Friday, August 17 – Baymont Inn, Lawndale, LAX

It’s a bit cloudy this morning but it burnt off and we had another nice 30C day.

First stop is the local barber for Kim to have a haircut, he did a good job too!  Then we are off sightseeing, starting with a drive down Rodeo Drive hunting for famous people doing their shopping – kept a sharp eye out for Angelina and her brood but didn’t see them today.  Didn’t do any shopping either which is a bit sad!  Turned right at the landmark pink Beverly Hills Hotel, onto Sunset Boulevard and Sunset Strip, all the names and places you hear in the movies.

The Walk of Fame is next, we find a park just off the main road and go for a wander.  We managed to find Aretha Franklin’s star adorned with flowers and tributes showing respect and love for the Queen of Soul – such a loss!

Aretha leaves a lasting legacy in her music

This is about as close as I will get to the heart-throb of my younger days Burt Reynolds, he was so handsome back then!

Kim rocking his new hairdo standing over the shining star of Tom Cruise

We got a partial long shot of the iconic 9 letter sign overlooking Hollywood from it’s lofty perch on the top of Mt Lee and then we gambled our lives again driving the motorways of LA, it’s not much fun!

We dial the Santa Monica Pier into the GPS and find a park in the lot and spend an hour or so lying on one tiny part of the acres of sand on Santa Monica Beach.  There is an on shore breeze as you would expect but it is a warm one and very pleasant.  There are a ton of people enjoying the beach and it’s not even the weekend!  Happy to see a real life Baywatch dude!

I was just watching to make sure he was watching everyone in the water!

There is so much to see, the Coastguard runabout was cruising (wallowing) just beyond the breakers, a chopper overlooked all from above, yachts sailed across the horizon, kites decorated the sky and lots of luscious young bodies and some other sorts too graced the sand.

On leaving the beach we get a bit caught in rush hour stop start traffic but I found an interesting place for an early dinner – Melody Bar and Grill and it’s 4pm so their HH will have started.  When we got there though the music was really LOUD and I knew Kim would not like it so we bailed and found a Sizzler Steak House close by.  It fed the stomach but not the soul!

It’s still early so we head back to the hotel, pick up the laundry which needs doing and drive a couple of blocks to the coin laundry to do our thing.  It always amazes me, on the few times I use such an establishment just how many people go there to do their family laundry, it makes you appreciate your own appliances!