Great night's sleep in our new room, didn't wake up till about 8.30! Just as well really as it was very misty and it was drizzling with rain. It was still very warm, the sea was very rough and the surfer boys were all going to the beach with their boards.
We were originally planning to go on the beach and later hire some push bikes out, but the weather changed that.
We met up about 10 ish and agreed to go for a drive until the weather got better.
Off we went to Venice Beach, we only briefly looked around the other night, so thought it would be good to do during the day.
It is only about 5 mins drive up the coast, we drove down a side road to the beach, parked up and went onto the promenade. Venice is like Camden with a beach. A whole bunch of crazies, new agers, old hippies, artists, drown and outs and tourists all crammed into one long strip along the beach.
The street sellers sell all sorts of wierd stuff, carvings, paintings, tshirts etc etc. You can have tarot readings done, get holistic treatments, even have your chakras sorted!
The place only starts waking up about 10.30, so lots of the street sellers were setting up, lots of buskers play along the promenade, they were all tuning their guitars and as always along this stretch people were out riding bikes, jogging, skate boarding,walking their dogs, or just plain walking along like we were.
We came across The House of Ink tattoo parlour. I'd read about this place online before the trip, so we popped in and asked the price for our Route 66 design. The shop was empty apart from a guy and a girl behind the counter. We showed them the design, they asked a few questions and they quoted between $250- $300. They said it would take about 2 hours. We said we would think about it and off we went.
We carried on walking along the prom, the mountains towards Malibu were covered in mist, it wasn't raining anymore and quite pleasant. We were all having discussions about having the "tatt" done, how long it would take etc, etc. Finally I decided to have mine done, Pat also said he would have his done.
So back to the shop we went.
We walked in, said let's do the tattoos and negotiated a price. We got the 2 for $220 each plus tax, a total of $250. Pat and I signed the forms, showed our ID and Nick started drawing up the designs.
Once they were done , we were prepped and stencils put in place for the tattooing to begin. I don't find tattooing painful, just a little uncomfortable at times. Nick was a really nice guy, it transpired the he and Jennifer were married, had 3 kids and had been tattooing for about 7 years at this shop. We were chatting all the time about all sorts of things, he thought the idea of us travelling R66 then getting a tattoo to commemorate that feat was really cool.
Sandra and Lel went and had some breakfast, popping in and out of the store whilst we were having it done. Both the girls were saying it was really looking good. Pat's was finished first, mine some 10 mins later, they told us how to care for the tattoo, what cream to get for it etc. We had our pics done with them and off we went. Sarnie posted the pics on Facebook later, when we got back to the hotel.
We stopped and had some brunch,we were all starving and the sun had come out by this time. As the weather had changed we decided to revert to plan A and get out some bikes. On the way back to the hotel we stopped off at a drugstore, got the cream for our tattoos and off we went.
At the hotel I checked us in online and printed our boarding passes, a really nice Australian guy was in the reception office, he was very chatty, asked about the trip etc.
When it was time to hire the bikes, we went to the office, the manager was back by this time. Bike hire was $8 per hour or $14 for 3-5 hours. Well it was close to 4pm and there was no way that after 3 weeks of eating, drinking and driving America that we would be able to ride bikes for over 3 hours! I asked the manager if he could do a deal for 4 bikes for 2 hours at $40. Without looking up he pointed to the sign on his desk and said "there's the rates". I said that I could see that, said we didn't need the bikes for 3+ hours and could he do a deal for 2 hours. His answer was "book them for 3 hours then!"
All through this brief conversation he never once looked up or made eye contact, what an asshole, as they say out here! After 3 weeks I'm becoming quite American.
We basically told him to"shove it" (another Americanism), and went on down to the beach, hired them there and selected our bikes. After a few trial turns on the pedestrian pathway it was time to hit the cycle lane!
I have not ridden a bike in over 50 years but after a few mins it seemed like only yesterday. That saying about never forgetting how to ride a bike, it is so true!
Sarnie was really good, she went off like a steam train, pedalling away like a good'un!
We eventually caught up with her, cycled past Venice and along the beach for a couple of miles. Saw some great beachfront properties, how all the locals used the facilities all along the beach. There are areas for skateboards, body building, volleyball, children's play areas and snack bars and toilets as well. It puts places like Sothend into the shade!
After nearly an hour we were back near the hire shop, so thoroughly knackered and with legs like jelly we gave our bikes back, paid our rental and staggered to the nearest bar for a beer!
The sun was out, the place was buzzing and we all agreed how nice it would be to live in a place like this.
For our last night in America we thought we would go to The King's Head pub for a traditional English meal. After showering, removing the covering from my tattoo, putting the cream on it and getting ready, we jumped in the van, headed downtown and went to the pub.
This pub is so English, it is like an old style pub, not many of those left in England now. We had pies, mash and vegetables, we have all been craving veg after 3 weeks of dining American style! They were dlicious, even though we were all stuffed, " afters" were ordered. Apple pies, trifle and rhubarb crumble, the pies and crumble with Bird's Eye custard! Handsome!
Back to the hotel to finish off the remaining beers and voddie then off to bed for our last night in America.
We have all had a great trip, so many memories, so it is with a heavy heart that we retired for the night knowing that most of tomorrow will be spent packing our cases for the journey home.
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