After an agonisingly long day waiting to leave Auckland, Robyn & Jayne eventually arrived in LA, met up with Roger & Howard & were introduced to their new bikes.  What bling!! & how cool to go for our first ride around the hotel carpark!  A dip in the pretty pool first, then off for a wee ride to Knott’s Berry Farm & a thrill or two – yee haa!Silver bullet-click to see Apparently Jayne doesn’t ‘do’ heights or loops, so I don’t know how we ended up on Montezuma’s Revenge – backwards & forwards, loop-de-loop! Those adrenaline rushes kept us going until late, fireworks, then dinner & blissfully to bed.  What a perfect day!

Day 2: Getty  Center

Sorted out storage for Mansells for their Tucson sojourn, then headed all the way across LA to the Getty Center.  That was a mission itself, the GPS worked magnificently.  We realised what a challenge the guys had – arriving in LA, straight to Bartells to collect their Harleys, waiting (!) for the paperwork, then finding their way to Van Nuys to dress themselves & the bikes in new Harley gear (very cool ideed)  & making their way back to the hotel.  They had to overcome a few hiccups & jetlag & pressure to have everything ready to go for us, so well done guys.

The Getty Center was magnificent!  Barely 10yrs old, it looked like a mediterranean village perched on the hill overlooking LA and encompassed all the arts, indoors &  out, including the architecture & delightful spiral garden (with many NZ flaxes), such attention to detail, tram ride from the carpark and all at no charge! Roger & I particularly enjoyed the room full of Rembrandts & Jayne & Howard loved the outdoors.

Getty Center Gardens

We needed to cool off so made our way to Malibu where Howard had a dip with the pelicans, then back to Santa Monica pier for more thrills – of every kind. Immediately spotted hot chicks with tiny fluffy dogs in bags, beach volleyball studs & studesses, Elvis singing on the beach & Roger’s first ferris wheel ride! Think Jayne & heights & loops (hehe), higher than a passing helicopter, red setting sun that was easy to view due to smog that clouded the beach and good ole fish’n’chips by the sea.

We had a spot of fun coming home in the dark when both GPSs went on the blink, leaving us totally lost – eek!  but don’t panic, we knew where we were headed & with great signage on the freeway made our weary way home. We’re convinced it was the heavy smog & damp atmosphere that caused it, as we were back online once we moved into clear air.

Beer & bed beckons!