I just returned from a week in California. Not sure what to think of the whole experience.
1. It was 20 degrees F when I left Michigan
2. It was 75 degrees F when I arrived in California
3. It was 75 degrees F when I left California
4. It was 15 degrees F when I arrived back in Michigan with a summer jacket and a car in the far end of the parking area at 6 am.
Verdict: The weather in California is fantastic compared to Michigan.
1. In Michigan I nearly chipped a tooth on the drive to the airport when slamming into a pot hole the size of a Volkswagen.
2. I do not remember a single pot hole the entire time in California.
Verdict: The roads in California far surpass Michigan.
1. I ran 85 MPH all the way down I-94 to the airport in Michigan
2. I only had dreams about going over 40 MPH in California
Verdict: The traffic really sucks in California. Even on 10 lane roads it was really bad within 30 miles of LA.
1. The sun was shinning and bright reflecting off the snow in Michigan
2. The sun was shinning and bright reflecting off the water and sand at the beaches in California
Verdict: No comparison to bright sun on sand and bikinis compared to snow and snowsuits!
1. I can barely pay for gas in Michigan
2. I can even more barely pay for gas in California
Verdict: The cost of living is way to high in California.
Overall: California is the place to be… if you can afford it and have lots of time to get around.
Okay, enough.
It was a great week, accomplished the goals at work, and got to enjoy the town in my down time.
Visited some running stores (Road Runner Sports and A Snails Pace). Road Runner has “Shoe Dog” system where they have a pressure pad to see the sole of your foot (arches, etc.) and then a video camera pointed at a tread mill where they analyze your foot falls while running. Interesting to be able to see your foot “at speed” but in very slow motion. The system then pretty much shows if you are a “pronator” or not, and the flexing in the archilles tendon, etc. Ended up with a new pair of shoes and some “Superfeet” green insoles. Have put about 20 miles on them already and they do seem comfortable. I think the old Adidas with 600+ miles on them are now offically retired to the “wear for household chores” pile.
Also saw a number of educational attractions as well as tourist spots such as Graumans Chinese theater and the Kodak Theatre in downtown Hollywood. A whole story here too! (Basically to me it was all “Hollywood theatrics” since the area is very small and not really much there other than pan-handlers)
Visited “the Getty” and got a years worth of culture, Degas, Monets, Picasso’s and other famous paintings and art work. Actually I was just as impressed by the building. It is pretty amazing and the view of the city equally so.
Got hot dogs at “Pinks” just off La Brea and Jody Maroni’s at Venice Beach. Saw a few muscle heads at Muscle Beach, but mostly I think they were crack heads, and street performers/pan-handlers.
Was a week early for the return of the sparrows to San Juan Capistrano, but enjoyed the mission/museum and just walking in the sun and warm weather.
Got to see Saturns rings through the 12 inch telescope at “Griffith Observatory, a beloved icon of Los Angeles and world leader in public astronomy. Since 1935, the Observatory has given tens of millions of visitors the opportunity to become observers.” The observatory was completely remodeled starting in 2002, costing $93 million, and on November 3, 2006 Building reopened to the public. Very nice indeed.
The final highlight, I visited “Le Brea Tar Pits“. Funny how things stick in your mind. I remembered wayyyy back (1959-1963) to The Dobie Gillis Show, where Maynard G. Krebbs and Dobie were at the tar pits for some reason… meeting Zelda there I assume and something happened to Maynard (later to become Gilligan). At the time I thought they were making the tar pits very small just for the TV stage…. well as it turns out some of the pits are actually very small, as in just a few yards across.
So went the week, caught the “red eye” back to Michigan, leaving at 9 PM, arriving at 6 AM bleary eyed and with a very sore behind! (yeah, the flight is only 4 hours, add three hours for time zone hopping.) Still, it is equivalent to leaving at 1:30 AM Michigan time. Next week heading the other way, into Ontario.
Should be lots of pictures out there before long. And as promissed they are, so you can check them out now.
Until the surf freezes,
George