Happy 4th of July!

Had a large breakfast, although we had to put up with a large annoying group of cyclists who were jabbering away - Dad should have asked for some tips. The waiter also filled my half full cup of tea with coffee whilst I wasn't looking - yuck!

Stopped of in Cambria, a small town with some arty and memorabilia shops, and spent about half an hour looking around. I was still tired from last nights trip and had forty winks in the car - Dad said I was like one of those cuddly toy Garfield window stickies with my arm and face stuck up against the window.

Arrived in Ventura, our destination for the evening, at about 6pm and settled into our room. We went for a stroll along the beach front and observed a group of youths hanging around looking suspicious. As we walked past them I heard the sound of a walkie talkie. About 2 minutes later, two police cyclists rounded the corner, closely followed by another youth who proceeded to follow them, at a distance, all the way up the beach - a lookout???

We hastily retreated to the safety of the historic downtown area and found somewhere for our evening meal - packed with yanks celebrating their day off from work! Unbelieveably, Dad was defeated by a salad! Ok, it was the biggest salad you will ever see, but still ... a salad?

With little else open, we spotted a cinema that was playing the new Robin Williams film, "Licence To Wed". T'was a funny film and then we negotiated our way back to the hotel, crossing the road every so often to avoid alcoholic vagrants begging for money.

Turned on the TV and was greeted by the most disturbing news stories so far - no, not "American Wins Hot Dog Competition By Eating 66 (With Buns) In 12mins", which I believe to be fairly normal over here, but "Mother Cooks Baby In Microwave" and then the following story; "Mother Gets Baby Drunk On Vodka" - what a nation!!!

Actually that reminds me of the programme we were watching the other night; "NBC Datline.com - To Catch A Predator". This involved setting up potential paedophiles online by pretending to be 13 year old boys and girls, asking them to come over to their house, having actors play the kids to get them in the house and the host jumps out and confronts them. Many pleaded for forgiveness, some brought lunch, and one was even caught in the same trap for the second time - yes folks, this IS a series!! - after the host showed them up he told them that they were free to go - only to be arrested as they walked out the door by about 30 police officers! One didn't get down on his knees quick enough so they shot him with a taser - well they did ask him nicely first ... comedy TV at its best, if it wasn't for the seriousness of the subject matter.

We were just dropping off to sleep when the first, of what was to prove many, trains went past the hotel. The railway line ran about 10 yards away from the building and American trains are seemingly endless. It was exactly like the scene from Joe Pesci's "My Cousin Vinny" - even the walls were rattling! Unsuprisingly, Dad slept on ...

Coastal Road 1

Coastal Road 2

Coastal Road 3

Ventura Beach