Monday, August 27 – Quality Inn, Shawnee, OK

Up early, clean, fed and waiting for our friendly Uber driver Steve to pick us up.  He’s early, here by 8.20am.  It was a nice uneventful drive to LAX, no traffic holdups and it only took 25 minutes.  Goodbye LA!

The check in to Delta for the first leg to Salt Lake City was a breeze, even though we are at the second biggest airport in the US, but thereafter it went a bit pear shaped.  We were late leaving LAX due to air traffic, this is at 10.25am so we missed our connection at SLC to OK by 4 minutes, even though we brisk walked from terminal B to terminal D which of course is at the exact opposite corner of the airport.  We weren’t the last hopeful passengers to rock up there red faced and puffing either.  However, it was easily remedied by going to the bank of red delta phones and talking to a real person and we are already booked on the next flight at 8.15pm tonight.  When you understand it doesn’t actually matter that plans have gone awry you just get on with it and make the most of the situation.  Would be much worse if you had a deadline.

So only about 7 hours to fill in at an airport (we already put our clocks forward one hour and will do again a little later).  Anyway the time passed relatively quickly by reading, eating, playing solitaire etc.  We also phone the hotel to advise we would be there after midnight and get hold of Enterprise to change our pick up time too.  Enterprise closes their airport office at midnight and we land at 11.35 so devise a cunning strategy – as soon as we arrive Kim will race off in the bus to the rental car terminal and I will wait for the bags, hopefully they followed us to OK (they weren’t on the carousel but they were in the baggage office, so no drama).

The first flight was in a 737, good leg room, a screen and nice coffee although I was in the middle seat and the friendly grandfather (returning from his granddaughter's 2nd birthday) sitting next to me wanted to chat, but he couldn’t hear me answer!  So I ended up doing most of the talking 'cos I had to say everything twice.  But them I'm kinda used to that!  The second flight was in a smaller plane, the seating configuration 2x2 so no chatty neighbour this time and no screen, but they did serve wine!  Plus I could see out the window and I was surprised that there always seemed to be lights below us.  The moon was big, full I think.

We had a car choice of a Chrysler Pacifica people mover or a Chrysler Pacifica people mover, Kim picked a nice colour for our Chrysler Pacifica.  I guess we are lucky, if we had ordered this grade of vehicle it would have been double the price and we get it for the full size rate and we have earned a couple of free days as well.

We arrive at the Quality Inn, Shawnee about 40 miles later along the I40 at just on 1am (11pm to us) and hit the sack.  Feel sorry for the staff member who drew the short straw!

Sunday, August 26 – The Redondo Beach Hotel LA

The News has all been about the sad passing of Senator John McCain for the last two days.

For us the same routine, up, shower, breakfast, it was really busy down there this morning too, then back to the room to do some stuff online and then down to the laundry which is down beside the pool area.  Nice and handy, have a sunbathe and a swim while the washing is getting done.

Before we know it it's after 2pm and we take ourselves across the road to Rubys for one of those awesome American milkshakes!  More wandering around the marina, we took a seat in the sun (there was quite a breeze blowing so nice to be sheltered and in the sun) to listen to some live music playing in one of the bars close by. Good music too!

We have decided on Joe's Crab Shack for dinner tonight, it's just across from the hotel and behind us at the marina.  Even though we are there by 4.45pm there is still about 40 minutes wait, so it must be good!  They do take-outs here as well so that might explain some of the loitering people.  We sit at the bar watching the boats come in and out of the harbour entrance and enjoy a cold drink while we wait - a huge Margarita in a mason jar for me and a beer for Kim.  Cheers! 

It wasn’t such a long wait and we get a nice table outside with a great view of the harbour entrance and the pier.  We are behind glass so it is lovely.  I chose the Cold Water Lobster Tails and they were delicious, Kim had the Crabcake Burger and said it was pretty good. 

Lobster Tails - yum!

Back to the room to pack up all our clean laundry and get ready for an early start tomorrow, our Uber is collecting us at 8.30am to take us to LAX to catch our 10.35am flight to Oklahoma City via Salt Lake City.

I am interrupted doing the blog by the beautiful colour of the sun setting beyond the masts and palm trees.

Just stunning!

Saturday, August 25 – Redondo Beach, LA

Wake to some high cloud this morning but it’s still 21C and it soon clears.  Waffles for my brekkie, nutritionless but yummy and Kim opts for the bacon and eggs.

As usual post a blog, check bank accounts and TransferWise, which seems to be giving us a bit of grief lately trying to transfer money home.  I think we’ve worn it out!

Then off for a walk around the newer King Harbor Marina where the boats are more loved - and more lovable, to be fair.  It’s a huge marina and takes a while to get all the way around.  However we do come across quite a big burnt out motorsailer - we could smell the smoke from a distance away so assume it was quite recent.  Saw some cute baby stingrays gliding along the rocks in there too.

Calm waters of King Harbor Marina, palm trees in the distance

Sad to see any burnt out boat, worse when you can smell it!

Small stingray

It’s hot and we’ve been walking for at least a couple of hours so its time to head back to the hotel for a swim and a relax by the pool.

A little after 3pm we set off again to the Pier and pop in to R.10 Social House for a HH drink and some nibbles.  We start off inside but it is noisy so we get a nice table outside in the little courtyard and snaffle an umbrella from the next table where some patrons were just leaving.

A sky sign advertising Cannabis delivered!!  Saw it the next day too!

Another wander along the boardwalk sussing out somewhere for dinner and eventually come back to Captain Kidds Fish Market – it seems only right to have seafood while we are staycationing right here beside the ocean.  My seafood skewer was a delight, especially the scallops even if there was no roe – what are they thinking?

Watch a couple of movies on our nice big flatscreen, chosen from the hotels own movies (family ones that is, no credit cards involved) so there are no ads.  Ended up being quite a late night after all. 

Friday, August 24 – The Redondo Beach Hotel, LA

Fabulous sleep in a very comfy bed with soft fluffy pillows.  We manage to get down for breakfast just before it ends at 9.30am and it is great selection of all sorts of yummy things.   Because we didn’t have dinner last night we’re right into the bacon and omelette etc. this morning.

Back to the room to do some admin stuff, post blogs etc. and then we are off exploring.  It’s a beautiful day, the sun is shining, its warm, getting to 29C by afternoon and there is a small breeze blowing to keep us cool.

For about 20 minutes we watch a mini travel lift picking up a fizz boat off it’s trailer and depositing it gently in the water then wander further along the pier and boardwalk.  We saw pelicans, lots of café’s and bars, paddle boards, private boats in the little marina (most of them well used and not so well cared for), fishing and crabbing boats, day tripping boats, glass bottom boats etc.  We come across Quality Seafood situated in a long L shaped building open to the pier.  Glass tanks have all kinds of crab and lobster, then shell fish and then we see NZ Bluff Oysters, NZ Cockles and along in the wet fish area NZ Snapper.  Had a brief talk to one of the team and he also pointed out the green lipped mussels from NZ.  We’re famous!  At the foot of the L is the restaurant and bar - a fabulous seafood extravaganza.

Pelicans sunning themselves on the rocks

Redondo Beach Marina

NZ Snapper at Quality Seafoods, Redondo Pier

Bill and Bob Meistrell (identical twins) invented the first practical wetsuit and from those humble beginnings in 1953 in their Redondo Beach shop, Dive ‘N Surf,  the iconic surf brand Body Glove was born!

Bill and Bob Meistrell - Body Glove

We stop in the shade for an icecream (lunch) then carry on sightseeing.  There is a whole separate road for bicycles, skateboarders and joggers.  Bike hiring is a big business here, our hotel hires them too. The boardwalk ends up at the beach which goes for miles and miles separating the ocean from the high rise accommodation blocks. There are a few people swimming and a lifeguard perched up in his tower.

On our walk back we see some old classic cars congregating in the carpark, looks like a US version of the Beach Hop. It’s nice to at last see a bunch of old American cars, instead of the generic Japanese variety, we can see those at home!  There are a bunch of European classic here too, Combi's, Jags, Mercs etc and even two Accords.  On seeing the first one Kim commented they are as rare as rocking horse do-do but we see two of them here!

American iron at the 'Cruise at the Beach' Friday by Rubys

We head back to the hotel for a swim and a cool down.

Pool at the Redondo Beach Hotel

Food is next on the agenda so we wander back over to the marina area and see even more of the old classic cars have almost completely filled the carpark outside Rubys, then we see the sign which indicates this is a regular Friday night affair.  We decide to eat at Rubys Diner so we can look out over the cars and listen to the V8s rumble.  Ruby makes a mean Margarita!

Rubys Diner

We wander around the cars some more and then call it a night.  Don’t know why we are weary, must be the good old sea air. 

Thursday, August 23 – the Redondo Beach Hotel, LA

Need to be gone from our cabin by 8.30am and off the ship by 9.30am.  We are not hurrying as we can’t book in to our hotel until this afternoon so taking time to enjoy our last morning on board.  So breakfast - just fruit today then we collect our bags and head back up to the pool deck to while away an hour or so.

We are almost the last off the boat, in fact as we are standing in a line of 8 or so to have our room key pass scanned, they call us along with some others, over the loudspeaker.  But we still end up in a queue once off the boat to get through the final check.

Once on land again we organise an Uber to take us to the Redondo Beach Hotel, arriving around 10.30am.  Our room is not ready but we can store our bags while we relax in the comfy chairs in the nice bright lobby, help ourselves to a coffee, water etc, go for a walk – separately, because we still have some heavy stuff with us and generally make ourselves at home.  The WIFI is very good here too!

The Redondo Beach Hotel. LA

We’re installed in our room by 2.30pm and it is lovely - a harbour view, spacious, bright and airy, sliding door to a little balcony, plush beds, huge flat screen TV, Keurig coffee maker, a nice tiled bathroom with lots of vanity space and quality soaps etc, much more like it!  A beautiful resort by the sea, we will enjoy this : )

The roof top deck and patio area, perfect for catching some rays and having a read

Have time for an hour or so sitting on the roof deck on the first floor, before it’s time for HH down in the lobby.  The hotel puts on nibbles, wine and beer for the guests, Mon – Thus from 5pm to 6.30pm.  So we enjoy a wine or two, rather a lot of nibbles, in fact enough so that we don’t feel like dinner afterwards, and then relax back in the room watching a movie.

View from our deck as the sun sets over the marina across the road

Wednesday, August 22 – Carnival Imagination at Sea

Sleep in this morning, as we are at sea all day today.  Kim follows the trip on his IPad and we are literally going in circles, filling in time before we arrive back at Long Beach tomorrow morning.

As expected breakfast is super busy this morning, even though they have Brunch in the Pride Restaurant today as well.  But we get a table in our usual spot down the back where there is not so much traffic.

We have a Mini Putt Challenge next, I’m not one to brag but....  Just saying!

This photo is actually from day one (not many people) I didn't take any photos today!

The loungers are well utilised today too and the first couple of hours it is hot and sunny.  From our vantage point we watch the hairy chest contest, the ice carving and various dance competitions etc.  By 2pm it has clouded over a bit and the wind has risen so it’s not quite as pleasant.  Must be time to go back to the cabin and write my blog notes and even think about packing our suitcases ready for tomorrow’s disembarkation.

Kim went straight back to the cabin while I went and checked out the chocolate extravaganza. I have quickly gotten used to breakfast, plus lunch plus dinner, I will be back to normal eating in a day of two, but for now....

When I get back to the cabin Kim is obviously tuckered out and is having a nana-nap.  He will be ready to party tonight to celebrate our last night on board.

Tuesday, 21 August – Carnival Imagination, Ensenada MX

We wake up in Mexico, the sun is shining and we are moored alongside a wharf so it will be much easier to get on and off today.  But first breakfast, this is always the busiest time of day, at least it always is when we get down there, but there is a huge selection to choose from.

Good morning Ensenada, Mexico

Blue sky, boats and warm weather - heaven!

We go ashore and ride a bus into the town which is all of four blocks, two go this way from McDonalds and two go that way.  At least the bus lady recommends we stay within these four blocks. This mexican town reminds me of Fiji, just bigger.  We can’t read the signs! There are road side stalls, bars and eateries and hawkers, but they are not persistent, they leave you alone once you’ve said no thanks.  We only see a few barely roadworthy cars, most of them seem OK although not many are new.  See one horse and carriage taking tourists for a ride, then see a row of them waiting for punters.

All manner of candies, dried fruit etc, all well presented and covered 

Should have bought a nice Mexican dress, ole'

The bus ride was US$4 each, round trip.  After we walked the four blocks in the hot sun, we head back to the boat and find our usual quiet sunbathing spot on the top deck.  The trick is to have a bit of sea breeze to cool you down.  We don’t fancy getting in the pool, its looks a bit too green but we hope that is just the paint job, not the water condition.

Have a late lunch, this ship has the Taco Bowl I learned about on the Carnival ship to Alaska so that is my lunch today and Kim fills a plate of cold cuts, olives, cheese, salad etc. and tops it off with one of the serve yourself snow freezes.  They hardly ever have the strawberry (?) flavour, always just chocolate or vanilla or a combination on both.  Even the frozen yoghurt is still vanilla or chocolate.  Where's my pink icecream, huh?  Only had it once this trip.

Up to our fave place on the top deck again for another hour and then back to the room to cool down in the AC, have a wee rest before a quick shower (in hot water – thanks Mud, you are a good room steward and you bring us an icebucket every day) and head back up on deck to watch as our ship depart Ensenada.  We are the only cruise ship here today and we were the only one at Catalina too. 

Cocktails are next on the list and we try a couple of different bars to test their wares.  The Awesome Twosome play pretty good music and they are usually in the Atrium Bar in the evening, then pretty soon it’s time for the late seating dinner.  Tonight there are three new ladies at our table, a other and two young adult girls as well as Christian and Edith so it’s a bit more lively.  We finish in time to catch the Love and Marriage Show in the Dynasty Lounge.  Matey, our English Cruise Director, is not as funny as Jen from the Carnival Legend and we can’t help but compare.  Bed time next, good night!  Another cruise day done and dusted.  Tomorrow we will spend the day all at sea!

Monday, August 20 – Carnival Imagination, Catalina Island USA

Arrived at Catalina after a smooth quiet night.  We are moored so tenders will be taking us to shore.  We try for a tender around 10.30am but after spending a few minutes in a queue which did not move, we bailed and decided to come back later.  A little after 12 we wandered back down to deck 3, walk straight off the ship and got the last two seats on the tender.  15 minutes later were the first off on shore – lucked out again!

The town was lovely, quaint.  We intended to hire a golf buggy to have a look around as our travel agent suggested.  There were heaps of them zooming around the town and coastline.  We stood in another slow moving queue as we waited for some to be returned.  Then I had a thought, perhaps we need to show our driving licence to hire one of these, so Kim goes to check it out.  We do indeed need a licence and we have left both ours on the ship, only taking ashore our passport and some money etc. Kim takes a seat by the beach and looks out over the marina and I wander a bit further around the town taking photos etc.

Carnival Imagination moored out past the swim beach

Runabouts in the foreground, anchored front and aft

Kim reckons he has seen this building in movies?

Dwellings are close packed on the surrounding hills

We are back on board a couple of hours later and find a nice spot to lounge in the sun, where there is a small cooling breeze and not many people.

We stay until the ship leaves port before heading below to our cabin for a tidy up before dinner, not quite in the tux and evening gown though.  So tonight Kim gets to select our dining pleasure and chooses the trough.  There are not so many choices available for dinner as there are for lunch time, but they do have roast beef and horsey sauce so the food was OK.  Having an earlier dinner means we can see the first Divas show at 8.15 pm, a well-choreographed and entertaining show with music from JLo, Beyonce and Madonna etc.

The Punchliner Comedy show starts in half an hour at the other end of the ship so we go there and get a comfy seat, not in the front row, not wanting to be singled out and made fun of you understand.

We can feel a little motion in the ocean tonight, lulls us to sleep.  Another cruise day done and dusted.

Sunday, August 19 – Carnival Imagination from Long Beach CA

What a lovely day to go on a cruise, the sky is blue, the sun is out and it’s going to be another 29C!  Lots of people leaving the hotel early this morning, in fact breakfast was relatively quiet.  We get back to the room to do the final google, emails, facebook pack and organise our Uber to take us to Long Beach Cruise Terminal.  We are down at reception well in time and we need to borrow their stapler to affix our luggage tags.  As we are walking down to reception we hear the squeal of brakes and the ominous thud of heavy metal colliding.  Hawthorne Boulevard is a major road, three or four lanes going each way with a wide island between and turns are well marked and have separate lanes.  It was a decent fender bender at the intersection by the hotel, a mustang and another car had an altercation, neither come off very well but looks like no one hurt.  Pretty soon fire engines and police rock up.

The first Uber to arrive has a huge speaker in his trunk so our suitcases won’t fit.  There is another car two minutes away and he arrives in a Toyota Prius which does fit our cases.  We like Uber, our fare was less than half what a cab would be.  Our driver, Saad didn’t speak very clear English but he got us there safely.

We arrive at the cruise terminal early but we are able to check in and are on the boat in no time at all.  Must be time for lunch, they have similar layout and restaurants to the other Carnival lines we have been on so we now know where to go. The ship doesn’t sail until 6.30 so we have a nice long relaxing afternoon to enjoy the views off the stern of the ship looking over Long Beach.

Long Beach CA from the Carnival Imagination

Queen Mary is getting a birthday, nice new paint

There are four quite round islands, with palm trees, they look man made.  Google it while we still have coverage, they are called the Astronaut Islands (each named after an Astronaut who died in space) and they were beautified with trees and screens to mask oil derricks back in the 60’s.

One of the Astronaut Islands

Our cabin is ready soon after 1.30pm, but no suitcases yet.  They have been delivered when we go back to the room prior to the muster station exercises.  These are much more civilised, we are in a bar, no they aren’t serving, but we have comfy armchairs to sit in and the AC is on while they count and tick off the guests etc.

Our cabin is much smaller than the last boat, so is the bathroom and we don’t have a fridge!!  Waste of time bringing a bottle of Chardonnay then wasn’t it?  And Kim’s Coke Zero!  We will have to make do with ice buckets, I will ask our room steward to keep the ice coming.

Then back to the Serenity Bar aft for watch the goings on of the huge marina we can see, many Miami Vice cigar boats tooling around, yachts sailing, tour boats coming in and out all, against the backdrop of tall palm trees and sandy beach with some highrises thrown in to balance the height.

We depart exactly on time at 6.30pm and we wonder why the coastguard with his for’ard mounted gun and the Long Beach Police boat and whispering together.  The police boat motors off and the coastguard primes his gun and follows us out of the harbour – that gun is pointing at us!!  Maybe they were there to prevent pirates boarding us??

Coastguard - guns not quite ablazing - yet!

It is past cocktail hour in my book, my first choice is the ole fave - Frozen Margarita, perfect in this heat.

We tried for “any time dining” but are allocated “late dining” so dinner is from 8.15pm.  We will eat in the restaurant tonight, maybe not tomorrow as it is dress-up night and Kim only has shorts or jeans. He does have a proper button up shirt though, we might pass muster.

There are only two others at our table for ten tonight, Christian and Edith and we have enjoy their company over dinner.

Saturday, August 18 – Lawndale, Los Angeles

Bit of a bun fight down at breakfast this morning, must be the weekend, or we just arrived at the wrong time, it was a tad congested.  I found a new fave there though – precooked waffle rounds which you toast and serve with breakfast syrup – yum. Much lighter than the ones you make yourself in the waffle cooker. Probably not much in the way of goodness or sustenance, but a pleasure to eat all the same : )

The rental car is due back by 11.30am and we decide to spend an hour or so first at the South Bay Galleria, a large three story shopping mall anchored by Macys and Kohls

South Bay Galleria, Redondo, LA - not very busy!

We fill up with gas on the way and stop off at an ATM on the way back.  We have the car back before time but apparently they don’t give rides back on a Saturday morning – first time we've stuck that. No problem though, Enterprise calls us a Uber car which they pay for and we are back at our hotel in just a few more minutes.  It would be nice if Enterprise were open more of the weekend, we often want to return on a Sunday for some reason and they are closed from noon on Saturday.

After a quick coffee I am down at the pool, it is hot – 30C so need to swim even though the water is so warm it barely cools.  Kim joins me later, also having a swim and then we are back in the room, planning for the next stage of our adventure and repacking our two suitcases.

Once again we need to get new room cards, they seem to fail at least once every day, either in the elevator or in the room.  I think the hotel turns them off - I have been particularly vigilant about not letting mine in contact with my phone too.

Come dinner time we need to eat close by, Kim is not up for much of a walk so we go next door to Weinerschnitzel, I have googled them and they do burgers as well as the hot dogs they portray on their logo which looks either like three fat saveloys shaped in a 'W' or the Westpac logo - hah!

That’s dinner done and dusted.  Wouldn't bother going there again.  Never mind, we will be enjoying cruise ship food for the next few days!

Back to the room to catch the last rays of the sun before it sinks below the horizon, read a little more and do the blog for today.

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! 

Thursday, August 16 – Baymont Inn, Lawndale, LAX

Great sleep and when we eventually do wake the sky is blue and we can see the trademark tall palm trees outside, this is how I think of Los Angeles.

Blue sky and palm trees!

We manage to get down to breakfast before it closes at 9.30am and once back in the room organise a rental car for a few days.  We will be picked up around 11am, the Enterprise office is just down the road.  We get a choice of vehicles and drive away in a Hyundai Tucson crossover.

First, we look for a Walmart ‘cos that’s what we know but after a wild goose chase and dicing with death over a misunderstood motorway exit we find Ralphs is a good substitute.  Then we think we will have a nice relaxing drive around the bays from Redondo Beach (where we will be staying for a few days when we get back from the cruise) towards Long Beach to see the Queen Mary hotel.  Also right here also are the cruise line terminals.  The 7 day Mexican Riviera Cruise we wanted to go on is getting ready to depart - without us!  I now understand ‘Last Minute Cruises’ aren’t actually on sale up until the last minute, it seems the cabins are all sold out a couple of weeks prior to sailing. Never mind we have a plan B!

Queen Mary, retired from the sea in 1967 to become a historic hotel

We are downtown Long Beach and have some lunch (well maybe early dinner, it’s 3.20pm) at Hooters right next to The Pike Outlets (new open air shopping destination) but I curb my tendency to shop and after lunch we mosey on doing more sightseeing.

The Pike Outlets, pretty grounds with fountains and a ferris wheel

We do stop for a bit of window shopping on the way back home and also look for a laundromat, this hotel doesn’t have laundry facilities, and then it’s a relax on our balcony waiting to see the sun fall below the horizon.

Sunset from our balcony

Wednesday, August 15 – Baymont Inn, Lawndale, LAX

Take a slow drive through Bellingham, we’ve checked out at of our hotel by 11am and the car needs to be back before 12.  It will be sad to say goodbye to our 'mini-me motorhome', which has successfully carted us and our worldly possessions safely through two countries.

We duly arrive at the brand new Bellingham airport and it is pleasantly small and quiet. We are here for a few hours, our first flight to Seattle does not leave until 3.50pm but that time comes around quickly.  By the time we have checked in (no queues as we are so early - we are the only ones here and luckily we get upgraded to Premier class for the long flight from Seattle to LAX – thank you nice young man).  I had stressed about the weight of our bags, they aren’t huge so it would be hard to overfill them but you never know so we are very happy to note each of them is only about 41lb, well within the allowance of 50lb.  Phew, I shouldn’t have thrown out so much stuff for the final pack!  Bags aren’t included in your flight price, you pay for them when you check in, but $25 each is good value.

Brand new Bellingham Airport, not at all busy!

Some lunch from their café, using their excellent free WIFI, a couple of walks outside in the sun as it is overly air-conditioned inside for my liking and it is already time for boarding.  So we get on our first little plane, a Dash 8 for the 25 minute flight to Seattle.

Alaska Airlines - who does that face on the tail belong to?

A stop-over there of 1h 39m goes super fast as it’s a large airport and there is a gate change and some delays – our flight is delayed about 20 minutes, the plane is here but it can’t unload as no gates available, all full from previous flights.  We are flying Alaska Airlines but the next leg is on Virgin.  Anyway we get a seat in the departure lounge for the second half the waiting time and then we play the “retired” card, as famous, military, disabled and retired are invited to board first.  We are in the exit row, heaps of leg room but Kim’s seat doesn’t recline, he’s not laid back and unhappy : (  But we get complimentary drinks! : )  I think we’ve actually paid for the drinks in the cost of our $3.75 bag of chippies (small) and the $8.75 cheese and fruit platter (nice).  That was dinner!

Kim's in the window seat so in charge of the photos, a nice one of LAX across the engine of a Virgin!

We are on the ground and promptly have our bags off the carousel by about 9.20pm and I phone the hotel to request the shuttle but the driver has finished for the night!  We line up for a taxi, only a few minutes and get to the hotel with no problem ($34 incl tip).  Hotel check-in is painless and our room it large and nice!  Goodnight!