Advertisement
The 'stang!
How cool is that?Up early and had a hot breakfast before heading off to rent a Mustang for the day. Tom had a go at playing navigator and did a great job getting us back to the Airport Rental area. By 9:30am I was like a kid with a new toy sitting at the wheel of a blue Mustang Convertible. First trip was back to our room to drop off the Pathfinder and then Dave wanted a quick visit to Walmart.
This time we had hired a GPS with the car and Dave took a turn as navigator. I think we took about 5 wrong turns and the 43 minute trip to the Walmart took more like an hour and 15 minutes. The whole way we were on a freeways, going from one to another on massive interchanges. Once at Walmart we decided to buy a GPS that we could use in the RV to assist with navigation while we were riding which didn't take too long. Everything else seemed to take an eternity. It's safe to say that Dave "beats to the sound of his own drum", and about 2 hours later (valuable driving time lost) we got back in the 'stang.
Ray Charles (aka Jeff) decided to use the new GPS and accidentally set the language to, who knows what, something we couldn't understand at all. The GPS we hired with the car had overheated and the display dimmed to something we couldn't read. Bugger! We had two GPSs and we couldn't use either.
The boys went back into Walmart to see if they could get the new GPS we bought reset. I decided to saty in the 'stang and "play" with all the controls.
By the time the guys got back (another 30 minutes driving time wasted) I had fixed the hired GPS and worked out the car had an inbuilt GPS which apparently didn't stop Hertz from renting us one. I feel some constructive feedback coming. We now had three GPSs with us and they were now all working.
At last it was time to drive.
We set course for Mulholland Drive in the Hollywood Hills, 20 miles, 4 wrong turns and an endless heated debate on directions with Goldilocks the navigator (or is that Wally Mart?). We eventually got there. "Wally" has now been relegated below Ray Charles as navigator. We had a great
Top of the canyon with the Hollywood sign in the backgrounddrive along the winding scenic road up into the hills. Great views and a good look at the famous "HOLLYWOOD" sign. We stopped for a walk thru a canyon, the car park was full of Mercs, BMWs, and other luxury cars, this was definitely the top end of town and the 'stang fitted in perfectly.
Next stop was to a bike shop that Tom wanted to visit. Apparently it had Eudnitz bikes, the best bikes in the world according to Tom, Well technically Tom was wrong, because it only had one Eudnitz bike and only 3 bikes in the entire shop. The shop was actually a designer clothes outlet that for some reason had 3 bikes in it. At least we were out in about 30 minutes before heading to Hollywood Blvde and the iconic Grauman's Chinese Theatre. We walked along the Boulevarde looking at the Stars in the pavement and taking in the atmosphere before taking a trip along part of Route 66 to Santa Monica pier. There is a permanent carnival on the pier that was packed with people enjoying a beautiful Saturday afternoon. Last stop on the tourist hit list was to Venice Beach. Another famous
Route 66
The end of Route 66 at Santa Monica Pier where the road hits the Pacific Ocean stretch of beach with street performers, and an endless line of gift shops, food stalls, tottoo parlours and the like. It was almost 8pm when we left and headed back to El Segundo. A quick bite of Mexican for dinner before heading home. Ray Charles navigated the last leg and did an admirable job, climbing easily above Wally in the "navigator cup".
Wally's prime purchase at Walmart was a coffee machine. I think the only way I'll get a coffee in the morning is if he throws it at me!
Advertisement
Tot: 0.413s; Tpl: 0.01s; cc: 9; qc: 50; dbt: 0.086s; 1; m:domysql w:travelblog (10.17.0.13); sld: 1;
; mem: 1.1mb
Anne
non-member comment
LOL
Do you realise that you are NEVER going to get right across America with that many wrong turns!!! Can you all fit in the van with the four bikes if you have to race for it? Good luck!