L.A IS MY LADY

California (Los Angeles) has now been and gone, having been somewhat of a memorable occasion. I'm not quite sure if I favour the golden State over the urbanity and verve of the big apple, but's it's very close. One massive difference I now realize is nobody walks, it's just too big! But that's fine because Wu and I were fully equipped with our pre-hired four door, automatic, cobalt Chevrolet. This has to be the smallest and most economical car any American this side of California has ever seen!

We arrived mid afternoon at LAX on Saturday the 17th with the sun Kicking out 29 degrees. The rest of the week was a consistent 18 degree distribution of bright sunny warmth. Which I found rather agreeable being a pale rider and having the habit of burning faster than the calves of a disciplined child at a catholic school.

Finding the hotel wasn't too difficult after getting on the freeway 405 heading North towards Sunset Blvd. But not before getting lost in Inglewood, which is not advisable! However I was surprised to witness how tame and quiet the area was. 'All just looked a bit concrete to me!'

The standard hotel (West Hollywood) was a real treat. We were met with friendly faces, helpful staff, a spacious contemporary lobby and a half naked girl in a glass box.........! Which, if I'm honest? Was fairly unexpected. Wu and I settled in fairly swiftly and headed to the bar by the pool for some alcoholic refreshment and some LA air to ward off any lag that may have been creeping up on us. We pretty much did this every night. Aswell as frequent Mel's diner on the Strip for breakfast and refillable coffee every morning, driving round the blvd's, highways and freeways listening to eighties radio music.

Mulholland drive was an experience! The view over LA at night was unreal!! Muso and Frank restaurant and the old boy waiters is a fine place for some old skool steak and a smashing bottle of Chianti! Toi, a Thai restaurant on the Strip where your food is served by rockers was always going to be a firm favorite of ours. The Asahi beer flows and the cold saki is excellent. Needless to say we developed a taste that wasn't going to be satisfied until we were both uttering the nonsense of a mad man.

The drive to Malibu and down Pacific highway to Santa Monica, Venice Beach, Manhattan Beach and El Segundo was awesome. Finally arriving at Huntingdon Beach welcomed by a very different vibe to LA. Something slightly more relaxed and aloof about it!? Whatever it was that was untroubling the Orange County residence, I wanted it? So it wasn't before long I'd hired out my medium tall wetty and 9'8 long board for a piece of the Huntingdon Pier Pacific. Wu took the piss a bit and then wondered off to check out the local boutiques, leaving me splashing around in 3ft of water getting slapped by white mush.

That had been our last day and we had loved all of it........Even driving the wrong way down one way roads and Wu's crazy, she-devil map reading. Till next time Los Angeles............I miss your Highways!

Peace
xxx