Day 22 - What No Wal-Mart?
Trip Start
May 19, 2008
1
24
161
Trip End
Nov 08, 2008
Los Angeles,
California,
United States
Monday, June 9, 2008
Had our most effortless Travellers Cheque cashing experience to date at Bank of America. Only the one signature and finger print per cheque. (Can't remember if we mentioned previously, the record for the most laborious experience goes to a bank in El Cajon, who insisted on the regular signature on the front, one on the back, full UK address and thumb print on each cheque!) Dana Point appears to have more experience of tourists
Packing Up Camp (San Onofre)
! There is the usual mix of surf shops, galleries and arty shops that you would expect to find in a mid-size Californian coastal town, but the best one for us was the little general grocery store with a very strong Mexican influence. We bought some ready prepared chicken fajita filling from the fresh meat counter, which comprised of chicken and peppers all ready marinated. And from the deli counter, fresh salsa and fresh guacamole, all prepared by real Mexicans. Are we looking forward to dinner tonight!
Back at the garage we were informed that the brakes had been very badly adjusted, the brake drum wasn't centered correctly and that although we had new brake hoses, none of the clips that should hold them in place were fitted. Unfortunately they didn't have them in stock, because as the guy said you don't expect a vehicle to come in without them! We are now quite overwhelmed by the state in which this bus was allowed to leave SDCVW. Mel has decided that if their "VW Restoration" business dries up (probably through being sued for negligence), then Chris and Elizabeth could start a pop group - So-Shoddy-Shoddy!
On the road again with perfect brakes, we headed slightly further north to Laguna Beach where we stopped for lunch by the beach
In For Brake Repairs
. The surf and the scenery were amazing, just a shame about the weather. It had brightened up a little bit, but it wasn't exactly sunbathing weather. A little further up the coast and the sun came out to play. We decided that we would get parked up at one of the State Beach Parks, get our spot for the night and then just chill out for the afternoon. But it was not to be. Both Bolsa Chica and Huntington State Beaches were full and the privately run RV park nearby wanted $55 for one night for our tiny little veedub and that was for a tarmac parking space! We said thanks but no thanks, especially as it was next to a power station, those people were having a laugh! God knows what they charge the huge RV's?!
Another unexpected sight in this area were the oil pumps just behind the beaches and at one site, right in front of some previously front-line beach properties (gutted!). There are also several oil rigs out at sea which are clearly visible from the coast. Gas at whatever the cost!
As these beaches are just south of LA county, we had now entered the land of the "Beautiful People", so no parking overnight in a beach parking lot, oh no
Dana Point Harbour
! They want $10 from you for daytime parking. And everywhere else there are signs saying "No Camping" or "No Overnight Parking". That being the case we went to Plan B, find a Wal-Mart. It is quite common practice over here for RVs to pull in overnight into a Wal Mart car park. Most Wal Mart stores tolerate it as they figure you will buy your groceries there. However, after heading for the two big shopping malls shown on our map and several miles in-between, we were no closer to finding a Wal Mart. Neil asked at one of the malls if they allowed overnight parking, to which he got a resounding NO, and they allegedly have never even heard of Wal Mart in that area! As it was now late afternoon, we got onto the freeway (in LA rush hour!) to head up to a State Beach by LA International Airport. It would have been nice to see the other beaches on the way, namely Long Beach, Redondo Beach and Manhattan Beach, but sadly time was against us. As we got closer to Downtown LA it got greyer and greyer and we are convinced that it was smog and not cloud! Eventually we arrived at Dockweiler State Beach which is right on the perimeter of LAX. After convincing them that Chip was in fact a teeny-weeny RV and not just a CAR! We were granted a spot for the night.
Just when you think you can settle in for the evening and relax, you nearly blow yourself into the Pacific when plugging in your electric hook-up
More Dana Point Harbour
! What a surprise, one of the earth cables had been wired into one of the live terminals. Consequently, our adaptor plug and extension cable both have slightly melted pins now. We think that we have now reached the point where nothing else will surprise us about SDCVW's standard of work. And finally, our Mexican dinner. A meal that can only be described as mouth-watering. No need for Jalapeňos with that salsa!
Distance travelled: 99 miles
Total distance travelled: 178 miles
Days on road: 2
States visited: 1
