Arrived at LAX at around 6.30am. Nervous wait going through customs due to the Chilli Choko Pickles I was bringing in for Grayson. Fortunately just received weird looks when declaring it and away we went! Caught shuttle to pick up rental car. Got a little Jeep Compas which Alycia now wants to get when we get home. First experience driving a left hand drive on the right hand side of the road. Tested my friendship with Willow and later tested my relationship with Alycia when either of them were navigating - was a stressful experience! Got much more comfortable the following days and as the jet lag wore off. Drove towards Santa Monica where we were staying and dound a parking lot at Venice beach. Drove straight passed the guy at the entrance selling the tickets. Did a u-turn saw him shake his head at me and then drove up and bought a ticket for $6 for 4 hours. Parked. Had him come up and tell me to straighten up my park. Feeling like ultimate tourist. Went for a walk to the beach but decided we were too hungry at that point to enjoy anything so went to the Sidewalk Cafe and Bar for breakfast. Were unsure what to tip but they didn't chase us down the street afterwards so we must have done ok. After breakfast went for a walk along the Oceanfront walk where there are a heap of little stalls - some seemingly legitimate others a little more dodgy looking such as the one where we were approached by a shirtless dude asking if we wanted a legalised marijuana card. When he heard our accents he suggested we'd probably be more keen on a powdered drug. We kept walking. Only thing we did get was a pair of sunnies for myself.. Oh.. And when I was approached by some Rastafarian who handed me a CD. The others had kept walking but I thought it'd be cool to get some independent and localish music and figured it was good this guy was handing out his music trying to get his name out there. As I put my hand out and grabbed it I looked up and saw the others all shaking their heads.. Realised he wasn't just handing them out and now had to pay for it. Had no cash on me following breakfast and sunglasses purchase so Willow came over and bailed me out. Lesson 1 learnt. On the bright side he did sign it "To King Rob. One Love" and the music was surprisingly good. $10 well spent I say.
Made our way back to the car and drove to Willow and Haines accommodation to drop their bags off and then back down towards Santa Monica Pier where Alycia and I were staying. We were really feeling the pinch from the jet lag at this stage. We did have some lunch along the way and then went to the beach to dip our feet in and see if it's freshen us up. Instead we all lay down and fell asleep on the sand. While it was about 30degrees there, the sun isn't nearly as harsh (probably due to the thick layer of smog) so we didn't get burnt. I managed to step on this weird substance that stuck to my foot, tried to wipe it off only to have it now stuck on my feet AND my hands. Smelt like oil. Went back and showered and then took the boys back to theirs, came back for dinner up at the main promenade. Are at a burger joint where we realised the average age was about 12. Enjoyed our burgers and milkshakes nonetheless. From there dropped the boys off and hit the hay.