Lounge
A real treat for Wendy as we go to biggest supermarket we’ve ever seen. It sold every thing from washing machines, mops to melons and freshly made paella. Well not quite everything, no fresh figs, American Cream Soda or Aix en Provence red wine. Soon get lost as I wander off to explore the wines.
In the afternoon we drive over to Lunel to watch the bullfight.
Try finding our seat at the arena. Assistants are useless, they don’t know where R3_1195 is. It bears no relation to the letters A to P on the entrances. There’s pictures of flags galore around the arena but no seat numbers. Just another excess of stupidity. You really couldn’t make this shit up.
Really enjoyed the Course Camarguaise, I think for Wendy it fell into the same category as a Rodeo, once you’ve seen one you’ve seen them all.
Then it’s home, Pork meatballs for tea. Alas no wine.
THE COURSE CAMARGUAISE (CAMARGUE BULLFIGHTING)
From spring through to autumn, on the golden sand of Arles’ arena and in each Camargue village, an impassioned and knowledgeable crowd is gathered. Razeteurs (Camargue bullfighters) come head-to-head with Camargue bulls in this chivalrous game that requires such values as loyalty and valour from both Man and beast.
Skill and agility, along with a mutual re-spect, are key to the Camargue bullfight.
Unlike with corridas (Spanish bullfights) which show the matador’s name in big letters, post-ers publicising the course Camarguaise puts the bull’s name before that of the razeteur.
The name of the manade (farm) from which the bull comes is also given. The true star of the show is really the bull! From fight to fight, his qualities bring him glory and make him a sought-after animal, guaranteeing some very action-packed afternoons!
As for the razeteurs, they are just support acts, their fame being based on the reputation of the bull that they are facing. No blood is spilled in the Camargue bullfight; the Camargue bull does not come to kill, unlike his Spanish cousin! When this bull kills, which unfortunately can happen, his name is scratched from all lists!
It is around the age of three that a bull is at the peak of his “training” and knows his “profession” well. This is the one that that breeder saves for the end of the show, allowing the younger and less experienced bulls to go first so as to learn how to avoid the traps set by the razeteurs. It is this which gives the fight its crescendo intensity and helps to recognise future “hopefuls”, be they bulls or razeteurs.
The clash of Man and beast in the ring requires much cunning from both parties. 
The organis-ers coordinate six bulls for one afternoon. The bulls take turns to enter the ring for a few minutes; just enough time to contend with several skilled and energetic razeteurs.
The razeteurs compete against one another to remove, as quickly as possible, the objects placed between the bull’s horns. These are strings, tassels and a cockade which each earn the razeteur a cash prize upon removing it.
But, before cutting and removing each of the objects with his four-bladed hook, he must first tire the bull, which, with good strong legs, often chases the razeteurs right up to the barrier. This results in the razeteurs throwing themselves several feet in the air over the barriers in order to escape the sharp and powerful horns. 
Sometimes, the particularly agile bulls will also jump over the barriers, making the event even more dramatic and emotional, especially for those lucky specta-tors in the first row!
At the end of each round to signify the end of combat, the famous aria from the opera Car-men is played.
Every year, the “golden rosette” in the Arles arena gathers the elite of the course Camar-guaise. At the end of this prestigious after-noon, the highly coveted rosette is awarded, honouring the work of the breeder and recog-nising the bravery of the best razeteur of the year. This razeteur, in addition to receiving the praise of the tradition’s professionals and the people of Arles, is allowed to kiss the always beautiful Queen of Arles.
Today’s jaunt is a bull fight in the Camargue (Courses Camarguaises) unlike the gratuitous cruelty, bloodshed and violence of a Spanish bull fight, not a drop of the bulls blood is spilt. More likely that the guys in white bleeds. Quite spectacular.
Ban the burka
Sadly another French Airbnb with parking designed to try the patience of a saint, not something I’m known for, and the need for a car the size of a Bubble Car. Sadly we have the misfortune to have an internal garage. The problem is reversing into it is a nightmare. It doesn’t have to be but they have some stupid barriers in place that serve absolutely no purpose other than making it inch by inch impossible to easily reverse in. No chance to drive in. Yet another example of sublime French stupidity. There really is no sense to it.
Another sunny day in the mid 60’s. Very lazy morning.
Enjoy the sun on the balcony then after lunch and a small glass of wine we have a stroll around Palavas. Stop for a drink, I finally get a Pastiche while Wendy has a very nice Cognac.
Paella for tea and some more wine.
Sat on the balcony watching the seagull gracefully glide on the air currents, not a wing flap needed.
Islamist dickhead
A corkscrew.
If the French still insist upon their silly corks you would think that in the hundreds of years bottling wine they could at least create a corkscrew that works with ease. Alas not so, the corkscrew in this apartment doesn’t work. Stupidity rules yet again.
Lovely sunny and warmish start to the day. We could have breakfast on the balcony it’s that warm and best of all no breeze.
Have a drive over to Le Grande Motte for a stroll around and a spot of lunch. They have Scallops (Coquille Saint-Jacques) on the menu so even I am tempted for lunch. They’re not bad, not as big as the American ones and have an orange bit to them. If I wake up dead tomorrow everyone will know why. Wendy settles for a chicken burger and chips, it was a croc of shit.
Then it’s a trip to that awesome, cavernous supermarket. We pass on the fridges and washing machines and just settle for wine, fish and steaks. I try a Teille for tonight’s tea. As it’s our wedding anniversary we treat ourselves to a bottle of Cognac to sip on our sunny balcony – cheaper than in a bar.
Great scallop (Coquille Saint-Jacques) or Pecten maximus, common names the great scallop, king scallop, St James shell or escallop, is a northeast Atlantic species of scallop, an edible saltwater clam, a marine bivalve mollusc in the family Pectinidae. This is the type species of the genus. This species may be conspecific with Pecten jacobaeus, the pilgrim’s scallop, which has a much more restricted distribution.
Saint-Jacques Shells (last letters “t” and “s” are not pronounced), or the great scallop, is a first choice dish in France. It is nutritionally interesting (proteins, vitamins, trace elements) without a lot of calories: only 50 Kcal/100g (not counting any sauce you might add).
Tips for Eating Saint-Jacques Shells:
Our kitchen.
Here are the main tips you should utilise to choose and cook the right Saint-Jacques and enjoy the taste!
All scallops are not real Saint-Jacques! To enjoy the real Saint-Jacques Shells or great scallops, you have to choose them carefully. – Firstly, the period of the year if you want to buy them fresh is from October to mid-May. – Secondly, the species: the real one is Pecten maximus caught mostly in Normandy (Protected Geographical Indication: Coquille Saint-Jacques des Côtes d’Armor) and Brittany in France. You’ll find also Pecten jacobaeus in the Mediterranean area and Pecten fumatus in Australia. – Be careful! The label of Saint-Jacques can be also be given to other products of the pectinidae family from Canada, Chili, Chine, etc. But it is not the same seafood: the shells are different and they don’t belong to the same genus. -It’s common to say that the tastier is the Pecten maximus and I agree more than never!
our bedroom.
How to choose them fresh? Take care of the aspect and the smell (iodine only). The shell should be closed or should close itself quickly if you touch it. Sometimes the fishmonger will sell them already without the shell. The white part should be pearly, the coral should be shiny and bulging. No part should touch the ice, it spoils the flesh.
It’s just question of presentation. In France one of the best recipes with great scallops is Saint-Jacques gratinées: great scallop with other seafood or mushroom, a sauce, and breadcrumbs presented in their shells after a quick moment in the oven.
Modern art in the apartment!
With or without coral? The coral is the orange part of the scallop, it’s the female sexual organ and gets bigger with the development of the eggs. You can cook it with the white part of the scallop and present them together which gives the best visual effect to your dish. Some people doesn’t find any interest in the coral, they don’t like the consistency and the taste is less strong than the white part of the scallop. So they separate them and use the coral to make a tasty orange sauce or chantilly.
And what to drink? As with other seafood, it is recommended to choose a mineral white wine. But you can also enjoy champagne when preparing them raw or a fruity dry white wine for rich sauces, and a light red wine for seafood/meat combinations.
Recognisable at first glance: meaty, pearly white, almost translucent, with lovely orange coral the ideal size and above all the unique glow of vitality.
The presence of the roe or “coral” is guaranteed and enhances the dish with a lovely touch of orange. Its taste is also highly prized.
Pecten maximus frequently creates a slight hollow in the substrate for its shell to lie in by opening and closing the valve to eject water from the mantle cavity, which raises the shell at an angle to the substrate so that subsequent water jets into the sediment and create a recess. Once settled, sand, mud, gravel or living organisms coat the upper valve, and the margin of the shell, with the tentacles and eyes, is all that is visible. They are filter feeders which extract particles from the surrounding water via a feeding current which is drawn by cilia across the gills where the food particles are trapped, then taken to the mouth in a stream of mucous.
Pecten maximus swims but this is generally limited to escape reactions. The main predators which cause this reaction when detected are the mollusc eating starfish Asterias rubens and Astropecten irregularis, although starfish which do not feed on molluscs can cause limited jumping or valve-closing reactions. The swimming action is performed by rapidly clapping the valves and expelling jets of water from each side of the hinge so that it moves with the curved edge of the shell at the front. The scallop jumps forwards by gradually relaxing the adductor muscle and then rapidly opening and closing the valves.
The oil company Shell plc derives its highly recognizable logo from this species.[17]
Yes, you can eat scallops raw to enjoy the natural flavors of the sea. However, you should only eat raw scallops at specialty restaurants or if you manage to buy fresh, dry scallops that aren’t harvested in contaminated water. NOW THEY TELL ME.
It’s our wedding anniversary, for the first time ever I forgot, not that we ever buy cards or presents anymore. That’s what 53 years does for you. Quite an achievement in this day and age.
Does France have a national problem with bad eyesight.Judging by the number of Optician shops I think the whole population must have eyesight problems. Perhaps that explains why they drive up my backside, perhaps they can’t see me until they’re 10 centimeters away or they’re try to read my number plate.
Another sunny day so it’s a stroll around Palavas and the beach, followed by a somewhat dubious beer.
A pleasant stroll along the beach reveals some pleasant sites. Topless bathing in France lives on. Hallelujah. I think in this instance we should thank the skill of a plastic surgeon and the benefits of silicon engineering.
At least I did the chivalrest thing and resisted taking a photo.
The second law of Thermodynamics, “Entropy tends towards infinity or put another way – “Eventually everything turns to shit” – explains so much of the daily shit and stupidity we encounter, a lot of it aided by incompetent software. The joys of so much stupidity in the world and living in a kakistocracy.
Another warm sunny day.
Drive to Perols to catch the tram into Montpellier.
Go for coffee at MacDonalds in the Egg but the queue is just too long. Settle for a tad more expensive cafe. Sit enjoying the sun and people watching.
Have a saunter around the shops and then it’s back on the tram to the car. Followed by a treat for Wendy to that ginormous Carrefour supermarket in Perot’s
Another quiet evening in watching more crap on TV and sipping Cognac.
Really have to admire the efficiency of the tram system.
Montpelier has a superb modern tram system that’s great. Problem is try buying a ticket for it. Me and a French geezer tried it. Nothing seemed to work. French geezer gave up and declared it “hours de service”, roughly translated “kaput”. I eventually got it working, a classic example of and utterly crap Human Computer Interface.Button on the touch screen doesn’t work, button below does.
Way back in 2009 we had a similar problem in Montpelier, except this time the sun shone on the screen and made it unreadable.
Who are these 10 year old simpletons that design them and worse still who are the managers that sign off on them. Has no one in France heard of use-ability testing.
Another day in France and the stupidity continues.
Warm and sunny again. A Leisurely morning relaxing on the balcony.
After Wendy’s lunch we take a leisurely stroll around Palavas. What a treat, in honor of Dylan I even stop for a beer, sadly they have no decent German beers or even decent French ones – a bit of a contradiction in terms.
Back home for a Cognac and of course a cup of tea.
Get everything packed ready for departure tomorrow.
Well it’s good to see Blackburn excel at something!
Blackburn has been named the vape capital of the UK, with nearly 22.56 e-cigarette shops per 100,000 people.
The former mill town came just above Bolton and Manchester, which had 20.26 and 19.84 vape shops per 100,000 people respectively.
Up early and ready for a 10:00 departure
Richard, our caretaker comes round to let us out. Yes, the locks, doors and parking is so complicated we cannot escape without help.
It’s a +2 hour drive up to our next stopover in Toulouse. We decided not to bother trying to explore the city centre so opted for an Ibis on the outskirts. What a mistake. Another underground rathole to park in. This time they are tight even one of those street scooters would struggle. The single slots are just 10cm wider than my car. How to scrape the paint off your car. You really need to have the roof down to climb in without opening a door. More French stupidity. Bugger that for a game of marbles, find a double slot and occupy both of them.
The room is similar to the parking, not enough room to swing a rat around in. Cancel our future Ibis stay in Rennes, cross them off our approved list.
There’s hardly anywhere open around the hotel apart from a bakers. Get some sandwiches and cake for tonights tea.
Later I discover a cafe that’s open about 15 minutes away. Wander round and treat myself to a beer. It was disgusting.
Today’s delight was Richard. He’s our caretaker and has let us in, looked after any problems during our stay and today let us out. He doesn’t speak a word of English but seems to be able to cope with my awful French words thrown together with not a moments consideration of grammar, word sex or verb conjugation. He’s a lovely chap so amiable. Started our stay with a bottle of Red Wine and ended with a fridge magnet for Wendy, showing our penthouse. A real delight and yes he’s French, 76 years old and born in Toulouse.
Free speech is sacred
It’ Toulouse. It’s France. It’s Sunday. And of course it’s closed. The problem is figuring out when they can bother opening.
After a lazy morning we have a stroll into Port Vendre. As we should have remembered everywhere is closed – it is France after all closed Saturday lunch through to Tuesday morning; plus Saints day (amazed how many saints there are); plus special events; plus stock taking. And of course closed for 3 hours at lunch time – staggered lunch breaks are much too difficult for them to comprehend.
More climate nonsense from the EU. Under EUDR, importers of commodities like coffee, cocoa, soy, palm, cattle, timber and rubber – and products that use them – must be able to prove their goods did not originate from deforested land, or face hefty fines.
Lazy start as usual. Sunny day so we try out the deck chairs on the balcony but by lunch time the balcony is in shade.
Warm sunny day. Drive over to Collioure. Leave Wendy in the car – she’s taking it easy on her back today – while I have a stroll around the town and harbour.
be here in summer, just no where to park.
Another sunny day with a lazy start. We start to pack some of the bags and lug then down to the car ready for tomorrows departure.
Then we have a languid but tortuous drive over to Cerbere. The roads we’ve around the vineyards on the hillsides. Not a lot there but we get a coffee on the promenade and enjoy the afternoon by the sea.
Lazy start to the morning followed by a trouble free, 5 hour drive down to Plymouth.
Today I celebrate the screw top wine bottle, none of the difficulty of the cork so beloved by the French. Just easy on a road trip. Screw open, no need for a corkscrew. Drink. Screw bottle top with the remnants, assuming of course you’ve not managed to swig it all down.
Up early’ish for a traditional English breakfast. Traditional boarding house style breakfast, no buffet, just cooked on demand.
Then stroll up to Plymouth Hoe, so much history there.
A visit to Plymouth Hoe. Francis Drake finishing his game of bowls before setting off to defeat the Spanish Armada. And I’ve just seen to most beautiful Spaniel ever, a black and gold sable cocker spaniel. I’m so annoyed I didn’t get his photo. When I retire I will just have to have one.
Just a short 2 hour drive to our first overnight in San Sebastián. Driving along the auto routes in Spain and France is so much more relaxing than motorways in the UK. There’s no one on them. Mind you that’s not surprising considering you have to stop every 200 yards for yet another toll plaza. 
Suites lovely, but no one mentioned that the water doesn’t flow unless you pop your key in the slot. Bizarre!
Thankfully breakfast is better than last nights dinner. A great buffet continental selection.
Awesome sat in a sunny park in Tarbes, with flocks of peacocks. For the first time get to see a white peacock. Then watch a rampant pigeon trying to mount a female who in typical female fashion is having none of it, headache and playing hard to get. The male’s fascinating as he stalks after his prey, but still sates his hunger by pecking food from the ground as he follows her.
Drive over to Carcasson. The castle looks amazing. It’s a warm sunny day, but a tad breezy. Check into nice hotel and then have a stroll over to the castle. 
Tea is good, I enjoy a lovely cassoulet followed by tradition bread and cheese. And so to bed.
This castle is amazing. Just strolling around, enjoying the sun and warmth, and imagining how life used to be.
I always thought America was bad for the exhaust bandits driving up your backside to see what’s inside your exhaust pipe, but France is so much worse. The safe stopping distance in France is 50 metres. I blame the EU using the metric system as the stupid ones are confused my metres and centimetres so they assume it’s 50 centimetres.
Another sun, cloud and breezy day. After a good breakfast we take a stroll over to the castle again and pay to walk the ramparts and go into the castle. We’ve done it before but can’t really remember it. 
Then it’s a 90 minute drive over to our Airbnb for the next week in Port Vendres.
Swinging car into park lot is a nightmare, tight squeeze built for a bubble car. Then we have the key fiasco. Retrieve key 1 to get us into a courtyard. Retrieve set of 4 keys needed to get us through the various doors to our apartment. None of the keys are labelled and none of the doors / apartments are labelled. Stupidity rules yet again. Do these people ever think.
Apartments lovely with sea views and a balcony. Wot, where’s the comfy balcony furniture gone? It’s pretty well equipped and comfortable but you have to burst out in hysterics when you look at the thimbles they have for tea cups. Obviously think the rest of the world only drink espressos.
A grey day and not so warm.
Drive around a few supermarkets in the hope of finding some of that soft Australian liquorice. No luck.
Appropriately warm and sunny for our last day of our California Road trip.
Take a drive up to the famous La Jolla Cove for a pleasant stroll around and watch the seals. Try to find somewhere for coffee, but no luck other than rip off Starbucks. What the hells going on this Is America or have we been transported to some 3rd World ghetto.
Drive down to explore La Jolla Shores. Sit down on the beach front for coffee while Wendy goes indoors to order. A stroppy waiter confronts me. Oh I need to take your order. Well you weren’t here so my wife had to go inside to order. “Look I don’t give a rats who takes my order, it can be Donald Trump for all I care. All I want is a coffee, black, no pollutants. Simple.” Wendy encounters shit service indoors so we vote with our feet.
Leave Monterey, we’ve had a fabulous time there, and drive over to Sacramento.
Start the sunny day with a good breakfast.
The next stop is the state capital. It’s only half a mile away but in true American laziness we drive to it.
There’s an indigenous Peoples Protest. What are they protesting about. Well, it appears that some of them have gone missing or been murdered. When I ask a so what question they point out that indigenous people are 7 times more likely to be murdered or go missing. Apparently, they’re not blaming police negligence. Fortunately, there’s a protest march followed by a cultural dance event in front of the state capital.
They all have flags of their Nation but of course some woke snowflake has to spoil it with a Palestinian flag – disgusting they allow it.
Signs to the tour are wrong, point this out but everyone knows they’re wrong and nothing can be done about it, too much bureaucracy and politics involved so instead they just f..k with customers and waste their time. Typical politicians.
Yeah, it’s pancake day or as the Americans call it Mardi Gras. When I was a kid this was one of the highlights of the year. Just English pancakes for tea with orange juice, if you were lucky, and sugar on them, no Maple syrup or other exotic toppings. Times were hard and it’s a reflection of the times that his was one of the highlights of a kids year.
We’ve decided to add a stay Thursday and Friday at our Desert Hot Springs Airbnb rather than stop over two nights in Motels somewhere. So it’s a 3 hour drive down to Desert Hot Springs. A lovely scenic drive and very little traffic.
Have to say the photographer did a good job of making the rooms look way bigger than they actually are, but they’re big enough and lovely furnished, so it’s not a problem.
Sort Apple TV out and we’re settled in for the night with a couple of beers and some Zinfandel.
Lazy start to what will be a lazy day and for Wendy the excitement of a supermarket trip.
After a lazy start to a warm sunny day we’re off to Joshua Tree National Park, I’m excited.
Call in the visitors centre, tempted into buying another JT hat and then buy an annual NP pass, ready for summer.
Devastated at how busy the place is. Mind you perhaps coming on a Saturday was not such a good idea, and to top it off it’s a bank holiday weekend – Presidents Day on Monday. But the child in me could hardly wait. Nearly all the parking areas were chockablock, just too many damn tourists. Managed to park and have lunch sat by skull rock along with thousands of other pesky tourists. take a small stroll around the area, decide the best philosophy is to just drive around and enjoy the scenery as we will be coming back another day. scenery is awesome especially the rocks never mind the Joshua trees.
Sun and cloud, with the odd shower.
Then it’s one of the highlights of our trip, or so we suppose, as we visit Hearst Castle. Despite having passed this way several times we never got round to visiting it.
William Randolph Hearst Sr. (/hɜːrst/;[1] April 29, 1863 – August 14, 1951) was an American businessman, newspaper publisher, and politician known for developing the nation’s largest newspaper chain and media company, Hearst Communications. His flamboyant methods of yellow journalism influenced the nation’s popular media by emphasizing sensationalism and human interest stories. Hearst entered the publishing business in 1887 with Mitchell Trubitt after being given control of The San Francisco Examiner by his wealthy father, Senator George Hearst.
After moving to New York City, Hearst acquired the New York Journal and fought a bitter circulation war with Joseph Pulitzer’s New York World. Hearst sold papers by printing giant headlines over lurid stories featuring crime, corruption, sex, and innuendos. Hearst acquired more newspapers and created a chain that numbered nearly 30 papers in major American cities at its peak. He later expanded to magazines, creating the largest newspaper and magazine business in the world. Hearst controlled the editorial positions and coverage of political news in all his papers and magazines, and thereby often published his personal views. He sensationalized Spanish atrocities in Cuba while calling for war in 1898 against Spain. Historians, however, reject his subsequent claims to have started the war with Spain as overly extravagant.
Mixed weather so after a lazy start we set off from the hotel in Cambria, really nice place, to our Airbnb in Seaside, just outside Monterey. Couldn’t go up Highway 1, as planned, the road is closed.
Rained all day so the usual lazy start. Drive down to Cannery Row, a tad disappointing. Just went shopping, trying to find a decent supermarket was worse than trying to find a decent web site. Then hunkered down and spent the day in.
Sun and cloud day, so after the usual lazy start we take a drive down the Famous highway to the Big Sur. some awesome coastal views. Can see why it’s the most dangerous road in America, too many great views to distract you. Although we’ve drive highway 1 South to North, we had planned on this trip to drive all the way up highway from Atascadero to Monterey but it’s closed is currently closed due to a massive landslide that occurred in January 2023 at a location called Paul’s Slide. This landslide buried a two-mile segment of the highway, making it impassable. It’s not forecast to be open until late 2024, but at least we got to photograph the iconic bridge.
In the evening we go out for dinner to Tarpy’s. Paul’s recommended their Shrimp and Grits. It was just around the corner from our Airbnb, the shrimp and grits were amazing, I was stuffed. But as for the rest of it, well. Place was freezing, needed long Johns and an anorak. Had an Artichoke starter, what an Anorexic Artichoke, hardly any flesh on it. Wendy had the Meatloaf, not very tasty, but the shrimp grits made it all worthwhile.
Sunny day so we take a drive around the famous 17 mile drive. Yes, we have to pay $11.95, but unusual for to say it was well worth it. Some spectacular ocean views and get to see the World famous Lone Cedar – reminds me of the cover of the book Snow Falling On Cedars.
The Lone Cypress is a Monterey cypress tree located in Pebble Beach, California. Standing atop a granite headland overlooking Carmel Bay, the tree has become a Western icon and has been called one of the most photographed trees in North America.
Sunny day. Off down to the Aquarium . Parking is a nightmare. I end up ina 2 mile No Left Turn debacle, unbelievable.
Take out a second mortgage for the coffee and can you believe $20 to park.
Pop round to Audrey’s to return the free tickets.
Seeing elephant seals in the wild is a truly remarkable experience, and coastal viewpoints in California offer breathtaking sights of this species that you won’t want to miss. As you watch these large, blubbery mammals interact in their natural habitat, the experience is made even more special knowing that you are witnessing a conservation success story. 
Northern elephant seals were hunted to the brink of extinction by the end of the 19th century. After decades of being slaughtered for their blubber, which people used for lamp oil during that time, only an estimated 100 animals remained on one small island off the coast of Mexico. 
Mexico and the United States declared protections for this species, and northern elephant seals rebounded in a big way—there are an estimated 150,000 – 200,000 individuals today, and the population continues to grow every year. 
This species is found in the North Pacific, ranging from Baja California, Mexico, to the Gulf of Alaska and Aleutian Islands. Elephant seals spend the vast majority of their time—about nine months of the year—in the open ocean, only coming to shore twice each year to breed and molt. 
They have one of the longest migrations of any mammal in the world, traveling up to 13,000 miles each year from shore to their feeding grounds in the northern Pacific Ocean. During their biannual migrations at sea, northern elephant seals forage for bottom-dwelling creatures and dive up to depths over 5,000 feet (that’s equal to four Empire State Buildings!). 
While there are peak seasons between December and June when most elephant seals haul out, or temporarily leave the water, you can see elephant seals year-round in California on their breeding beaches, called rookeries. But with so much of their lives spent underwater up to 5,000 miles offshore, how is it that elephant seals can be spotted on the beach during any season? 
Whether you visit an elephant seal viewing point or tune in to our live beach webcam, you can watch wild seals ashore and observe their fascinating natural behaviors. Follow the incredible life journey of this species in the timeline below, find out when and where to see elephant seals in California, and learn how you can help protect these animals. 
Another sunny day. 
In the evening I watch the Super Bowl tonight. Pity I don’t understand it. Adverts galore. Half time entertainment was pathetic, who were they? Wot no costume failures.
Drive over to the Santa Monica Mountains. First stop King Gillette Ranch. Of course the visitors centre is closed but have a shuffle around. Then it’s on to own main objective, Malibu Creek Park. Sit an have lunch admiring the Mountains – well hills really – and the Blue Birds. Then head off to the Rock Pool. It’s near the visitors centre which as well as being closed is a 1 mile walk away from the main car park. What numpty dreamt this up. Don’t they realise this is America, nobody walks in America. On top of that the distances shown on the signs are a total screw up. Not only must their idea of a mile be based on some mythical American mile, but to find the Rock Pool gets further away as you get closer must be some sort of space time distortion in the fabric of their universe.
Anyway finally get there and it’s infested with two families and an excess of noisy rug rats.
Pass on Peter Strauss Ranch. 
Then decide we’ll drive down the rest of the famous Mulholland Drive, can you believe it’s closed. Oh well, 101 back to home for afternoon tea in our new mini-kettle – Assam, so civilised.
Another sunny day and lazy start.
Then we do the botanical gardens, at least with plant watching they don’t fly off like bird watching. The place is in need of a bit of TLC and some signs. Good 90 minute walk up and down but not really worth the $7 each. 
The sea mist is shrouding the Channel Islands, there’s an occaisional peep through the mist.
Lazy start to a grey day as we pack to move onto to Nat and Pauls home in Atascadero. I must be about 8 years since we last saw them.
Then drive onto Atascadero after yet another brief supermarket stop.
Then drive down the coast to Harmony for a shuffle around the pottery and glassworks. Only 18 people live there!
Groundhog Day (Pennsylvania German: Grund’sau dåk, Grundsaudaag, Grundsow Dawg, Murmeltiertag; Nova Scotia: Daks Day) is a tradition observed regionally in the United States and Canada on February 2 of every year. It derives from the Pennsylvania Dutch superstition that if a groundhog emerges from its burrow on this day and sees its shadow, it will retreat to its den and winter will go on for six more weeks; if it does not see its shadow, spring will arrive early.
While the tradition remains popular in the 21st century, studies have found no consistent association between a groundhog seeing its shadow and the subsequent arrival time of spring-like weather.
To serve all our troops in all branches of the United States Military by sending care boxes full of items they need for their professional and personal well-being.
We were going to drive up Highway 1, all along the cost to where it was closed off. But when we saw the various work crews clearing fallen trees decided it might be more sensible to just hunker down for the afternoon. Test out some SQL solutions for PCMSC, and who knows I might even get some of the Benjamin Franklin biography read.
Start the day with a pathetic breakfast and then it’s off in the pouring rain up to the Reagan Library. It’s over a 100 miles between Dana Point in the South East of LA and the Reagan in the North West of LA.
Amazing not a single hold up driving across LA. Most of it was in HOV lane (2 or more people in car). What a great way to travel, hardly any traffic in them and usually much wider with lower risks. I knew on April 3rd 1971 that Wendy would eventually come in useful!
The Reagan Library is amazing. What a prosperous Presidency he had. Really improved my appreciation of his time as President and the issues of the time. Pity we don’t have leaders of his calibre. To have a full sized Air Force One in the Library. 
Then we did the Auschwitz Not long ago. Not far away tour, which was packed. Another Yad Vashem moment. I found it as good as Yad Vashem, exhibits etc were not as large and spectacular but the detail and individual case stories were amazing. Can’t fail to be moved and wonder how could it ever happen. How did so many go along with it? Is the cruelty and evil in all of us that can be released? Worrying.
Then it’s a drive to Santa Monica and down WIltshire and Santa Monica Boulevards at rush hour to our hotel. LA at its worse. How do people cope with it.
Have a walk up to Wholefoods to buy something for tea. Interesting area; a few homeless, one even sat on the wet pavement with his iPad; but no one sleeping rough. Amazing Wholefoods had normal people in it, none of the freaks who infested Wholefoods New York.
E pluribus unum, Latin pronunciation: [e ˈpluribus ˈunum]) – Latin for “Out of many, one” (also translated as “One out of many” or “One from many”) – is a traditional motto of the United States, appearing on the Great Seal along with Annuit cœptis (Latin for “he approves the undertaking [lit. ‘things undertaken’]”) and Novus ordo seclorum (Latin for “New order of the ages”) which appear on the reverse of the Great Seal; its inclusion on the seal was suggested by Pierre Eugene du Simitiere and approved in an act of the Congress of the Confederation in 1782.
That the phrase “E pluribus unum” has thirteen letters makes its use symbolic of the original Thirteen Colonies which rebelled against the rule of the Kingdom of Great Britain and became the first thirteen states, represented today as the thirteen stripes on the American flag.
A popular but erroneous myth is that the seal is changed during times of war, so that the eagle faces the arrows in its left talon. This belief may have arisen because major changes to the seal have coincidentally been made before or after wars – specifically, the 1945 change in the seal, and also the 1916 change in the flag (though not the seal) from the right-facing Great Seal to the left-facing presidential seal.
The belief is perpetuated by a 2000 episode of The West Wing entitled “What Kind of Day Has It Been?”. Character Admiral Fitzwallace, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, notes that the presidential seal in the center of the Oval Office carpet contains a shield bearing a bald eagle clutching the olive branch in its right talons and arrows in its left. The eagle’s head is turned toward the olive branch. Fitzwallace alleges that in times of war the seal is replaced with one in which the eagle’s head is turned toward the arrows.
Start the day watching Fox in order to get the full American experience. Early morning joy bought to your screen with the “Blond Bimbo Horsey Teeth Newsreaders”, all teeth and tits, don your welding goggles before turning on; turn off your hearing aids before they open their mouths with the giggling drivel and trivia of a Butterfly brain. Silly cows. No intellectual stimulation here.
It’s a sunny day so we’re off down to Santa Monica Pier for a pleasant stroll. Very busy. Like a more up market Blackpool all confined to the one long pier.
Then we drive down to Venice Beach for a stroll along the front. It’s a weirdo magnet. Santa Monica seemed to have “normal” guys and gals, but here it’s weirdo heaven. More weirdos than a New York Wholefoods supermarket. There’s shirtless roller skaters with ties down their back; roller skaters who have turned up their Gay meter to outdo even Torvill and Dean; tasty, skimply dressed women in ugly boots with soles so thick it’s a wonder they don’t get nosebleeds; ugly dogs with matching ugly owners; 
dogs in bike baskets with sun glass and goggles on; that many Jesus Lookalikes I’m sure there must be a competition on nearby; women in jeans with holes so big it’s hardly worth wearing them, other than to display their tattooed legs; tattooed folk who have obviously escaped from a Fairground freaks show; and of course piercings in every orifice imagined and visible and no doubt an excess in invisible body parts.
Shop owners trying to entice you in to view and buy their bizarre wares. One really smart business owner, who obviously has an MBA in marketing and has really profiled his typical customer, tries to entice me into his store. What’s wrong with that you may say, well all he sells is skate boards – I rest my case.
Ah, the joys of morning routines: one of the most stingy and disgusting breakfast’s devoured, bags packed, and the open road beckoning. Today’s destination? Ventura.
Our Airbnb, nestled in the bosom of an “okay” neighborhood, doesn’t exactly scream luxury from the outside it’s about as spectacular as a soggy Subway sandwich. But fear not for appearances can be deceiving. Inside, it’s a different story altogether: comfort, cleanliness, and enough amenities to make even the pickiest traveler swoon. And lo and behold, a glimpse of the sea! Well, sort of, if you crane your neck just right and squint past the rooftops.
Another sunny day so set off to Santa Barbara. Yes, we’ve been there before, but that applies to most of the places on this trip. It’s a lovely typical California beach resort complete with palm trees, beaches, surfers and of course a pier. Thank fully there’s no amusements, grot shops or filthy greasy spoon, salmonella infested cafes to spoil it. Most of the people seem boringly normal, unlike the freaks in Venice Beach.
Walk along the pier; lunch in the car overlooking the beach and the Channel Islands. Back home to try a coffee from the local coffee shop – as expected it’s full of Apple laptops, probably all browsing porno. Sample their different coffees FOC – now that’s enterprising. Buy a bag of the sweetest coffee I’ve ever tasted.
Well I see our fucked up Blackburn council has decided to allow the building of an Industrial park on greenbelt. Now there’s a surprise! One would wonder whether the council are lapdogs to the Issa Brothers? There’s a question. Have the Issa brothers added Blackburn council to their long list of acquisitions. Why would any sane council approve any plans from the Issa brothers, given their track record of riding roughshod over local planning laws, and getting away with it.
Another sunny day.
Another gorgeous sunny day. Up a the crack of sparrows to catch the boat / ship over to the Channel Islands. Another National Park to add to my collection. It’s a tad rough so the wimp in me takes a Qwell, seems to stave off a visit from Huey and Ruth and keeps the diced carrots at bay.
Fortunately there’s a NP Ranger talk and walk – always a great way to learn about the park. We’re rewarded with two sightings of the gorgeous Channel Island fox and a CI Scrub Jay. Being an Island a lot of the animals and plants have evolved separately from the mainland. There’s a 300 foot climb to some great viewpoint s at the top of the cliffs – Wendy struggles with her back but is glad she did it as the views were worth it. Have lunch on the clifftop, enjoying the stunning clifftop views.
The island fox only lives on six of the eight Channel Islands off the coast of southern California–they are found nowhere else on Earth. Each island population is recognized as a separate endemic or unique subspecies.
The island fox, a descendant of the mainland gray fox, is the largest of the Channel Islands’ native mammals, but one of the smallest canid species in the world.
Although foxes have always existed at low population sizes, four island fox subspecies underwent catastrophic declines in the 1990s. On San Miguel, Santa Rosa and Santa Cruz Islands at Channel Islands National Park, the decline was attributed to predation by golden eagles. The presence of non-native ungulates as a food source in addition to the DDT-caused decline of bald eagles, a natural competitor, facilitated the establishment of golden eagles as resident breeders on the islands. 
By 2000, predation on island foxes resulted in population declines to 15 individuals on San Miguel and Santa Rosa Islands, and less than 80 on Santa Cruz Island. In 2004, each of the park’s island fox subspecies were federally listed as endangered.
In 1999, Channel Islands National Park began an island fox recovery program that included captive breeding and reintroduction of foxes, removal of resident golden eagles, re-establishment of bald eagles, and removal of non-native ungulates. 
This coordinated, organized and highly focused strategy was able to reverse the certain extinction of an endangered population. Today, the population has recovered within the park. Population trend and annual survival are currently monitored to ensure that recovery continues and future threats to the park’s island fox subspecies are identified.
The island fox is one third smaller than its mainland ancestor the gray fox. Environmental and ecological factors such as overcrowding, reduction in predators, food limitations, and genetic variations could have contributed to the natural selection for a smaller size.
The island fox has similar markings to the gray fox. They have gray coloring on the back, rust coloring on the sides,and white underneath. The face has a distinctive black, white, and rufous-colored patterns.
Up at the crack of Sparrows yet again, but getting slightly better.
You really couldn’t make this up, greeted by a tranvestite, then passed over to a guy who is blind. Use accessibility features of his iPhone, and the dog, to do an awesome job. In no way did his disability impede his customer service or ability to do the job. Amazing. 
Drive through Del Mar, all very posh. Drive up the coast road to Encinitas. Have lunch on Moonlight Bay beach. Then onto Carlsbad for a mooch around and a coffee. Not quite as glamorous as we remember it. Then drive onto Oceanside. Finally call in at the Outlet Mall in Carlsbad, no idea why, as we never but anything.
Lazy start then off down to Old Town. Visited the Heritage Park which has some awesome old buildings, what style. Then it’s a visit to the Mormon Battalion Museum. It’s a free tour and is one of the most creative Mormon tours we’ve ever done. Great use of technology, warm welcome and as always free. Can well recommend it, they don’t push their religion down your throat, very low key.
Then had a shuffle around Old Town and visited to First courthouse. Wendy passed on lunch as everywhere was Mexican. Having lunch out with Wendy is a challenge to anyone’s patience – even for me who is legendary for my patience and understanding – as she seeks her view of gastronomic perfection – snowflakes food. In future we ensure she brings a sandwich.
Back home for afternoon tea on the patio and then another quiet night in, with a great bottle of Carmenera.
Another lazy start to a warm sunny day.
The misery index is an economic indicator, created by economist Arthur Okun. The index helps determine how the average citizen is doing economically and is calculated by adding the seasonally adjusted unemployment rate to the annual inflation rate. It is assumed that both a higher rate of unemployment and a worsening of inflation create economic and social costs for a country.
Wake up to another grey day but at least it’s warm.
Hotel is ideally situated, and we have a nice suite.
Great breakfast. You can tell we’re in America, there’s the iconic waffle machine and we meet some friendly Americans, complete strangers, over breakfast for an entertaining breakfast. So much more engaging than any of our meal encounters on the 12 day geriatric cruise.
Listening to the announcements on our subway train I keep wondering why we’re on this “Broken down train”. Turns out it’s a translation error on my part, they’re really saying we’re on a “Brooklyn bound train”. Bloody earring aids.
Catch the ferry over to the Statue of Liberty. Do the touristy thingy and then the highlight of our trip is the ferry to Ellis Island. I’ve fancied this for years. It’s very well done and doesn’t disappoint, just wish we had more time. Took in the whole experience and then watched the film that summarized the whole experience, sadly we had to leave halfway through. It really was a stark eye opener to what those legal immigrants had to endure to escape to the promised land. Stories of hopes and tears. Seemed like a Yad Vashem moment, haunting and moving experience. Best experience of the whole trip.
Then it’s a subway up to Juniors restaurant for my long anticipated Pastrami on Rye, it was awesome and massive. Followed by their famous cheesecake and an expensive Rum Runnner cocktail – all awesome.
The World over it seems that dickheads on bikes who don’t understand red traffic lights, but in New York it takes on a whole new threat. I thought a aseball bat might be a great solution to knock them off as they try to mow you down, but a walking pole would be better, they’d be head over handle bars and an added bonus it would wreck their bike.
Got to Bob and Marilyns just before 14:00. Such a lovely comfortable home. Soon got settled in and then its off to the supermarket for supplies. Sun’s out and it’s lovely and warm 66F. This is the life. Sure shitting in the tall cotton.
