After spending the winter in the desert chasing Bluegrass Festivals, hiking and bird watching, we just finished a week of something completely different. We met with our son, Glen and Barb and Bryce in the white hot intensity of life in Los Angeles. We chose a park on the northern fringes of the LA metropolis, in Santa Clarita. Glen and his family were in a hotel in Studio City. With me as navigator and Judy driving we tackled the freeway system. Down I-5 and I-405 to the 101, we tried to leave three car lengths ahead. That was quickly occupied by another car. That was nothing compared to the drive back to our coach at eight or so in the evening with headlights and taillights everywhere and not really seeing the exits until you are right on them.

First day we joined the family at a Mediaeval Dinner show and learned to eat with our fingers and cheer on our knight as he bravely championed our cause.

Second day was Universal Studios and all of the high intensity rides. We handled two of them, but after experiencing a backwards rollercoaster ride at the Mummy’s Revenge, Judy and I opted out of the Transformers ride. My vertigo had seen enough. We spent some time people watching which is almost as fascinating as bird watching. There were plenty of people to watch, it is spring break here.

Third day we visited the Le Brea Tar Pits Museum. It is an incredible museum and park in downtown Hollywood. There we watched a few thousand “rug rats” being lead by their teachers and chaperones. The effect was interesting. You would sand in front of a display case and start to read the description. Soon a troop of children would surround you and gradually fill in all available space. The teacher would be telling them they could find the answer to the next question in this display. My strategy was to walk to another display case and start reading there. When they showed up at this case I would wander back to my original case and finish that study.

Next we climbed into the foothills and visited the Griffith Observatory. It also is very popular and we had to park and walk the last half mile. They have a wonderful display about the universe and it is well worth the hike.

The next day we tackled the freeways again and went to the California Science Center and viewed the Endeavor Space Shuttle up close. We closed the adventure by strolling down the Hollywood Walk of Fame. Lots more people watching, and we reached the ultimate objective, Elvis Presley’s Star at Hollywood and Le Brea.

This morning we are about to break camp and head for the beaches and perhaps some more shopping in Solvang, a Danish community near Santa Barbara.

We will now begin our slow meander north. Bye for now

Gary and Judy

P.S. I apologize for the advertisements in my blog. I don’t know how to purge them. It seems to be an every day part of the web.