Saturday, October 9, 2010
Oxnard to Palos Verdes Estates, Ca
Up and out from the motel in Oxnard, on the road, picked up Highway 1, south, just a few blocks from our hotel and very close to where a totally brain-scrambled GPS had sent us the night before, 180 degrees wrong on the last corner.
Down we go toward Los Angeles, Jan has re-packed the car for this segment so I have no obstructions behind me this time on the roof rack. We have directions from Bob that would run us down 101, 10, then 405. It would be quicker, but we can't maintain the freeway speeds and wouldn't be safe so we opt instead for Highway 1, the Pacific Coast Highway, through the beach towns of Malibu, Santa Monica, Marina del Rey, etc. Beautiful weather, the beach and ocean on our right, not much traffic except for encountering a bicycle race (perhaps the bike portion of a triathalon) between Oxnard and Malibu. Significant delays there, the bikes closely escorted by police and fire vehicles, blocking us and others trying to use the same road. Further on a half hour or so there was a car that had been travelling north that was now on its side, surrounded by police with police cars and flares on the road blocking the on-coming lane. Sobering.
We pressed on, passing through the who's-who of the California surfing history and culture of the 60's. Pismo beach, Manhattan beach, Hermosa Beach, Redondo Beach, etc. Finally within range of the city of Palos Verdes Estates, a left turn on Hawthorne, then Jan following Bob's directions. At last, into their complex, up their lane, and into their garage which they had made available to us. That was only the first of the incredible gifts and kind gestures that they provided to Jan and I during our stay.
A late lunch with Bob and Celine, and abundant great conversation. It was just like on the world cruise, easy free-flowing chatter, so much in common in our experiences and outlook. Now even more so due to our time together on the world cruise. Dinner at a local favorite Mexican restaurant, the Red Onion. Finally, bed-time as Jan and I are exhaused. Our bedroom window has a spectacular view of the Los Angeles basin and the lights of downtown Los Angeles twinkled below us. Eventually we tore ourselves away from the window and went to sleep.
Tomorrow, GOING NOWHERE.
