "bad behavior" and if asked to, we'll swear on a stack of bibles that we neither defaced nor commissioned the defacing of this sign, we nevertheless thought the walking guy with UH initials was pretty fascinating.

We've seen quite a few "DO NOT" signs around town, but we think these two are pretty unique.

These profound signs are clearly universal, transcending the need for a written language.

And these signs reflect a language other than English, but get their point across perfectly well.

This sign speaks loud, but not so clear. We looked around and weren't sure exactly what was closed.

The animal lovers and pet owners in our midst will surely appreciate these signs of the times.

And as parents we liked these gentle reminders to slow down and take the necessary precautions for the little ones in our midst.

These old signs reek of local history, and we sure do wish we knew more about each of them.

UH Confession: The Lobero Frame Shop sign was taken while inside the back yard of a local bungalow (with the owner's permission of course), and therefore violates our heretofore "rule" that all photos shown must be taken from the street or a public place. It's just that we loved that sign so, and couldn't help ourselves.

And this sign is too imposing not to include.

Each of these signs is profound in its unique and wonderful way.

Only a few of these "signs of the times" are clearly visible to the driver of a motor vehicle. For this reason, when we stumble across something unique we document it and add it to our collection of local sights. It's also for this reason that we continue to encourage you to go out and explore our marvelous town on foot, keep your eyes, ears and minds open to all that you encounter, and above all, expect the unexpected.

Comments in order of when they were received | (reverse order)

SBJULES	2012-06-09 10:39 AM
Fun & interesting as always.
ROGER DODGER	2012-06-09 04:21 PM
Eskys Fence along time ago..
COMMENT 286802P	2012-06-10 06:16 AM
Zena and Carmen are outside Freedom Signs on Reddick Avenue - the women who own that biz are not only talented sign makers but great all around people. Plus they have great prices on signs!
CORKY	2012-06-10 07:39 AM
Great assortment.
COMMENT 286818	2012-06-10 08:14 AM
i always look forward to the UH threads!
FLICKA	2012-06-10 01:47 PM
Just wonderful, like your sharing with us!
COMMENT 288243P	2012-06-15 12:40 PM
The second sign in the series - what is that saying? Don't walk with your hand around someone's neck? Don't drive alone? Don't leave a car with a driver in the seat? I don't get it !!

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