If you have time, the way to drive from San Francisco to LA, is by Route 1, down the Big Sur and along the Pacific Coast Highway. If you care to scroll back to last year’s blogs, you’ll find some stories from that route. This year, we are short on time. The girls fly out from LA in a couple of days, so we stick to the highway. There is, however, one must-do stop. Santa Barbara. Even if you have but a few hours, here is a beautiful spot to stroll the beach, have dinner on the pier and generally feel good about yourself.  

   
   
The sand sculptor has left us a mermaid, the beach dwellers, rather than wave paper cups at us, have left us games, fun targets to throw coins at, and the sunset sparkles on the masts of the sailboats at anchor. Also, the chowder in a bread bowl, is worth stopping for alone.  

In LA, there are more joyful reunions, as Vicki meets up with her kinder. We stay at Ed and Shains’s beautiful new home in North Hollywood. A couple of days fly by. We explore Hollywood. The girls do a tour of Beverley Hills. We meet a group of Deirdre’s friends from London, who are also holidaying here. That makes for a fun night out. 

   
   
The girls last day and we go to Santa Monica beach. It’s Saturday afternoon. It’s teeming with people. Saturday people. Beach people. The pier is full of colour and activity. Of life and noise and movement. As the sun sets, we leave for the airport. A sad farewell. Off they go.