Day 15
Saturday August 29
The original plan for the day had me overnighting just outside Los Angeles, a day of exploring the city, dinner with my sister and the redeye flight home. Waking up in Goleta certainly took a few things off the table for the day. Once I started posting photos on Facebook, my friend Jerry suggested we meet for lunch. Yeah, a much better offer.
One town south of Goleta is Santa Barbara, a place I had gotten to know pretty well over the years. What better way to start the day than a walk along a nice beach. I first stopped at Arroyo Burro Beach, a bit gloomy and gray.
The sign at the edge of the parking lot clearly states dogs must be on a leash within one hundred yards of the parking area. Most people were being respectful of that. Just up the beach, they were having a blast.
Further up the beach is Shoreline Park. Funny how quickly it went from gray to clear skies. In the middle of the park is a set of stairs down to the beach.
I texted Jerry and told him I was leaving Santa Barbara and intended to take the Pacific Coast Highway all the way into Los Angeles. I'd check in again down the road.
The drive itself was interesting. The PCH hugs the coast, comes inland and then back out to the coast. Everywhere there was a beach was packed. Cars were parked along the road and yes, there were plenty of people carrying surfboards. Considering it's the weekend and a gorgeous day, I shouldn't have been surprised. You quickly learn to stay in the left lane to avoid the worst of it.
Eventually, I made my way towards Malibu, found a municipal park and pulled off. The GPS said I was twenty-five minutes away. Jerry suggested a local place, La Cabana. He loves the place because they make everything themselves. After meeting in the parking lot across the street, we walked over.
Lunch was excellent and as always, hanging out with Jerry was a hoot. Jerry and Emma moved here from London in October. I still had a little time, so he gave me the quick tour of his neighborhood. Jerry's wife makes and sells Halloween themed face masks. he gave me one before I left.
I left Jerry and took a twenty minute drive out to meet my sister. She's back in LA and running the Sivananda Yoga Vedanta Center. We had a great time catching up on family news and an interesting conversation about the realities of teaching Yoga via Zoom as opposed to in person classes.
But, as they always do, vacations come to a close and and it was time to head back to LAX. Once I was through security and making my way towards the gate, I was surprised the only thing still open was a Starbucks. I figured at least a bar would be open.
Airport pet peeve: Many airports have those long rows or prefab seating with the electrical outlets built in. In far too many, there's no power feeding them. I wound up sitting on the floor, leaning against the wall, socially distanced from a guy on the other side of the outlet.
The flight home was painless and I like how redeye pilots tend not to chatter too much.
Monday September 1
Considering my two long plane flights, as well as all the time interacting with people in California, I figured the right thing to do is schedule a Covid-19 test. My HMO has a drive up facility in their back parking lot. It's ALL they have in the back lot.
When I drove up, there was a sign asking people to have their medical ID and drivers license on the dashboard, windows rolled up. One nurse calls out your ID number and information to another on a computer. Once all the paperwork is done, you roll down the window, lower your mask and they stick a swab down the back of your throat. Then you drive off. About six hours later...
David
8/2020
PS: While I now feel a certain level of confidence in the travel industry, I have nothing else on tap this year and nothing booked for 2021. But, I'm sure I'll get out and go somewhere new. There are places I haven't seen and some old friends I haven't seen in a long time.
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