Today I have decided that it's a full beach day just to relax and not run around like a tourist. Rather unfortunately when I wake up it's very cloudy. Outside my room Krista has left a pot of coffee (what a great host) and a note detailing all the best beaches in the area and good places to eat (hum how did she know about my love of food?) there was also a reassurance that at this time of the year all mornings start off overcast and by midday the sun should be ou...

Today I am moving on up the coast to Santa Barbara. When I got up I did a 4 mile round trip run to Santa Monica Pier. I stopped at the wooden pier to walk up it and noticed that is was not your typical tacky pier but a little (not a lot, but a little) more upscale. At the end of the pier there is a little display about its history which I stopped and read. On returning back to the house for some breakfast and to pack up and leave, Melodie asked if I wanted to go...

What else to do with myself in LA now that I had the beaches of Venice and Santa Monica ticked off. Hum that was the question and most friends I had spoken to did not given this city high recommendations at all. Dirty, traffic ridden and false were commonly used words. I was not really keen to go to Universal Studies or Hollywood Boulevard and pretty sure my wallet could not handle Rodeo Drive. I decided to take the recommendation of Enrico (the other house gue...

My day started with a 5 mile run along Venice Beach boardwalk, its one of the things that makes me happiest, having time it just enjoy the run and not have to dash back to get to be office on time. I start to come to the realization that Venice Beach essentially just smells of urine and weed. I did notice this yesterday but now it's really apparent and there are LOTS of homeless people here. It's actually quite sad really as while I was running I realized that t...

Once again woken up by those freaky crows! I was up and on the road by 7am, I wanted to get another quick hike in before leaving the area, so I stopped at Black Rocks, for a short but hilly 2 mile hike (High View). I once again had the desert to myself and the smell of the pine trees was invigorating and it sent me on my way to LA very refreshed. I am honestly getting on well with this driving and I'm actually quite enjoying it, the 3 hour ride seemed to go real...