Keith and Mike's Indy 500 Trip

[KeithS]

Thanks for the beer advice Anthony. Just sitting in the Qantas Club now waiting to board. I'll message you all again from LA.

[churros]

Isn't there a terrible longing when someone you know is winging there way home to Disneyland?

[KeithS]

Hi everyone. What's wrong with this picture? I'm four hours into our flight but sitting on the ground in Brisbane! A passenger on our plane collapsed after take off, and two hours into the flight, we turned to Brisbane. Have just landed and the medics are taking him off. We should be back in the air in 45 minutes, and be 5 hours late to LA. But nothing that can be done about it

[churros]

Some people are so inconsiderate!

[KeithS]

Well we made it! Beautiful day here in Santa Monica. The flight took longer than expected due to the diversion, but we got through Customs okay and picked up the car easily. It was a bit scary driving on the wrong side of the road but I'll get used to it. About to order room service, watch a little tv, then go to bed. Big day tomorrow, including Pirates at the El Capitan. Will update tomorrow!

[ajp]

Good to hear you eventually got there. Enjoy Pirates tomorrow (or is that today ).

[churros]

Make sure you have a sundae next door!

[KeithS]

Hi everyone. We got wireless in our current hotel and Dad had the foresight to bring his laptop, so I can give better updates for this trip. If I had a USB cable, you could have seen my photos too - but I don't, so you can't!

Anyway - Day Two (so far)
We woke up this morning at 8am - which is perfect. Somehow we've gotten on the right time zone already!

We are staying at the Doubletree Hotel in Santa Monica and it is really nice. We have a big apartment type room, with a separate lounge area, kitchen, large bathroom and big bedroom - it is very impressive! Staff are really friendly too.

The car we hired is a Chevrolet Malibu - it is quite hi-tech with fancy instruments and it doesn't have a handbrake which took me by surprise. It is front wheel drive and pretty gutless - but it drives nicely.

After breakfast, we got in the car and I drove over to Griffith Park. We went to Travel Town first, because my father likes steam trains and I knew they had a bunch of them there. The drive along the freeways from Santa Monica was fun, and we passed the Disney Studio and saw the hat building and the water tank (no photos - my Dad didn't have the camera ready - grrrr). Then we got to Travel Town - Gerard will remember it from the world tour, as we stopped there for a short time in 2006 - it is a basic volunteer museum. They were photographing a model in 1940's period clothing there though - that was cool as she looked hot...

Moving along, we then headed up to Griffith Observtory for lunch. It is a great place to get clear photos of the Hollywood sign on the hills. The morning started out cloudy and dry, but after lunch, the weather began to clear. We had a good look around the observatory area and took lots of photos over towards the City.

We then took a long drive across downtown LA and through Hollywood before heading back to Santa Monica. At Santa Monica, I got parked on the main drag along the beaches, and we walked down to Santa Monica Pier. We bought a handful of postcards (the only thing we've bought so far) - and then headed back to the hotel so my Dad could get some rest.

We'll order some food here now - then head back to Hollywood to see Pirates of the Caribbean (and have something at the Soda Fountain, and buy goodies at the Disney Store!)

Tomorrow - we begin the drive up the coast to San Francisco.

[churros]

Probably good thing that Della is not on the forum with you checking out 40 hot models.

[ajp]

In Keith's defence, there was only 1 model wearing 40's fashion, which makes it OK. And is she was draped over the front of the train, then the chiropractor would be making good money after that shoot.

[churros]

In Keith's defence, there was only 1 model wearing 40's fashion, which makes it OK. And is she was draped over the front of the train, then the chiropractor would be making good money after that shoot.

Why let the truth get in the way of a good story?

[KeithS]

In Keith's defence, there was only 1 model wearing 40's fashion, which makes it OK.

Thanks Anthony - I knew you'd understand!

Anyway - last night we went to see Pirates at the El Capitan.

WOW - I mean WOW!!!!

We got there early so I could get a photo of Dad at the Chinese Theatre, then we headed over the road to the Soda Fountain which was packed with Pirates fans. Lots of people had dressed up as pirates (being opening weekend I guess - or maybe they just always dress like pirates over here - who knows!). Anyway - it was so packed we didn't get to have a dessert - in fact, it was so packed, I didn't even buy anything at the Disney Store!

So we got into the line outside the theatre instead at 7:30 and a cast member came along and gave us all two pieces of eight in a small jewellery bag. Cool. She also gave us our 3D glasses and then we headed into the cinema. We were on the balcony level, so we headed upstairs and collected our free popcorn in a Pirates popcorn bucket, and our free drink and headed to our seats. You could get photos with Jack Sparrow downstairs, but we never saw him. Our seats were front row balcony seats and dead centre - brilliant!

Down on stage, the El Capitan organist was playing Disney music on a magnificent organ - he'd recently won the American Theatre Organist of the Year award - so he's good. He played heaps of tunes, finishing on Yo Ho Yo Ho a Pirates life for me - the audience went crazy - it was so cool. Then the theatre manager came on stage and talked a bit about upcoming movies. He worked up the crowd by having different areas cheering for different things - it was so much fun. Then we lights went out and we saw the new Muppet Movie trailer which looked like a lot of fun (and has Amy Adams...) and then the new Cars 2 movie trailer.

Now I expected the movie to begin - but no - the Pirates soundtrack began to play and you coud see through the movie screen to this diarama of a pirate lair with treasure all over the stage! And they projected pirate mates on the screen and had this awesome lighting display with skulls and cross bones all over the walls of the theatre etc. It was amazing, then they fired of confetti into the audience and the place was going crazy - too much fun! Then it all settled down, the movie began - and most of you know the rest.

And yes, we stayed to the end of the credits!

Today - we leave LA and head up the Pacific Coast Highway to Pismo Beach. Might not have wireless there so I may have to post using my mobile phone again.

Catch you all later!

[ajp]

That sounds awesome Keith. I think seeing a movie there needs to go on the list.

Pismo Beach! Say g'day to Bugs Bunny for us.

[KeithS]

Haha - I forgot that Bugs was always heading to Pismo Beach!

Anyway - we got here in one piece. What a wonderful drive it is up the highway to here. It was a glorious day - sunshine, blue sky and about 21 degrees.

We stopped at Santa Barbara on the way up - it reminded me a lot of Noosa with its quirky shops and boutiques. Although the Spanish/Mexican architecture is obviously not like Noosa!

We are staying at another great hotel - The Sandcastle Inn - it is right on Pismo Beach - wide white sandy beach with a long pier heading out into the sea. And the hotel has free wireless here as well. There are mountains to the east and north, and large sand dunes to the south - those dunes are where they filmed the Ten Commandments - apparently there are still "Egyptian" ruins in the sand down there! It is home to ATV sports - driving over the dunes.

Anyway - tomorrow we hit the road again and head north to Half Moon Bay - just outside of San Francisco. Loving this drive - will have to take Della along it one day!

[Mel]

Haha - I forgot that Bugs was always heading to Pismo Beach!

Don't forget to turn left at Alberqurque!

Pirates sounds amazing! Add the El Capitan to my 'to do' list...