The Cactus Trip Diaries

I woke up early in the familiar surroundings of a Motel 6 as my body clock was still set somewhere between London and LA, bladder and stomach provided the relevant trigger.

I dropped ET a line to advice her that I was up, so we could start our plans for the day early and then got stuck into checking emails.

Soon after, ET arrived and took me to ‘Polly’s’, a currently preferred alternative to Denny’s, for breakfast. Apart from the MASSIVE Cinnamon roll, it was a remarkably healthy breakfast of 2 fried eggs on toast with lean bacon and a fruit salad! And of course, the bottomless coffee cup.

Then off to Nikon on Wilshire Boulevard in Beverly Hills where the friendly receptionist in the customer service department welcomed Eunice like an old friend. We had come to check in my D600 that suffered from a common problem of ‘oil spots’ on the sensor and had led to a global recall to have the problem removed free of charge.

We then moved on to a rare sight these days (at least in rural Britain), a well stocked camera shop, Sammy’s, spread over four floors, a bit like being let loose in a sweety shop. Just browsing!

Where to next? Well, how about the Hollywood sign that overlooks LA and districts. So we drove up to the Griffith Observatory from where you had an excellent view of the sign and, by turning 180 degrees round, over Los Angeles. As it had not been raining (apart from a light drizzle over breakfast) the familiar LA haze that is a mixture of naturally moist air from the Pacific Ocean and air pollution from industry and transport was blurring the view. It was great to walk around in the sun in Spring-like temperatures of 18 C, at least until we could see rain clouds gathering. All images filed here as S3219 – no cacti or other succulents recorded.

On the way to Bellflower, the Art Deco Union Station is still in use and well worth a stroll around and taking more pictures (S3220 – again no cacti).

By now a light rain had started but as we headed back to Bellflower we left the dark clouds behind us.

This was also about the time that jet lag kicked in – a bit like hitting a brick wall. Since then we have been for dinner at El Torito, watched TV and typed up these notes but to be fair, I have been asleep all the time 🙂

I have had more exercise since I have stepped off the plane than I have had during the rest of 2015! Must do MUCH better when I get back.

How is this report related to cacti? I hear you ask. Today was not, but it is part of a trip that will have cactus and other succulent plants content before I fly home and I find it useful to have all my notes in one place. Plus I know of many cactophiles whose partners or spouses do not share our fanatic interest in plants but who might well be persuaded to allow them to come on such a trip or even to come along on a trip to California when they learn that there is more to see than ‘just cacti’.