LAX Layovers can be full of surprises, especially when the layover is long enough for exploring and the day is a warm one. Having a bike to get around town on can make the day even more fun filled as one can travel further and find even more to get into! I had such a layover on September 4th, 2008. Staying near the airport on a 80+ degree day I decided to go… where else but the beach! The last time I “hit the beach in LA I went south, so today I decided to go north along the coast. My destination was only about 7 miles away: Marina del Rey. I took the north route out of the airport via Westchester Blvd down to Playa del Rey. From there I joined the Marvin Braude bike trail, this lead me right to the Marina through an interesting route that went along a flood control channel and by UCLAs(?) aquatics center. What a fascinating place Marina del Rey is! My first glimpse was of the Coast Guard station, a lighthouse, followed by a row of multicolored buildings like one might see in Curacao in the Caribbean. Amongst these were a few of the restaurants that surround the marina waters. As I made my way deeper into the harbor, I was taken by the size and sheer number of boats moored within. The public boat launch had 8 launching lanes but was deserted today. This place must be a zoo on a nice weekend! After exploring several of the fingers that extend into the harbor, I decided to move on while simultaneously watching for a restaurant to come back to when dinner time came around. I eventually found my way back to the beach still following the Marvin Braude trail and continued north towards Santa Monica. On the way was a favorite people watching place of mine; Venice Beach. There is always something interesting going on there! Always something to make me laugh! Today there were several people playing instruments along the boardwalk, many visitors browsing the beach shops for clothing, souvenirs, or food. I admit was a bit disappointed that the chain saw juggle was not here today. I hope he is ok?? Nor I did not see the guy with the long blond scraggly beard with the white turbine hat, on roller blades while playing the guitar while chasing after pretty girls, or the 70ish year old woman who wears a leopard skin bikini and dances with a parasol with him (when he is not chasing girls). As I continued north I came to another favorite spot to watch people; Muscle Beach. Today I found 4 people of various ages practicing hand stands who seemed to be coaching each other. There were a few who dared tackling the various sets of “swinging rings.” Of course there was volleyball being played by players who seemed pretty serious about their game – this was no casual volleyball game being played! By now my hunger began to call me back to a restaurant that I had chosen earlier; The Warehouse. So back at Marina del Ray I rode, like a horse going back to the barn. I ate a tasty seafood pasta until the sun was low in the sky (and the plate was empty) and pedaled back to the hotel as the sun set into the haze. Nice to be back in my quiet room for a good nights sleep. Maybe I'll go out again in the morning for breakfast, or for a morning dip in the ocean! Lets see, where would I find a good breakfast place...38 Miles.
