Ventura Weekend

This is how my weekend got started on a Friday night at 1900 hours. See what marvelous car congestion is all about in LA? This is NOT what rush hour is like. If it was rush hour, you would be seeing the fine details on license plates with bumper to bumper standstill traffic. This scene you are seeing IS normal. By the way, just to let you know, I am not multitasking here. As in driving and taking pictures. I am at a complete stop when I took this picture. I think the cars surrounding me on either sides were wondering what I was doing taking pictures and playing Brahms and Vivaldi on the radio with windows rolled down... a rather warm evening and trying to spread some calm to keep the other drivers from spurning into road rage madness, which is the norm around here.
Another view and the road congestion is as bad on the other side too, if one is studying the pictures closely. Supposed to be the Santa Monica Mountain range ahead but the smog makes it hard to be visible. I am on the I-405. Took me almost an hour on a 18 mile stretch before the exchange to the 101. 101 was better as I was going the speed limit all the way to Ventura. Speed limit: 65mph. But folks were going well over 85 mph. Driving ~success.

Now on to my weekend. I spent it was my former roommate's parents. They live in Ventura. Saturday was busy from dawn to dark. I got up had breakfast. Portia and I went to the local farmer's market. Checked out the Ventura pier which at one time was the longest wooden pier in California. Shorter now but still very busy with fishermen and local homeless people. I do not know why homeless people actually congregate on piers. We then went to Ojai for the lavender festival. Cool town nestled in the rolling hills. This place is big on hippies and holistic health avenues. We came back for lunch and this time Roger joined us taking us in his sport's car to Solvang.

Very festive in Solvang. A Danish town originally but have to admit with Portia... to many other vendors besides Scandinavian vendors are just as popular. That is kind of too bad. But did find some of the historic Scandinavian stuff including the dishes and some clothes. Of course bakeries abounded everywhere... what's a Danish community without their Danish treats?

Then we went to Chumash Casino, which was just down the road. Portia wanted to eat there. The family is not gambling sort but there are many families that like to spend some time in casinos eating and socializing. We did play the pennies slot. I won 16.90 dollars with 20 cents! Good deal and I cashed out then.

Then back to Ventura where we went to the movies. Portia had free movie passes. We went to view "Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer." Amazingly it is the top in the box office with $57 million. I cannot believe Pirates is only at $12 million!! Good grief! Entertaining movie.

And my day ended at 2300 hours. Sunday was the Golf Nationals. I saw the beginnings of it with lunch before I headed out hoping to beat traffic. Traffic gets ugly, ugly at 1500 hours on a Sunday lasting several hours till about 2100 hours. The drive back was actually better. I made it in an hour and half with a distance of about 90 miles.

It was great to leave LA for a weekend. Away from the smog and cars.