Central CA Coast to LA

Well, it's been 9 days since my last post.  I ran to the end of my Gigabyte allowance until yesterday, so I couldn't do much.  Here's what's been happening so far:

• Left Yosemite for Monterey, CA - Carmel By The Sea Actually.  Stayed 5 days and relaxed (my general plan).
• Drove to Pismo Beach (an Indian word for gunk to seal canoes with) about halfway from Monterey to LA. Toured the Hearst Castle I chanced upon along the way.  Stayed 3 days at Pismo. First experience with true beachside RVing.  Separated by just a dune from beautiful sunsets. Watched the presidential debate.  Geez!
• Landed at Dockweiler Beach. Dockweiler is right next to LAX, with departing planes leaving directly over my camper.  Met a friend and drove to a restaurant in his 1962 Ferrari.  Nice! And met Binky, the guitar tech for The Who, staying in a trailer next to mine.  Watched many planes. Slept a little, kind of. Picked up tickets to Desert Trip (thank you Lauren and SFCS!) and had lunch with the guys from Jacob's Engineering.
• Moved to Huntington By The Sea RV Park (certainly not a 'resort') just south of LA - where I am sitting as we speak. Biking along the beach almost every day. Watched a California Beach Volleyball Tournament on Saturday (an eyeopener). Took Amtrak from the Anaheim terminal into downtown LA. Saw a bunch of stuff! Took an hour's ride on the 460 local bus back. Saw a bunch of stuff there too!
• Waiting for the Desert Trip concert in 3 days!!!!!!  Gonna ride my bike to the concert - go old guy!!

The Hearst Castle

    

Quite loosely covering many styles, and many $$$'s. Taste and affluence do not always align.

Somewhat on the other end of the spectrum, here I am at Pismo Beach.  The neighbor was watching the presidential debate on his outdoor TV. I, backing a different horse than he, was watching in my trailer. However, we were equally impressed with the show.

Dockweiler sunset

That's me in the middle.  Binky, the Who's guitar tech, and his friend's RV to the far left. Note one of a thousand planes overhead.

My friend's friend picking me up for dinner out.  Needless to say, scoring many points in the ol' RV park.

Beach at Huntington By the Sea (gotta cross the Pacific Coast Highway, but not hard). Avoiding pedophilia, I have no volleyball pics. Avoiding ridicule, I have no pictures of me on a bicycle.

Me at HBTS. Somewhat exposed :)  But to be expected in an urban park. When I was checking in, a woman backed into my front bumper and put a hole in it.  Then drove off.  The office staff saw it happen and I was able to stop her before she left the park.  I'm still hassling with that, but from the estimate I got, the tiny hole turns out to be a $1,000 total bumper replacement. Will likely have it done in Roanoke, because in the words of Del Shannon's The Wanderer, I roam around around around...

in LA: The Disney Concert Hall. Photo professionally bracketed by a tree and my thumb. Excellent lunch from a parked food truck.

In LA: Self explanatory. Had a beer in a heavy metal bar listening to Kurt Cobain.  There are a serious number of people who talk to themselves on the streets here! Hopefully harmless. Anyway, I saw many stars on the Walk Of Fame: Lucille Ball, Al Jolson, James Dean, Don Amechi, Fay Wray, and on and on and on.  Not Kurt Cobain.

                                                               

In LA: Checked out Chinatown. Saw swimming Talapia (never seen one for real) in a seafood store. At the bus stop asked the guy I spoke to if he was from Scotland.  He said no - Chicago.

Sunday morning I walked through the Cathedral of Our Lady. Absolutely beautiful! A Mass was being said, so I couldn't take pictures well (apologies for the next shot). Since it was in Spanish, I didn't quite get the message but I'm sure it was pertinent. 

poor shot of the Cathedral

A plate glass courtyard screen

One of several prayer stations - this one in the beautiful church courtyard.

Sign for the Angel's stadium next to the metro station.

Unknown (to me) building near the Disney Center.

           Union Station in LA          

The ceiling is decorated with film reels.

Anaheim's Amtrak station. Very pretty day or night.

That's about it for now.  I have a lot more pictures, but a bad relationship with my camera and Google Photos.  So I was only able to post a few before I felt like pulling out what little hair I have left.  Suffice it to say that the trip down the California coast, particularly on Highway 1, has been visually spectacular. The weather has been perfect, mid to high 80's day and mid 60's night, with no rain. My camper is still serving me well. And Blue you will be happy to know my plant from Judy Breene has been professionally repotted and is doing grandly.

I'm keeping my fingers crossed for a desert concert to remember.  Three days away!

After that, I might get a rabbit to travel with me (another smooth segue).  Looking ahead, I've adjusted the Florida part of my trip to be in Williamsburg for a family Thanksgiving on November 24th, then back in Roanoke on November 27th.  

Thanks for tuning in!

DDP