Rear View Mirror – One Last Time (I Promise)
Last time I “catch up” and hopefully blog as going or just after.
Anyway, we returned late that night after eating Bubba Gump’s at the pier and slept hard. In the morning, we got up early to zoom down to Malibu for pictures and some more driving (yes!).
It was very nice and not too sunny so jackets were a must. The windy canyon roads to and from Malibu over the Santa Monica’s were really fun and hope to have at least one or two POV videos posted on YouTube soon.
If Becca is learning anything on this trip it is to move fast, think fast so you can get as much in as possible because you may not be back. Example given, we needed to be out of the Walnut RV Park by 12 noon. It was 10:45am and we were on the beach. It takes 45 min to get back. Hit da button!
Gone. AT noon +2 min.
Then she still wanted to go walk the stars and the car needed to be back by 4pm with a 29 min grace period. We park the RV in Von’s parking lot, buy some stuff (to be good patrons) and drive the Volvo to the Blvd. We have 1 hour for fame and concrete hand prints. Bam! Done.
One hour to return the car… but WAIT! I spy a Freestyle Photographic Supply and whip the car around. Perfect! I was running out of 120 film (yes, the analog stuff) and had no clue where to buy. Great service, but not very fast when you are in a hurry… I didn’t say anything being a nice southern dude.
Becca was about to pee herself waiting in the car.
We get to the RV, I jump out, she takes off and flies up the I-5 to return it just in time. I mosey along to pick her up. Fair warning, going 8 miles in LA is not the same trip time anywhere else I’m the country.
PS…
We saw a sea gull with one leg in Malibu. Felt sorry for the guy. His name shall be One Leg Fred. Goodbye Fred.
Done. Now off to Indian Wells.
Rear View Mirror – Observing Santa Monica
Sunday. We took our time. Saturday was a tiring day of RV racing, wedding attending, photo shooting, and Universal Studios City Walk… topping it off with In and Out Burger at midnight. And it was gooood! Very simple menu, cooked to order, fresh. Similar to our Five Guys, but a little cheaper and ALL OVER California!
We recharged our batteries by relaxing in, eating turkey bacon and egg sandwiches while recharging all the batteries of the electronics. Our next stop was Griffith Observatory.
So our lunch is a shake from the night before. Not a great choice once we realized the hike up from parking on the street. EVERYBODY was there. Taking pictures, hiking the trails, running the hills… it was a nice Sunday afternoon.
By a recent post, you also saw the Hollywood sign, as did we (but we were closer :). We really didn’t spend too much time there and I woulda loved to refresh my science knowledge but Santa Monica was calling (don’t tell Becca, she may get jealous).
On the way to the pier we drove down Hollywood Blvd with the top down and a camera strapped to my head (to give a POV look for those who have never been). I didn’t get many strange looks except from Becca. This is California. Driving with a camera on your head is a daily occurrence.
After doing Beverly and Rodeo, we finally made our way to the Santa Monica Pier. The pictures will show what words can’t do.
Rear View Mirror – The Wedding and a Car
Great wedding! Different than wedding snobs are used to, but they can get over that. It was nice and efficient with LOTS of family. And we got a “shutout” thrown our way a few times during the ceremony. Woot woot!
We took lots of video and pictures, but they are not being posted here but in a separate album. And amongst those pictures we followed them over to an area park, El Cariso, where we had just enough room to park Betsy. That wrapped up with MANY pictures of everyone in the family and one where they pulled Becca in (I was in the RV, showing it off to Victor Jr).
At this time we needed to check in to the next pad and go get a car. Not in that order.
At the Bob Hope airport, I let Becca out to pick it up. Nope. Not that simple. They needed my license and credit card. Yup.
Becca is now circling the airport road in an RV that she has never driven, waiting for me to get our convertible Mustang. Nope. Strike two.
However, that strike was Sah-WEET! They gave us a convertible hard top Volvo C70 T5 instead! See picture and video.
So later when we got settled and headed back out to meet with the Ruben family, it was TOPS down! I now have a second vehicle other than Jeep to shoot for… Oooooooo.
(Notice who gets to drive it back to the RV pad)
Rear View Mirror – The Wedding Rush
We wake up in Santa Paula with little sleep, having arrived at 1am earlier that morning. Trying to save some time, we opt to have Starbucks make breakfast for us. But where is it? In the local Von’s grocery (yeah, we had never heard of it either). I do laps in the parking lot waiting for Becca to return with the juice that moves.
One hour and fifteen minutes to go… and we had just that. In an RV.
By the way, when the signs say “truck route this way” and you are driving a 30 foot… that includes you. Doing 65 on an incline and long swooping curve had the RV sliding/drifting a little. Imagine if you were hauling avocados?
Speaking of… 7 avocados for $1. Wow!
Needless to say, we get to the wedding a few minutes late, BUT that’s okay. Everyone seems to be following along.
