Late sleep-in, then most of the day in Starbucks on the laptop. I seriously need to leave LA and find some full-time climbers. Another $16 night in the rock gym cranking on plastic and trying to find climbers who go out during the week. I did meet one guy who has Monday and Tuesday off work, and he promised to call me Mon to meet up outdoors. I'm sitting here in Starbucks waiting for that call now (now=Valentines Day). I was chatting to someone about Bishop until the gym closed, so I didn't get a chance to take advantage of the showers there. Spent the night in the gym carpark after eating a terribly unhealthy late-night diner meal.
Friday 11 February
Took a drive through Chinatown on the way to Griffith Park. Rein told me that it is a great place to check out while I'm in LA, and he wasn't wrong! I hiked up to the top of the hill and the views were amazing! Even better on a clear day I bet. It felt good to get some exercise, seeing as I haven't done much climbing at all and the food I've been eating - yuk! The observatory itself is really well set up for tourists. Besides the great views from the many levels of balcony, the astrological paraphernalia on display was really interesting. Can't say the cafeteria or the gift shop were equally as impressive!
I left the park at around 7pm, thinking the traffic surely would have died down by then , but no suck luck! I had planned to drive East to Riverside, a county about 60 miles away from Downtown LA, to catch up with some people I had met a week ago and to see a 50s band play in a themed bar. It took me 3 hours stuck in traffic not getting over 20 miles an hour - the most painful driving experience of my life. Never again! But the band was rockin', everyone on the bar was dressed to the nines in vintage gear, the girls had their hair done properly, the guys were all greased up, and we had a great time there. The drummer had his eye on one of my friends (Chupi - cute name for a cute girl), so we all got an invite back to the after party at this vintage everything house - complete with 2 restored caddys and a bike, hair-setting chair, furniture... - where we partied until 4am. I spent the night in the van parked out front.
Saturday 12 February
Spent the day with Maria and Chupi, who graciously showed me the sights on Riverside. "Riverside is better than LA because..." Ok it is beautiful and quiet and suburban and different and relaxed and every other thing. I loved it! The views from the hill, the Black Pride parade (what are YOU doing here white boy?), the Mission Inn...
Chupi (left) and Maria
The Mission Inn
Apparently some woman commited suicide jumping off here when she found out her husband was cheating on her
No comments:
Post a Comment