One Lap

Date: 11/17/2013

Day: 52

Location: Pasadena, CA

Miles Today: 134

Total Miles: 12,144

No Longer a Lonesome Traveler, More PCH, Where to Eat in LA, Simon Rodia, A Two Shuttle Trip, Seen on the Road, Tomorrow

No Longer a Lonesome Traveler

The Mrs. Colonel arrived this morning in the right place, at the right time. This instantly became a happier trip with her along.

More PCH

We left John Wayne International and processed slowly from Costa Mesa north on California 1. Above is a better picture of the iconic sign. Below; the Pacific Coast Highway.

Hunting Beach is where the Mrs. Colonel was a lifeguard in her youth. Yes, she saved men from drowning out there.

Beach scene: Mom on skateboard pulled by a small dog. Boy on scooter in helmet follows.

Where to Eat in LA

Trips to LA devolve into negotiations on where to eat. Today we hit two.

Philippe's (near Union Station in LA) makes the best lamb dip sandwiches in the universe. Their cheesecake runs a close second.

Wish you were here.

Folks happily waiting in line to order and sitting at long tables doing what comes naturally. Sawdust on the floor. The Colonel once saw the Stanford marching band come down the stairs in the rear playing the Wabash Cannon ball. Almost, but not quite enough to make one drop a lamb dip sandwich.

Paul's Kitchen makes the best Wor Won Ton soup in the universe. Like Philippe's, they are not heavy on swank; note the traffic cone on the post.

The broth is to die for.

Simon Rodia

The Watts Towers, or better, the Towers of Simon Rodia, are a masterpiece. They are a complex of 17 interconnected structures; towers, yes, but also walls, alcoves, doors, even a boat. They were constructed between 1921 and 1954. The towers themselves are built of discarded sections of rebar wrapped in mesh and covered with mortar. Two of the towers are almost 100 feet tall. The mortar is decorated with bits of porcelain, glass and shells.

Since the last time we were there, the area has been fenced off and is accessible only on tours, a very good thing. You can see what you need to see through the fence.

This is the man himself standing before his masterpiece.

Someone on staff is clear on the concept. This wins the prize for most creative use of a eucalyptus stump.

Sarah is amazing; Sara is cool. Sarah does great tiny graffiti.

A Two Shuttle Trip

It was not in the plan to see two Space Shuttles on the One Lap journey, but the Endeavour in now on display at the California Science Center in Exposition Park, across the street from USC. How could one say no?

This vehicle is currently mounted horizontally. Plans are to display it vertically with its two solid fuel boosters and external fuel tank. It will be the only shuttle so displayed. That will call for another visit to LA. One actually gets closer to the Shuttle here than in Florida.

The dark tiles are newer. The entire vehicle looks well used. Accelerating to 25 times the speed of sound and burning off that energy returning through the earth's atmosphere is a rough business.

It is big.

The supporting displays are excellent as well.

Seen on the Road

Cops with a front mounted bike.

Possibly the least attractive statues of athletes ever made; no heads and cut off at the knees. What were they thinking? It was perpetrated for the 1984 Olympics.