A fairly easy commute down the PCH to Cal Hiway 154 which was, in the Garmin's opinion, the quicker way to LA. I made a quick detour into Solvang simply because the Reeds and I used to buy a great wine called Plam that moved here from up in the Anderson Valley back in the 90's. I stopped in a wine tasting shop and asked the clerk if they still existed, even though I couldn't find them on the internet. She said she'd heard of them but that they had sold their winery in the 2000's.
I continued down 154 to the PCH just outside Santa Barbara. The back way was very scenic with lots of vineyards and a huge and very low Lake Cachuma. The drought is really evident in this neck of the woods. Not nearly as green as it was up north.
Traffic continued to be manageable all the way up to Ventura when it was like someone turned on the tap and the highway was flooded with cars. I looked at my Garmin and it said I had 94 miles to go. I thought I was in LA, how could it still be 90 miles to go?
After Ventura, somewhere around Thousand Oaks, traffic went to a stop and go and it literally lasted for the next 40 miles of 101 onto the 405 South. No accidents just loads of people weaving in and out of lanes trying to get an advantage.
Somewhere around Inglewood or Hawthorne we actually hit speeds of 30 or 40 for periods of time, only to be slowed down to a stop and go once again.
And it wasn't even rush hour.
My Garmin had indicated that the trip would take around 3 hours and 20 odd minutes and I had called and left a message with Sallie and Bill indicating that I would be there sometime around 1 or 1:30. Wrong.
At 2:30 Bill called me asking how I was loving LA traffic.
Funny, funny man.
Fortunately by that time I was just 5 minutes away from making the turn onto the 605 and nearing their exit.
Sallie and Bill's 50's ranch house in Los Alamitos is exactly what I think of when I think SoCal living.
From the entry way they have nice formal living room bordered by the kitchen, a large dining room with three bedrooms and two baths. Just opposite of the kitchen is a high great room that used to be part of the back yard that now connects to the garage. A nice pool and hot tub round out the back yard. Very stylish. They've done major remodeling and it's a beautiful home.
Here's the view from the street.
Bill then showed me his pride and joy, a 1950 Ford Woody station wagon, which we'd take out the next morning when we went for breakfast. Very sweet.
It's a 48 plate, but with a 50 tag that's honored by the DMV.
The interior is very nice. A three speed on the column.
I offered to buy dinner but the Stouts had made plans to have their son Macy and his girlfriend, Taylor over for paella. You'll meet them both this summer when they come out to climb Humboldt.
Bill made a wonderful non-traditional paella with chicken, chicken chorizo, lots of vegetables and saffron rice. Paired with some Zin that I'd bought in Paso it was a wonderful sit down meal.
Early to bed, I had great fun with that, the Stouts go to bed at like 8:30/9. But they managed to hang on till 9:30
Bill and I headed out this morning for a 3 mile walk around their neighborhood. Most houses were built in the mid 50's and because of the water table, they don't have basements so the originals are all mostly ranch style. A few have been bought and scraped for newer bigger homes but the vast majority retain the original flavor of the neighborhood.
The Stouts told me the main reason that they and most families moved to Rossmor/Los Alamitos was for the schools and as we walked around we saw the daily parade of cars that came into the neighborhood to drop off their kids.
After our walk we drove the Woody down to Los Alamitos Bay, past the Naval Weapons Station to a dockside restaurant called Schooner or Later for breakfast. Located on the harbor near the island town of Naples, the harbor has under gone renovations and lots of boats are stored there. It, according to Bill was the site of the 1932 Summer Olympics rowing competition.
Bill and Sallie surviving the winter very well I'd say.
Oh, one thing I forgot to mention, as Bill and I took our morning walk, we came across the circus tent house. I'd seen it on Breaking Bad, but honestly thought that it was some sort of inside joke, but sure enough there one was. Bill told me that every house in Southern California has to undergo a termite inspection and if it fails it has to be fumigated. Evidently they're targets for burglary and due to the toxicity burglars have been found dead in them.
I headed off for Del Mar at around 11:30 and arrived at my Beach Motel around 1 PM. Here's the view from the back terrace. Lots of folks on the beach today, way more than on either of my previous visits. The heat really brings them out. I'd hate to see what a summer day is like.
Located right on the beach of Del Mar, which is a very affluent town, think Rodeo Drive, it's in a good location for exploring San Diego county. I've stayed here twice before and know the area fairly well. I'll be off to hike at Torrey Pines State Park tomorrow after a beach walk in the morning.
Did I mention it was 77 today. I'm getting spoiled.
Yet another SoCal sunset.
More later.
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