If everybody had an ocean...

The first full day in Southern California was a full day of Southern California nothing. And it was awesome. We lived the lives of Southern Californians to the fullest, which isn't that full at all - but that's the point. Life here is sooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo laid back.

We (Matt, Kate, Rich & Chris) headed out to see cousin John - son of Rich and Chris, heretofore known as JohnE. JohnE is an accountant for a hotel in the area. That's his job. His life is surfing. He's the stereotypical Californian surfer dude. But he was at work when we arrived. So we stashed our stuff at his Newport Beach apartment and headed down to the boardwalk along the beach. And how do Californians get to the beach and travel around? On bikes. The four of us were riding bikes. I felt 12 again. It was so fantastically laid back.

So we drove along until we made it to the Fun Zone, where there are dozens of shops, quick eats, and amusement rides. We had pizza for lunch, stuck our heads in some shops, and biked back up to the apartment to suit up for the beach.


This time we walked to the beach where we sat out on the sand, waded in the surf, and cooked ourselves in the southern Cali sun. They tell you to apply sunscreen, I stress to you to RE-apply...




After a while JohnE got off work and met up with us as the beach before heading back to his place and returning with his board. When he arrived back with his board the lifeguard stations still had the "black ball" flag out on their stations. A yellow background flag with a big black circle on it. The worst sight for a surfer. This means no surfing - too many people in the water. But the flags eventually came down as the number of swimmers decreased. As we and JohnE were in mid-sentence he was quick to make a bee-line for the surf
and was on his board in no time. His roommate Brian (B-Man) met up with us soon after and joined JohnE in the water.

The four of us (M, K, R & C) went back up to the apartment, showered and changed and met up with JohnE and BMan to head on back down to the Big Belly Deli, a local deli and watering hole. Dinner and cold ones. Good times. Kate, JohnE, BMan and I rode bikes back down. And we imbibed, and rode bikes back up.


Such is life in southern California.