Today is our last day of car hire, so after our slow progress days we needed to get a wriggle on to get to LA. We didnt wriggle too fast though - today we were met with lush green rolling mountains, a plethora of vineyards and a waterfront paddock housing some very lucky cows (I hope they know how fortunate they are - prime location, amazing views!). 
 
Santa Barbara seemed like a nice stop for some coffee and picnic lunch by the water. Think palm trees and rugged mountains behind small coastal city streets. I could imagine this place being a bustling little holiday hub come summer. Lunch however, was disturbed by some large and impatient seagulls, so ultimately I spent most of the time defending my lunch with a limp palm leaf.  Absolutely ridiculous yet fantastic viewing for those who were people-watching. Marc befriended a "patient" seagull that perched beside him and seem content to just sit and watch us eat. He went home with an empty belly too, but was nicer comany nevertheless.
 
As we got back on the road we realised how glad we were doing this part of the trip in winter. Temperatures were low 20's - perfect for our hikes, sunny and blue skies, traffic wasn't at all bad and the whole experience left us feeling quite zen. 
 
Zen only lasted until we hit LA and the accompanying traffic. This was an experience unlike anything else we'd seen before. Yet something miraculous happened - Marc even came out with "Now I'm at a point where I dont even get excited seeing luxury cars". I never in a million years thought I'd hear those words come or of his mouth. Yet truth be told Corvette's, Porsche's, Ferrari's, Mustang's and Dodge's  are commonplace on this highway. A pilgrimage for the rich or pretending-to-be.
 
In saying that we refueled our car at the  equivalent of 69US cents to the Litre. Stoked! Even with the atrocious exchange rate (seriously AUD... what's doing??) thats beyond cheap. No wonder there's supercars everywhere. They're cheap as chips to run. 
 
We must end this chapter of the tale urging anyone and everyone with an inkling that this might be for them - to do it! Make it happen. It's not a culture-shock as the US is essentially the same as Australia (except on a few critical points - see upcoming blog). It's cheap (assuming you do it in US Winter, and the AUD is alive again) and one of those experiences that you'll never forget.