We basically need to cross LA entirely. The traffic is some of the worst I have ever experienced in the States and possibly anywhere else outside Naples, Italy (I have not been to India yet), it occupies 6 lines in each sense. The smog cloud is also something that I can compare with approaching Milan from my hometown on a winter day. The Vespa Service Center was just opened 2 weeks ago and the owner is quite happy about the interest it has created around. Other than Piaggio, it also sells Aprilia and Ducati motorbikes. With the new relay, our Vespa starts up without a blink. EUREKA!
Back to the campground at Dunweiler State Beach in Marina del Rey, we make plans to visit LA tomorrow, just the way we had planned it. Hopefully, we will find Hollywood more appealing this time around.
Just to try out the Vespa, we drive into Santa Monica to walk the Main Street. It doesn't run smoothly initially, but after a while the carburetor gets cleaned up and it runs OK. Back at the campground, we notice an oil leak. Ohh this does not look good at all! Petr is back online to find info about it and narrows down the issue. Apparently it coulod be as simple as a clogged pipe. He will try to fix it in the morning. In the mens bathroom he meets an Italian guy who has trouble understanding how to work the showers. From his broken English and above all his pronounciation, Petr realizes that he is Italian so he sums up all his knowledge and puts together his longest speech ever to explain to the guy how to start it. It goes like this: "This button, twenty seconds". The guy clearly understands the instructions and takes a warm shower. I am so proud of him.
LA high rises from the freeway.
Bumper-to-bumper traffic - and this is not even close to rush hour.
Surfyak - a new sport on the block, half surfing and half kayaking (I made the name up). You paddle out to sea on the surfboard, standing up, wait for a good wave, then you turn around and start paddling like crazy to get on the crest and let the wave carry you to shore. It looked like fun!
Santa Monica and Marina del Rey.