At the LAX airport

Well today was really our last day, we spent going to Hollywood, walking sidewalk of stars, getting pictures of a few celebrities...then lunch at Santa Monica beach.

We managed to get all the baggage checked on with no penalties.

Now this is the real last sign off.

Love you all

D & B xxx

Last days

We've spent our last couple of days doing a last bit of bargain shopping & catching up with ex-pat Kiwis, firstly we meet up with Steve Curle at his office in Long beach, he ships cars back to NZ & where-ever, as our dollar gets higher the busier he gets, yesterday the dollar went up over 70cents, he said his phone started ringing at 5am....

Last night we went to the fish market and had a steamed lobster, corn on the cob and a large beer for $20, a tasty combination....not really filling, so we went to Ruby's diner & had a sundae !!!!

Today we caught up with Robin Silk at So-Cal speed shop, he showed us around some of the cars he's been building, then went to Ontario Mills outlet centre..,wow, that's what you call a shopping Mall, so big we didn't have time to see all the shops..but did find some bargains!!!!...reason to buy another suitcase, so packing was fun tonight, we managed to squeeze it all in.

Tonight I had a bonus, as across the road from where we're staying is a Ruby's Diner, guess what on Friday night they have a Hot Rod show, so spent a hour or so taking photos of the cars. While we were there, we heard two loud booms - we were told that they were the NASA Space Shuttle breaking the sound barrier as it re-entered the atmosphere. Another amazing experience.

So I guess this will be our last entry, as tomorrow we fly home.....looking forward to catching up with you all & sharing our experiences...the good & the not so good, has been enjoyable sharing our memoirs with you all and receiving your comments.

LOL
D & B XXX

Back in LA

We made it back to LA, the trip from Las Vegas was uneventful, did a bit of last minute shopping at the outlets before leaving, we have enclosed a couple of photos of the desert & a huge wind farm we saw on the way. We're now staying at Redondo beach, which is on the coast between LA International airport & Long Beach, handy to everything.

While we have been away, a guy I went to school with & grew up with in Waikanae (Paul Breen) has been in contact with us, he lives in LA not far from we're staying. He has been subscribing to the New Zealand Hot Rod Mags, noticed one of the articles I wrote, contacted me through Hot Rod association and it was by coincidence we were over here travelling at the time. The last time I saw him was around 35 years ago, we went to see them last night & caught up on old times. Paul's been here for over 20 years so has established a successful business.

Love D & B xxx

Las Vegas

After a 3 day road trip covering about 1200 miles since leaving the state of Washington, we made it to Las Vegas on Monday evening. We stopped off at Bakersfield on Sunday & caught with Duane Jones & his partner Lori, went out with dinner with them.....wined & dined, a good night. Duane showed us around his workshop, showed us the jigs for making his chassis's etc & took us to his new place he had just purchased out of town, a couple of acres with a huge garage....,Duane is still in the process of repainting the interior etc.

It was Labour day here last weekend, Monday being a public holiday,their last long weekend of summer, so we picked a good day getting into Vegas...everyone was leaving, we've never seen traffic like it before, miles & miles of cars bumper to bumper.

Vegas is hot day and night, both days have been over a 100 F degrees, only cooling into the high 80s at night.We went to a show last night featuring the Coasters, Platters & Marvelettes, a great show, singing all their old hits.

After the show we wondered to "Downtown" the original old part of Vegas where they have a laser light show, hard to describe, but just fantastic to watch. Wondering back to our Casino we took plenty of photos & watched the "sights" and the lights of course.

Now heading back to LA....

Love D & B xxxx

Travelling South

Not much to report for the last couple of days as we have been travelling - covered around 700 miles from Washington State to Corning in California. Spent last night at Grant's Pass but started to rain in the morning so we high tailed it out of there. We stopped at Rolling Mills Casino with the intention of having a cheap place to stay - it is the dearest yet but as we were still about 130 miles north of Sacramento, we decided to call it a day & stay. Temperature is still in the 80's.

Luckily, we won some money and so it has turned out to be a cheap stop after all!

Leaving yesterday we went shopping and then hit Portland about 2.30pm - big mistake - the traffic was terrible trying to get out of the city for the long weekend - Labour weekend. We thought we had it bad until we saw an accident on the other side and counted the traffic riding their brakes for 15 miles, 3 lanes wide.....

On our way here we stopped at the Shasta Dam - spotted some dear and bald eagles. Cool.

Happy Fathers Day to both dads.

Love D & B xxx

PS: You guys must be really busy cause their is no comments coming thru.....

Vancouver Island Day 2

Another early start today, wandered downtown for breakfast along the waterfront, nothing around settled for a healthy cafe....actually very nice.....and believe or not it we had shower of rain while having breakfast !!!!! and it was cold.

We had heard so much about the Butchart Gardens we had to have a look, it wasn't cheap to start with $56 Canadian, plus we had another shower of rain !!!!! but it was OK they supplied umbrellas. It was worth it, plenty of photos & a popular destination for the tourist, the gardens are set on an old quarry , 55 acre's, very beautiful & colourful.

One thing Vancouver has is treasure chest of old cars hidden the place....worth going back just to hunt some of them out!!!

Victoria is very English from Government House to the double decker buses and London cabs.

Our time was cut short when we discovered we had to get to the ferry 3 hours earlier than departure time as they would not reserve and it was first come first on plus customs checks.

Sailed out of Canada at 3pm for a Port Angeles, Washington, arriving around 4.30pm and hit the road south again. Stopped at a lakeside RV resort - we have a log style cabin over looking the water - very serene.

LOL D & B xxx