Pier 2620 was a very nice hotel in a good location. The rooms were attractively furnished and with plenty of space. The location was fine - close to the waterfront, trams and restaurants. I'd definitely stay there again.
We drove through town to collect the girls - remarkably traffic free at 8.30am on a weekday - and headed south on Highway 101. The iPhone and the GPS both indicated about a 5 hour drive to LAX, where the girls would leave us and head for home.
Travelling the I5 along the plains between the great mountain ranges was a little less interesting than some of the other roads we've driven. The countryside was extremely dry and dusty, interspersed with fruit and walnut orchards. There is obviously a lot of discussion happening about the water rationing that Californians are suffering, judging by the placards on fences along the way.
We only stopped briefly, keen not to get inextricably caught in the LA gridlock.
Approaching Tejon, still on the plains to the north of the San Gabriel range, Dom received a text (even though he's on an Australian sim) warning of flash flooding in our area, and to get to higher ground. Shortly after that, my US phone received a very loud siren, warning the same.
Taking heed of the advice, we kept driving towards LA through the range, with the rain flooding the roads. Dom put the car in constant 4WD, and it shuddered up the range.
On the other side of the crest we saw perhaps ten LA Fire Department trucks, helicopter, and two light aircraft all attending a grass fire - perhaps lit by the lightening which was striking all around us. On the way down the range we passed a LAFD low loader carrying a digger, all branded in LAFD livery. These guys know about fire fighting!
We passed another huge storm cell which remained just north east of our route, and then we were back in clear LA sunshine. The temperature had gone from 40 degrees to 17, and back to 35 in less than 40 km of travel.
After the excitement, there was a little afternoon traffic to negotiate, and then into LAX to drop off the girls for their flights home. Nik was returning to Melbourne, and Gab on a later departure to Brisbane. It was very sad to have them leave us and I know they'd have loved to continue on the journey with us.
The trip had taken around 8 hours.
Dom and I drove further south to the Hyatt the Pike at Long Beach. This is our fourth stay at this hotel - we really like it here. The parking is $7 a night (a bargain in the USA), the rooms are large, comfortable and functional, and there is a lovely roof top pool.
We headed out into the balmy west coast evening, along the marina to the Yard House, a raucous sports bar with 100 beers on tap and great food. It's always busy, but the food quality is excellent, and the beers tasty.
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