Drove from Park up to La Jolla ( pronounced Hoya). Another upmarket resort just north of San Diego. Advertised as San Diego's Rodeo Drive because of the expensive shops and exclusive galleries. Anyway we weren't there for the shopping. It's an Ocean Conservation Area, absolutely swarming with sea lions. They make an incredible racket and stink to high heaven. They are photogenic too. There were also lots of cormorants and pelicans around. Property prices well ove...

The Gaslamp Quarter is a renovated Victorian area of San Diego. Very trendy! Lots of bars, restaurants, hotels and independent shops. Not always been like that though! Wyatt Earp spent a few years here back in the 1880s. He owned gambling halls and saloons. "Crime was rampant! Murder, theft robbery, fights and general licentiousness were the order of the day. Hold ups were a daily occurrence." police officers patrolling the area never ventured far apart, as the...

Decided to get bus into San Diego, needed a day without driving. Took ferry across to Coronado, a very upmarket district. You can get a nice two bedroom apartment for about $1,500,000. Rather like going to Birkenhead on the Mersey Ferry! Walked across island, which was further than we thought, to the Hotel del Coronado. An extraordinary place. Don 't think we could ever afford to stay there! Nevertheless worth seeing how the other half live. Built in 1888, enti...

Arrived safely after a long journey. Only one road, but it is somewhat of a white knuckle ride on the 405 freeway driving through Los Angeles. Think of the worse road surface you have ever driven on, it's ten times worse than that. It's so patched up that you can't always see the lanes clearly, you've got to rely on the car in front to keep you on track. Add to that cars overtaking you on both sides, everybody moving at 65 + mph, the worse sign posting in the wor...

Last day in Santa Barbara. Decided to take it easy, stroll around town, take it all in for the last time. Walked allying the wharf watched the fishermen. Very cam, very quiet. Last stroll around Summerland too. What a lovely little oasis. Watched the humming birds darting from tree to tree. Saw another sunset. Tried to fit everything back in the suitcases! Why does it never fit? I hate packing!