California, part 6

Santa Monica

The beaches in California make me happy with their golden hue and generally gorgeous people and the blue sea and the hot, hot sun.

I think I love the Californian climate the most. It is certainly preferable to the muggy, sticky, swampy East Coast weather (and I’ve not done the Deep South yet folks!).

I love a boardwalk and the West Coast has plenty of ’em. And I confess to rather liking the American pier with the rides and the hot dogs (or fish tacos, if I’m lucky). It’s a little bit tacky and a little bit Blackpool, but when you’re doing it in the Californian sunshine, it works for me!

On Santa Monica pier we met Gary, a British bloke who’s been over here yonks, and who, in his spare time plays footie and read my blog. Gary’s even written something before in this here blog 🙂

Me and Gary in Santa Monica

Let it be known that British blokes, even if they’ve lived here forever, bond over fish ‘n’ chips, a pint and talk of footie.

As much as hitting the end of iconic Route 66 made me smile on Santa Monica pier, being at Santa Cruz pier where they filmed the Lost Boys movie made me even happier. To think that Kiefer walked this boardwalk in his vampiric state amused me greatly. I was a little disappointed, however, that the Lost Boys soundtrack was not on constant repeat through the pier speakers. That would have completely made my day!

Getting my kicks at the end of Route 66

Santa Cruz minus the vampires!

All the fun of the Santa Cruz pier

American piers and boardwalks are just very, um, very American. And I totally dig them. Fact.

Next up: seals, dolphins, Santa Barbara, Carmel, 17 mile drive, wine tasting California stylie