I had done a whole post on my last day of hiking and it then disappeared into the atmosphere. I am about to head out to Calgary for the stampede so the post will have to wait until I return. There are photos below to tide you all over until my return.
A picture says a thousand words anyway, right?
Monday was Catalina Island day. We took off on the ferry from Newport Beach for a day in the sun. I sort of expected it to be a bit like Rottnest, but like everything else in the USA it is much bigger, with a much larger population. Was so relaxing sitting on the beach. Kari and I thought we might go do some snorkeling as it's supposed to be amazing there. So we walked over to the dive spot and I tested the water with my toes. No thank you! My feet almost instantly started feeling numb so there was no amount of convincing from Kari that would get me in the frigid water. I even tried to see if my toes could get used to the temperature, but after a minute in there I thought I would save myself a visit to the hospital to be treated for hypothermia. Kari decided to jump in anyway (you know it's cold when the divers with their wetsuits on are still squealing like little girls when they get in). So I watched Kari from a wall up above and minded her stuff while she braved the arctic temperatures. Bob and Ilene came over as Ilene was keen to snorkel also...until she felt the water and then decided she probably didn't want to risk heart failure.
We rented a little golf buggy and Bob gave us a tour of his happy place. Was interesting zooming up and down the mountains and he showed us where he has been zip-lining before.
We headed back in the late afternoon and finished off a very relaxing day with dinner on the end of Newport Beach pier, at a place called Ruby's (a 50s diner). It was Bob and Ilene's 41st wedding anniversary so Kari asked the waited to give them a hot fudge sundae.
Was a lovely end to a very relaxing day.
On Sunday my friend Tammy picked me up and we drove up to LA to attend Mosaic's church service. They are going through a series call Free at the moment and Hank spoke on how loving others sets us free. He asked 2 improv comedy actors to come out on stage and act out love scenes from movies (they had to make it up on the spot as they didn't know what movies he would call out). Was so hilarious. Good music, great message and a lot of fun to be back. It was a very hot and hazy day and unfortunately Mosaic does not have air-con so it felt like I was detoxing in a sauna. Afterwards, Tammy headed home and I go to stay and catch up with my friend, Joby, who serves there. We had lunch at a nearby cafe and caught up on our lives. Was a really fun afternoon.
Mosaic is right on Hollywood Blvd so I walked along to Chinese Mann's Theatre and saw the stars on the sidewalk, and the strangest people. Where else would you see a guy with 2 huge snakes draped around him and people dressed up in all sorts of costumes, wanting you to pay $1 to have your picture taken with them? I then realised the time and rushed off to catch my train home. I was hoping that I would get to take some great photos of the beach on the way home...except that the train line runs through the armpit of LA with the inspiring scenery of backyards and storage facilities. Will picked me up at the other end of the line and we went to dinner at an Aussie meat pie shop that I found with my friend Andrea. It even serves Bundaberg Ginger Beer.
Was good to be back at my 'home' church.
