Waiting for my bike.

I got unlucky. My bike hasn't been released from customs just yet. The container where my bike was consolidated got X-rayed and US Customs decided to examine it further. Hopefully I will get my bike early next week. Fingers crossed.

Well, if I would do it all over again I think the airfreight option is a better one. More transparent, no shared responsibilities, much less exposure to delays and strikes.
Looking on the bright side I have more time to explore LA. It has been more then 13 years since my last visit to LA. 

View from Corona Del Mar south of LA towards San Diego not visible though. 

Some local action.

More action.

Venice Beach - mixing with locals.

More Venice Beach.

Selling 'local' produce - Venice Beach

Ted, Bozena and I enjoying Mexican food - good practice for me, more ahead.

Even me a fussy eater could manage this.

Newport Beach late afternoon.

Farewell to Australia.

All packed and ready to go.  The ‘Last Supper’ with my family. Farewell to my friends, last barbecue and a few beers. The next day I am catching plane to China.

Well, with my planned destination Los Angeles this doesn’t sound right but is hard to argue if the price is right.

Next stop LAX where I will meet my friend Ted and spend some time in his factory re-assembling my bike. I bought a lot of gear in the US over the Internet. You just can’t beat their prices. In some instances I saved up to 50%. I am more than happy to pay a little bit extra and buy locally but not that much.  It makes you wonder when Australian retailers will wake up and learn the world is just a global village.....
Before the trip I have to fit all these gear to my bike.  Big worry, giving me nightmares but this in my next post.

'The Last Supper'     

My son Rob, daughter Sylvia and her husband Brendan            

My good friend Ziggy and Grazyna

'The Last Supper #2' Arcos Katlyn & Rob

 The three Amigos Me, Arcos & Csaba