Well reader, I have to tell you that this is the last dispatch of our current trip and I am hoping to complete it before I melt like a knob of butter in a very hot pan! We thought Palm Springs was rather warm but when we got to Los Angeles early this afternoon, the temperature outside was registering 111F on the car's thermometer! This quite simply is not normal and for locals is evidence that something is going on with weather patterns, particularly the ones that have caused utter devastation in some communities in Northern California through forest fires. Fortunately, it is set to cool down to something a little more normal by the end of this week but what they could really do with here is some of the considerable rainfall that we get in the UK. It's not going to happen though.
And so we left our last hotel bed, enjoyed our last early morning coffee and hit Interstate 10 for the 100 mile journey back to LA to meet my now not so new cousin Drena and her husband, David . This was a bonus for us because if our original plans had worked, we would have missed Drena as she heads off to Boston on Thursday to see her son, Josh. Fate for a change played a very welcome hand.
The journey across to Paramount where they live was pretty uneventful although the nine lane 91 West was a new experience! This is not a place to be driving if you are of a nervous disposition. It is eye opening and so was the massive traffic jam we saw coming the other way as we eventually headed to the airport.
But prior to the airport trip, we had a delightful few hours with Drena and David, including lunch at a popular local haunt and I got to enjoy one of the best pizzas - no cheese involved - that I have ever tasted. Thanks to all Sarah's efforts we feel very blessed to have found Drena, her sister Diedre and their respective families and I feel genuinely sad that my dad never got to meet them because he would have truly loved his new found nieces. Perhaps he is watching down and enjoying the interaction that we are now enjoying with our "family across the pond"? We are hoping that next year, we might get to see them in the UK. Fingers are crossed for that to happen.
As I write this, sitting in the departure lounge of the Tom Bradley International Terminal, we are looking forward to getting home to see our family. We love them more than anyone could possibly imagine and it is the one thing that we find difficult to deal with when we go off on our regular travels. Absence unquestionably in our case, makes the heart grow fonder and we can't wait to catch up and give some huge hugs when we get home.
If anybody has been able to persevere with my ramblings over the last three weeks (I am grateful that many of you have), then you have been left in little doubt about the enjoyment and the thrills that we have experienced. As well as crossing items off our "bucket list", every trip here adds more cement to our love for the country and its people and whilst ever we can do it, we will continue to cross the pond.
Funnily enough, on the final drive to the airport, Linda said, "any chance of going to a rodeo next year?" It's been added to the list.
Thank you for reading.
And so we left our last hotel bed, enjoyed our last early morning coffee and hit Interstate 10 for the 100 mile journey back to LA to meet my now not so new cousin Drena and her husband, David . This was a bonus for us because if our original plans had worked, we would have missed Drena as she heads off to Boston on Thursday to see her son, Josh. Fate for a change played a very welcome hand.
The journey across to Paramount where they live was pretty uneventful although the nine lane 91 West was a new experience! This is not a place to be driving if you are of a nervous disposition. It is eye opening and so was the massive traffic jam we saw coming the other way as we eventually headed to the airport.
But prior to the airport trip, we had a delightful few hours with Drena and David, including lunch at a popular local haunt and I got to enjoy one of the best pizzas - no cheese involved - that I have ever tasted. Thanks to all Sarah's efforts we feel very blessed to have found Drena, her sister Diedre and their respective families and I feel genuinely sad that my dad never got to meet them because he would have truly loved his new found nieces. Perhaps he is watching down and enjoying the interaction that we are now enjoying with our "family across the pond"? We are hoping that next year, we might get to see them in the UK. Fingers are crossed for that to happen.
As I write this, sitting in the departure lounge of the Tom Bradley International Terminal, we are looking forward to getting home to see our family. We love them more than anyone could possibly imagine and it is the one thing that we find difficult to deal with when we go off on our regular travels. Absence unquestionably in our case, makes the heart grow fonder and we can't wait to catch up and give some huge hugs when we get home.
If anybody has been able to persevere with my ramblings over the last three weeks (I am grateful that many of you have), then you have been left in little doubt about the enjoyment and the thrills that we have experienced. As well as crossing items off our "bucket list", every trip here adds more cement to our love for the country and its people and whilst ever we can do it, we will continue to cross the pond.
Funnily enough, on the final drive to the airport, Linda said, "any chance of going to a rodeo next year?" It's been added to the list.
Thank you for reading.
Last Coffee In Palm Springs
The Warning That Comes With Your Coffee!
Quite A Well Known Star!
And Another
We're Going To Melt!
With Cousin Drena
And David Who Was Born In Derby!
I’m exhausted just reading your posts. Now time for you to relax at home
ReplyDeleteThanks for the posts Gill. Back home safe and sound and now the problem of jet lag! Will catch up soon.
ReplyDelete