We just finished week 20 of covid restrictions . This week in particular sent shockwaves through the Howard household . When the text message came through we weren’t sure . Neither was the person sending the message . “Nah , hopefully it’s a rumour . I’m not taking this as fact until we hear more . “ I sat down and contemplated what I just said …and then I knew it . It was true . Denial was the 1st place I went to . It’s a lot like this town . Let’s look the other way and not talk about it . It’s what I do on a daily basis .

For a pandemic , Hermosa Beach is a pretty good place to live . We are blessed to live near the beach . LA’s best natural asset is it’s long sandy beaches , but you don’t come here for that .You leave Australia to visit Hollywood ,Disneyland ,maybe a drive through Beverly Hills and then off to Vegas and the Grand Canyon . Of course Australia has great beaches , better beaches than here ,but when you live in LA the Southbay and it’s coastal life is where you wanna be . It’s a privilege to live here and that’s not a throw away line . The kids have a good life here . There’s not much they don’t have or can’t have . They have free reign . The area is is an enclave that spreads through laneways , condensed housing , beach paths and considerable wealth . Life can be good here , sometimes too good .

When the news was confirmed I was numbed to the core . My 1st thought wasn’t even a statement or a feeling ,it was a memory of Tex and his mate in the water off sixth street . They could’ve been twins . Both with their blonde hair and that golden brown tan that kids get in their early years . Shit ,he was a good looking young kid ,probably a bit prettier than Tex , which I know sounds funny when talking about adolescent boys . Looks can be deceiving though . Behind the beauty was a kid who was just starting to find a different path . A path that would use his street smarts and high intelligence for another cause . He was one of the earliest kids Tex would become friends with .Every friend is important when you come from another country . His mother was maybe the 1st parent I exchanged phone numbers with . Eventually events and time would push the boys apart .They both had other things going on . Both had their issues and their own circles they moved in . It was only recently that those circles started to meet again and their contact with each other started to increase .It would stop last Sunday .

The right of passage is a teenagers time . Drinking , smoking , sex and experimenting . It comes with the territory . A lot of us went through it , me later than most . Here the kids see it earlier . A lot do it earlier and a few push harder . He was no angel ,playing a risky game that eventually would stop his heart . From here there’s been nothing . Maybe 7 days is too soon . To not see a police report , a statement , a news article , a write up in either local paper , nothing online …..please tell me it’s too soon . Please don’t tell me that this most perfect of places isn’t willing to tell a tale that is hardly perfect . Please don’t tell me that this sunny paradise hasn’t got shadows . Maybe we can’t prick “the bubble .”

What I do is not think about it . I brush it off , look inward and think about myself . This time I really tried to exchange places . The aching pain of the parent . Knowing that they slowly stopped breathing meters from where you slept and theirs nothing you can do to change it . The mother who goes into her child’s room to change the bed sheets , to pick up the clothes off the floor . The smell of your child still there . Even their dirty socks and underwear. Their most private of physical being just wearing them ….for the very last time . They’ll never be in this room again . Their smell ,their scent ,their troubles ,their humour , their voice ….never again . The thought that your 1st born child was here the day before ,just hours ago and is now cold and lifeless in a morgue is totally soul shattering . We all know people and have friends that have passed in tragic circumstances but this one is close to home for me . I didn’t see it effecting me like it has . It really came from left field . This could easily be Tex , your son or daughter . So painful .

Just 1 pill …dead at 15 ….RIP kid .

Gday dogs , I’m guessing you’re still stuck in the kennel like we are in California .Well , to be honest we have a bit more freedom to move around compared to Victorians and Australians . Over here there isn’t any restrictions on travel from state to state or town to town . It’s probably nearly too late to reign in travel in the States , even though the covid count is charging unabated . I’ve gotta admit that I’m embarrassed to say this to my Melbournian friends who have much tighter travel restrictions imposed on them . One thing that I can take away from this pandemic and the response taken from government over here is they don’t have the will to really step up and tackle this by the balls . It’s gonna be a bloody battle . To think a state like Florida that is currently the worse per capita for Covid cases has decided that it will push ahead and open schools is hilarious in its lunacy . To add to that the teachers union is taking legal action to try and halt this decision ,as they should . How can anyone with an average IQ ( me ) not see that this is crazy, but hey we are talking about the United States . To be fair ,Florida acts like some backwater and is often the but of jokes over here .California has generally been proactive , informative and responded with a lot more urgency than most of America . As I’ve said in previous blogs ,it sometimes feels like California is a progressive country that is almost seperate to the rest of the US .

It’s summer and that really has been a release on the pressure valve . What you couldn’t criticise LA is on is it’s weather . It’s constantly settled , rarely windy , never wet and if you’re privileged to live on the coast it hardly gets sweaty . I always look back home with envy but I must admit that living in a pandemic with a host of restrictions has gotta be easier when you can go out side in perfect sunny conditions . Add the beach and I can count my blessings . Yes we wear face masks , but we can get out and exercise in shorts and a t-shirt , everyday . Also restaurants and cafes are open on the proviso that they serve outdoors . Fortunately ,Hermosa Beach and a lot of cities ( suburbs ) nearby have closed streets and parking bays to create outdoor spaces where food can be served . You turn up with your mask on , get a seat and then take it off . It’s perfect for people watching , soaking in the sun and escaping the house ………I know what you’re thinking .. “ Howie , there’s a pandemic going on , how can you be so immersed in getting outta the house just so you can get out and do what you always could do ? So true , but here’s the paradox . People are dying , the disease is spreading , morale is fragile , so what do we do ? We find another way to carry on like we used to . Time will tell …… let’s hope ( that’s if you live here ) that a couple of vaccine trials that are about to go into mass testing will provide the ‘magic bullet .’

Take a deep breath . There it is . Qantas and Virgin have ended international flights to the US from Australia . Gee ,that really feels definitive.I read that the Australian Government has imposed a 14 day quarantine that will now be paid by residents returning . It’s pretty simple , to get back to Aus for a family like ours wouldn’t be easy . It’d probably be a 15+ grand exercise before we even smell fresh air . I’m conflicted when I talk about this . It makes me angry on one count . It’s like we’ve been abandoned but really it is probably a necessary approach . It’s just that you would’ve never have envisaged been put in this predicament. Any designs , thoughts or plans at coming home permanently in the next 12-18 months can no longer be guaranteed. No need to jump to conclusions …. we haven’t put any design framework into doing this , just yet . Just saying if we had I doubt that we could follow through on it . We did look at flying back for Christmas . We even found flights at $4800 via Fiji and a 40 hour transit , but add the uncertainty of Covid and a possible 14 day quarantine it ain’t gonna happen . 16 months ago we were last in Melbourne and you’d have to guess there might be at least another 16 months before we get the chance to travel home .It’ll be a while before we come back in any circumstance . That’s something I try not to think about . In reality we aren’t marooned ,but gee the tides in and the waves look impenetrable. Don’t worry , we’ll see this storm out and celebrate soon enough .

Gday dingoes , , dare I say it …Here we go again .As of 1pm today we are nearly back in total lockdown . Parks and beaches are the only things left . The virus numbers are leaping off the chart . Schools will officially be open for distance learning only , for the rest of the year ! It might be time to get back on the grog . As I’ve got older I’ve become more interested in left field matters , namely astrology . I know , I know . You probably think it’s bullshit , but hay I think there’s something in it . Anyways , without forcing things down your throat the astrological charts are not painting a pretty picture for the rest of 2020 . As if we didn’t already sense it . She also doesn’t look too pretty for 2021 either . Shit , it’s time to hold on tight , it’s gonna be a rocky ride .

You know ,I was trying to think about 2020 and how it felt . It brought me back 30 years prior when we were in the early middle stages of the recession . Of course I was only 20 with no responsibilities.I remember those days fondly for the good times . Playing footy , surfing , going out regularly with hardly any money , but some how getting home drunk . Socially it was strong , cause we were all in it together . It felt similar earlier in the year . We all just said “ fuck it , who’s drinking tonight ? “ And we did . This year also reminds me of the days playing footy at Tyabb and the early days at Mornington . You didn’t look too far ahead , as nothing was certain , but you could always have a few beers , or carpool to the surf , or wait for your turn to shout when your dole money came in . It’s been a long year , and fuck it’s gonna be a gruelling marathon yet .

I remember the days when all the boys would be at the Royal back bar listening to a live band . Dodgy and I would be primed after footy training , downing the old Carlton Draught ( beer), sleazing our way in on anything that would move . You’d get home at 2am totally roasted and then it came …….fuck no . The early morning phone call at 6am . Mums trying to wake me out of a deep grog induced coma . “ What is it “ , I’d ask . “ Keith Callaghan’s on the phone , he wants to know if you could come in for the day .” Ohh , fark no , please no , no , no , I can’t do it ……. ahhh “Ok , tell him I’ll be there “ , I’d tell mum . “ Oh and he told me to tell you to pick up Dodgy from his house too . He says he’s also called his mum as well .” You always said yes , it was crucial drinking money for the weekend . This is where those days remind of this year . We would get to the Rabbatoir just before 7 , I’d drive the short 3km journey , no doubt still over the alcohol limit . It was usually freezing , still dark . You’d be thinking …’how the fuck am I going to get through this ? ‘And to go back on what I just said ….yes I did say rabbatoir , no typo there . When rabbits roamed across Australia they were a vermin that was to be eradicated ( an impossible task ) . They were shot and trucked in from the outback in refrigerated trucks to be butchered at a little abattoir out the back of our joint. We were to get $60 cash for working 8 hours doing all sorts of gross shit to dead frozen rabbits .Geezus it was tough , especially on a hangover , which was always the conditions we worked under . The smell of game animals , the fur , the frozen scent of wild dead rabbits . Buckle up Howie, she’s gonna be a long day . Getting through the 1st hour without throwing up was an endurance test . It started easy , just unloading the trucks with rabbits , hares and yes the occasional wild cat as a joke from the hunters . We just rolled them into the refrigerated back room . Then you were assigned your job . “ Howie , your gonna go into the skinning room where you’ll be just chopping bunny heads for the day ,”Crossy would say with a laugh . Two guys would simultaneously skin the rabbits , throw them onto a large metal bench where I would then grab each one ,swing my tomahawk and chop there heads off ……..all fucking day . After about your six hundredth decapitation your hand would be killing you . Your hand would be cold , the handle would leave red marks on your hand , even though wearing a rubber water proof glove . At the end of the day you’d have chopped anywhere from 800 to 1000 bunny heads clean off ….or mostly clean off . Sometimes they were hacked off . There’d be no masturbating with that hand for the next few days . It was tough , but you’d grind through and walk away happy . I got this job quite a bit on the first few times I was called in . Then the work went cold for a while . I was happy not be needed “Fuck that for a job ,”we’d say .

Then the work came back …”Howie ,we need you to come in .” Fuck , here we go again . Just when you thought it was over ,you’re going back in there . It started the same ,with the unloading of the rabbits ,then I started to move towards the head chopping room . “ Nah , mate . I’ve got a better job for ya , you just have to go into the main room and help the girls .” Sweet , I thought . But sweet it wasn’t . “ All you and Dodgy have to do is put the glove on , grab the bunny off the hook from the circulating rail and just shove your hand in through the hole where it’s head was and just rip out it’s guts . Easy peazy fellas .” Dodgy and I looked at each other with a shake of the head ………Brutal . Within 2 hours the arm, fingers and wrist were humming , not to mention the sight of guts , gizzards , hearts and lungs squashed into your fist . Your fingers and knuckles would grind along the frozen rabbits rib cage , sometimes breaking bones , catching your fingers on the jagged break .The gloves weren’t enough to keep your hands cushioned .You’d look at your watch and think ‘I can’t make it , I’ve still got 5 hours to go . ‘Of course Dodgy couldn’t go on as his arm was in too much pain . He got moved in next to the girls to just cleaning the carcass up . I was left alone , now having to do double the load . The bunnies just kept on coming and I just kept on gouging . It was a long grinding , painful day , but I made it …somehow without quitting or throwing up .

Anyhow , I think the 1st lstage lockdown might’ve been tough but guess what ? It might be time to get ready for stage 2 . Chopping heads wasn’t easy but ripping guts outta bunnies was nasty . Gyms , salons , restaurants, indoor malls ,… anything indoor is out of bounds in California .Now for the outdoors . It’s been hot , the fans are on at night , the feet hang out from under the doona . The beaches are offering a retreat , but for how long ? 2 weeks ago I saw my 1st shark after 40 years in the water . Now it feels like the sharks are circling . Anyway dingoes , enough talking about animals . I think we are in for a tough stretch . It’s time to hang tough ,grind away and why not have a good time too . Let’s drink to a fucked up year .

I had tears in my eyes . I had to put my t-shirt over my head . No shit , I was feeling it big time . This is America at its best . The 4 th of July . Coney Island . Joey Chestnut , the all American athlete , the worlds best . My body had goose bumps all over , a little tremor too .When Joey stuffed down his 75th hotdog in 10 minutes I nearly vomited . In fact I dry retched repeatedly . Emma yelled at me to run to the bathroom , but I stayed put . It didn’t help that I was a little hungover, but the viewing was compelling . She changed the Chanel on the tv but I demanded this all American institution be switched back on . I toughed it out just like these awesome competitors .When the commentator called it a battle between man and dog ,I laughed out aloud between retching , creating a guttural burp that brought back memories of IPAs and bbq chips from the night before . The tears really rolled this time .This was the world championship for eating and Joey is the Michael Jordon of the sport . What else do you on the nations biggest day ? Totally normal ,I say .

The COVID situation has worsened quite dramatically over here .I know the same thing is happening in Australia too ,but gee it’s not looking good here . I’m guessing you’ve already seen this on the news feed .The beaches , bars and restaurants are closed for the July 4 weekend . It’s a total shame but I begrudgingly admit it’s necessary. Of course Murphy’s law comes into play . We have perfect weather and a juicy new swell , but you just can’t touch it .

This time last year we ( Ash ,Al and Tim ) were down watching the annual iron man event . I was particularly looking forward to getting down there early to watch the whole race ; a 1 mile run , a 1 mile board paddle , finishing with a 6 can ( beer ) chug . Unfortunately the 47 year tradition won’t happen this year . At least I got to dry retch again this year ,only this time it was watching guys stuff down wet hotdogs and not some iron man competitor bent over vomiting into the sand .

Todays our 4th year in California celebrating the 4th of July . I was looking forward to this day . Each year the enthusiasm grows . This year felt like something big was brewing .With the community coming out of lockdown , a full moon and a hot weekend forecast ,it was set up for a memorable day ….and then the numbers went up ,and kept on going . The writing was on the wall . The shut down was called . It would’ve been one hell of a spectacle on the South Bay beach front .This old pervert would’ve been out there with sunglasses on and phone cocked ….ahhh well not be .

I never thought we’d get a letter from the White House with Donald Trumps signature , but holy shit we did . I thought the stimulus cheque would only go to American citizens , but we got one too . I feel a little guilty on this one but I’m pretty happy that I’ve got a photo to prove that the Don has sent us a letter . With Qantas and Virgin not flying to the US , reality has started to set in …..we’ll be here for a while and also holidays back to Australia are unlikely any time soon . The letter from the White House feels more than the content that is written in it . It feels like a recognition of permanency .

This July 4 we stayed low , visited our Aussie neighbours for a couple of beers and settled back to watch the night unfold from our balcony . From girls in Red white and Blue bikinis roller balding down the road ( as they do ) ,to guys in star spangled bannered speedos with cowboy hats we were still entertained . As the night approached the fireworks started and then kept on coming . They were not allowed this year but that’s like holding a red rag to a bull over here . Emma and I sat on the balcony ,looked at each other and laughed . If you closed your eyes for a minute you could easily imagine yourself on the edge the frontline of a battlefront . The bangs , blasts and whistles continued well into the night with literally not a seconds silence for hours . You gotta laugh , fire works are illegal in some suburbs but you can buy them legally in a neighbouring suburb ,from there it’s no stopping people once it gets dark . I think July 4 reminds me of New Year’s Eve in Australia , with Street parties , bbqs and fireworks .

For now dawgs , another July4 bites the dust . Even though restrictions closed things down it was still an entertaining day and night .

You get a visual idea of what a place looks like from images and things you’ve read and heard . Most of the comments that came through after googling Santa Cruz was that this place is a touristy surf town with the usual sea side feel of a Californian beach locale .The comments weren’t exactly complimentary .Throw in the pier and an amusement park and you start to see something you know . As a surfer I know that this place has the famous Steamer Lane and the big wave monster Mavericks is meant to be nearby . Theres also the classic 90s movie The Lost Boys with the two Coreys in it .I thought I had a pretty good feel for what I was going to see . I had St.Kilda / Santa Monica Pier with high density living , concrete , grime and some hard core skate and surf culture mixed in with hotels ,cafes, bars and plenty of the homeless on the foreshore . I had some sea mists and a little greenery around the edges and I know it’s a fair bit colder too .Driving from Monterey to Santa Cruz I knew I had it all wrong .

I do remember Tim saying that he was impressed at how green it was in Santa Cruz when he rode through on his crazy West Coast US bike ride . That’s what I noticed first on the drive up from Monterey . This terrain has a bit of Gold Coast hinterland about it . It was green , lush , big trees , just big and voluminous in the hills and roads . This is more Australian in feel than I could’ve anticipated . As the driver I couldn’t take any photos but this joint immediately had appeal . Without even hitting Santa Cruz yet , I’d decided that I like this area . As we sifted our way toward the coast there were cafes , corner burger bars ,trees , gardens , hip eateries and not a fast food chain restaurant to see . I know your Maccas and the like would be here somewhere but it was great to see weatherboard houses , footpaths ,front gardens , funky antique stores ,bakeries, local breakfast spots with courtyards , and all sorts of cool joints . I think it helps when your town doesn’t have a major highway slapped through the middle of it . I think it feels real in Santa Cruz . It has character . The foreshore is a bit like St.kilda or Santa Monica with the giant pier and the big amusement park but it’s cleaner and it isn’t just a straight beach with a big road running along the front of it . The beach is actually pristine . It feels different , the glassy water , the sandstone cliffs , the kelp ,a deep sea smell , the gentle rollers with a dozen kids paddling for each one below the cliffs .

Tex declares that the surf report has Mavericks at 10 – 17 foot today. WTF ! “ Check google maps to see how close to Santa Cruz it is . “ , I ask Tex . “ 43 miles past “ , he says . Ahh , cross that one off for now . We just don’t have the time . We lunch with Leroy’s old school buddy Wesley and his mum Hoki . They moved to Palo Alto , a city south of San Francisco . Santa Cruz is only 90 minutes from San Fran , not unlike Torquay is to Melbourne . Actually there’s some real similarities between Torquay and Santa Cruz with the cool climate surf culture and West coast vibe .We walk the giant pier , check the amusement park and then we settle my anxiety at missing out by driving up the point to check Steamer Lane . I had this fear that the increasing wind would blow out the lineup and the waves I could see rolling along the cliff edge would soon be a mess . I just wanted to get a photo and see this place work , fortunately the wind held off just enough .After talking to a local we jump the railing , walk along the sandstone cliff and follow a young guy and girl to the jump off spot . A clean grey wave wraps around the point , pushing through kelp . It looks rideable .It’s full 3/4 ml wetsuits and booties to ride this wave even though we are about to start summer . It’s a classic amphitheatre set up with the wave running along the cliff with a fenced off viewing point sitting right above the surfers . Steamer Lane , I can definitely see this joint pumping and know why it deserves its reputation .

With time limited we thread our way back south through Pleasure Point and Capitola . Wow , why have I not heard about these places before . Picturesque point breaks a lot like a mini Sunshine Coast or a Coolangatta are met by hotels , restaurants, cafes ,walking tracks , runners , bikers , surfers and holidaymakers. There’s still a community feel with housing in quiet streets , picket fences , balcony’s with wetsuits drying , kids walking back with boards under their arms and ……trees and grass and gardens and birds and fresh air and space and I don’t know . It just seemed content here . Yeah , I guess what I’m saying is that I could easily live here . I admit that I didn’t research property prices and maybe it’s just as expensive to live there as it is in Hermosa Beach ,but it didn’t seem like it .I didn’t really want to find out as it might break my allusion of this place .

Santa Cruz . Yep I can confirm it ….it’s a cool area , under rated too . It’s definitely worth the time to visit if you ever get a chance . Coolangatta , Torquay , Bells Beach ,Byron Bay ,Surfers Paradise ,Sydney beaches,the Sunshine Coast , Margaret River and now add Santa Cruz . We drove away happy . This joint measures up well against any of these places . I even did the tourist thing and bought a Santa Cruz top , I couldn’t resist . Santa Cruz …. ticked that box .

It was 12 months ago that I was fortunate enough to be here with Aussie mates . I can remember clearly telling Ash that aquariums are just the same anywhere you go . “Fuck the Monterey Aquarium Ash , we haven’t got time .” I said . We didn’t go to the aquarium. I’m still happy that we didn’t ,but I regret that we didn’t drive up and check it out . It’s on this side of town that Montereys true beauty is on show . It’s a pity the boys didn’t see it , it was less than a kilometre from where we were . Big old houses ,big old pine trees , rocky coves ,clean , well kept foreshore and parks . There’s a real taste of the Royal Hotel , Beach oval , Fishies beach ,Schnapper Point . That lovely Mornington foreshore that you know , throw in Sorrento and Flinders too , now you know what I’m looking at . We only briefly stopped up here ,but we were glad we did . It’s old world beautiful meets yellow sandy coves , rugged little points , cold ocean air and a feeling that this just feels a little like home ….just a little .All I needed was a pub with a balcony and a cold beer and I could swear that I was at the Royal or the Kirks .

Pebble Beach………. Oh my god , can there be a place made out of a post card , surely this is it . This wasn’t part of the itinerary . When I picked up the brochure for Pebble Beach I thought I was looking at an advertisement for one of the worlds most famous golf courses . This part was true but there’s also a tourist drive that you could do . I’m not a golfer , never have been ,but I’m a sports junkie and I know Pebble Beach golf course would be awesome to see . I had a little guilt when I saw the tourist drive circuit . “Shit it’d be nice to say I’ve seen Pebble Beach .” Hmmm , can I drag the family along just so I can see a golf course ? Ken Oath I can

The 17 mile drive . If you ever do Big Sur ,it’s imperative that you do this tourist drive around Pebble Beach before you set off . I promise , you won’t regret it . Once again , this time last year the Aussie boys couldn’t squeeze it in .Shit , this was the one that got away .

Pebble Beach is a private estate with a public golf course . There’s a little knob of land south of Monterey and north of Carmel that is one of the most prestigious parcels of land in the United States . The golf course is surrounded by big arse mansions , old world money and some of the prettiest coastline that your ever likely to see . We pay at the guard house (think it was $10 ), drive down a small narrow road crowded in trees . Once passing through the woods we enter a virtual post card .

I must state my obvious bias to coastal beauty . I’m happy anywhere in nature but none more so than the ocean . The coastal terrain along Pebble Beach would have to be as picturesque as I’ve ever seen . No bullshit , this is the prettiest most gorgeous coastline that I’ve ever seen ,and I’ve been all over Australia and a lot of the Pacific . There’s been other places that I rate just as highly but for sheer elegance Pebble Beach is without peer .

You can’t help but want to take a thousand photos when you take this drive . Honestly ,you pinch yourself just to make sure this is real . It’s a little like Wilsons Promontory with the most manicured golf course hugging the coast . Every corner has another money shot .

An hour was all we had , but 168 photos later I think I can say I thought this place was pretty special. I just wish I had some Aussie friends and yes Tim , Al and Ash ,it would’ve been great if we stopped here too . I am very thankful and lucky that I can say I’ve been to this little diamond on the west coast of the US .

The last stop on our little excursion was Carmel . It’s a joint that I now laugh that I’ve seen . My mums name is Carmel . I’ve known this place exists since my late teens . I’d seen travel shows mention this place , they always said it was beautiful. It would’ve been great to be here with mum ,but at least I can tell her that her namesake more than lived up to expectations.When Clint Eastwood became its major it said enough . Shit this place must be good if ‘Dirty Harry Callaghan ‘ decides this is his joint to settle down in . I had it pictured as a quaint little town , with green lawns , picket fences , brick bordered flower beds and little old cafes baking scones to go with Devonshire tea . I’m not sure why I saw it this way but that’s the picture I had . Carmel is nothing like that .

Carmel is beautiful . A different beautiful than I had imagined .Its not quaint , it’s not old , it’s not dated , it’s not what I thought I’d see ,and I’m happy that Carmel doesn’t resemble they way I pictured it . It’s much better . I always try and compare a place I see with a place I know in Australia , just to paint a clearer picture for friends at home . I was racking my brain to find something that reminded me of Carmel . Somers has similarities with its beachside escape , expensive property , green natural environment and just a little out of the way . But no . Carmel makes Somers look like Morningtons Tanti Park . Maybe that’s harsh , probably too harsh but a place like Carmel would have most places covered . Soon as you leave the already stunning Pebble Beach you enter a town buried in trees , hugging a protected unspoilt bay , with white sand , large boulders and that special scent of natural ,,,, wealth! This joint is dripping with coin , but not garish wealth …… just people with money who know they’ve found the best little place to build there 2 million dollar plus weekender . You just want to hang here .You want to sit on the sidewalk seating , dining alfresco, drinking wine , beer , cocktails . There’s people to watch , ti- tree , pine eucalyptus and ocean scents . Theres alleyways and backyard restaurants. There’s a couple that looked like they’d been converted from old Californian bungalows into hip eateries . Unfortunately with the COVID 19 restrictions many of these places were closed .There’s all that money stuff too , like art galleries , wine bars ,funky shops with precious sales staff , but you don’t care when your a tourist , especially if you carry an Australian accent . We eventually eat Italian at a cool little alleyway restaurant. The food was excellent . As we cruised home to our hotel I fantasised about renting a house here for a week with another family , but then reality sunk in . Shit we’d need to stuff 3 or 4 families in to afford a house down here . If Pebble Beach is the jewel in the crown of the West Coast ,Carmel may just be wearing that crown .

Well diggidy dogs , that was a fun trip and one that I’d love to do again with family and friends . This part of the world is pretty cool and pretty as a picture . Chow dawgs .

I giggled to myself when Emma first floated the idea that a potential move to the States was a possibility . I didn’t really think it would happen , it was just a long shot . It was only wishful thinking . The 2016 presidential election race was on . The consensus was America was about to have their first female president , although Trump was doing better than expected . I laughed aloud when SEN radio host Mark Allen said Trump would win . He based his confidence on the fact he lived in the US and believed the rust belt were crazy enough to vote him in . “ Surely not “ , I thought . They can’t be that crazy . Trump did go onto win and that long shot became a reality 5 months later . We were going to live in the United States with the boss of “ the Apprentice “ running the show ….crazy .

I was actually three quarters through writing a blog with a completely different storyline . By Friday I realised I might have to put it on hold .The mood had changed with the George Floyd killing . A sense of foreboding of what the next few days would bring was well founded . The shock and then the anger was only natural . Things were going to go down . To all those that had wondered and expressed their fears for our safety ? Don’t worry . We appreciate the sentiment but we are very fortunate to live in a coastal town that is just far enough away from the trouble . We are about 25 km south of Santa Monica where a lot of the protesting and looting occurred yesterday . I wouldn’t declare that this wouldn’t happen here but it’s very unlikely , although the local corner store had its front window shattered and was broken into . There’s also been a few Facebook posts inciting people to hit the area and create chaos . The next few days will tell if I’m just a bit naive, or not . Emma tells me that our little town is boarding up all its shopfront windows as a precaution . Can you imagine having to do this in Mornington ,Mt.Marta or Mt.Eliza ? We live in a very white , privileged beachside area south of LA that is well known as a great area for families and schools . It’s known as “The Bubble “ . Hopefully it won’t be pricked . I think we’ll be ok .

Our phones sent off a buzz at 334 pm today . An alert is sent to every mobile phone declaring that a curfew is in place from 5 pm until 6 am .Yesterday it was 6pm -6am . It’s time to stay inside . It’s not real hard as we’ve been doing it for 10 weeks now with the covid 19 pandemic . There’s another one . Who’dve thought we’d even be in a pandemic ,no less be in the country with the worst toll . 3 years down , we’ve seen a bit .We know the US is diverse . It’s wealthy but gee it has a bloody big underclass . Add a pandemic , racial divide and economic uncertainty and you’ve got a powder keg . In reality I know not a lot more about the US than the average Aussie . We’ve barely seen anything of LA outside of “The Bubble “ ,but what I do see on the daily news tells me that I know a bloody big island on the other side of the world has got things pretty good . We live in the US and we may have just landed in one of the most interesting times in recent history We’ll leave here one day and look back in time and say “we were there “ . Don’t worry hound dogs , we are safe . We are healthy and we are pretty optimistic . For now pups ….. keep watching the news .

I actually started writing this 10 days ago but things went down in a big way with the George Floyd killing / race riots . Things at home turned sideways for a short period . So this blog was put to the back burner. At the time of writing this I was on a tear ,but had to pause for our weekly beer with our friend Bill , Kim and Cooper . I was to return in the morning to finish it . By then a vicious hangover and another major social upheaval had changed a jovial mood . So here it is two weeks back .

74 , that’s Emma’s birth year ,it’s also the amount of days in lockdown. The other day she yelled out something to Tex . I was shocked at what I heard . It wasn’t the content but the sound . It finished all hollow and open lipped . The R was hung onto. There was no Aussie twang on the end of it . She sounded bloody American ! Holy shit . I pulled her aside and said “,Darl , snap out’ve it . Keep your trap shut when ya talk and keep ya words short , or y’all end up sounding like a yank . “ 3 years and the very 1st hint of a different sound showed it’s head for the 1st time . Me I won’t allow it , but I’ll tell ya what ? I’ve now developed a pretty handy take off of the American accent . I’m using it a lot lately but after hearing Emma the other day I got a fright . What happens if my fake American accent sinks it’s roots into my tongue ? It gives me a shiver down my spine thinking about it . When and if we get back to Australia I’ll never live it down . Nah , it’s not happen’n . The kids , well they’re total yanks .

The June gloom has arrived . The overcast conditions brought on by the sea fogs of May and June have protected us from the hot conditions that most of LA have had to put up with . It’s in the mid to high 30’s in the suburbs , while along the coast it barely gets past 22c . It doesn’t matter too much . You can’t take for granted where we live . It’s a privileged area but it’s also a privilege to live here . You only have to drive through LA to see how lucky we have it . Until recently I have been walking , a lot . A toe stub has put me out for a week but I’ll be back next week . ( still not back , fucken things a pain in the arse ) On that note a few other things will be back next week . Retailers will be allowed to open with strict social distancing measures to be applied . There’s talk that local restaurants might be able to open if they can use outdoor dining with appropriate spacing . But walking , you notice things . When this lockdown began it was the removalist trucks . People were getting out . Millennials retreating back to the security of their family homes , The party is over for some . Others? It keeps going .Most afternoons you can see people sitting on their decks and front porches , soaking in the sun , drink in hand ,a book in the other .

The walking has been therapeutic. Podcasts of all types have accompanied the adventures .Im talking Russel Brand , mindfulness, footy ( Australian Rules Football ) ,Hollywood stories ( eg . Peter Bogdanovic ) , science related and a couple of others that I didn’t see myself ever wanting to listen to . Times like these , being so far from home , with a future so undecided and a confidence so fragile , walking has been been an important escape . It’s been a need that has grown daily . Luckily when I hurt the toe the beaches opened . I’ve been able to surf ( with discomfort ) or watch Leroy learn on a daily basis .

The walking allowed me to see things differently . Hermosa Beach / Manhattan Beach where we live is densely populated . There’s barely a lawn to be seen . This place is littered with laneways , culdesacs ,courtyards , private streets , hidden gardens , massive mansions , decrepit dwellings , shared spaces and private escapes . We are squeezed into this prized piece of land hugging the coast south of LA . If you’d never read my blogs before you wouldn’t of heard of the Southbay in LA. Don’t worry , plenty know about it here . It’s highly sought after, hence the very high property prices here ( north of 1.5 to get in ) . The more I see the more I sigh and think “shit , if we could only own one of these joints , just one of these little shitters hidden away “ , but alas it ain’t that easy . $$$$

There’s things I’ve come to appreciate . I like how the bars and cafes have stayed open . You can’t go in but you can get takeaway ;beer, cocktails and wine included . Most afternoons you can see punters drinking out the front of these establishments ,loitering with a sipper cup full with beer and a styrofoam container holding a burger . On one occasion a band played inside whilst a small throng of people drank and danced on the footpath . I did wonder how they could get by without needing to pee . I’d be in trouble on that count . You gotta love the locals willing to support there local watering holes .What I like most about this is the police , they turn a blind eye . Could you see this happening back in Australia ?

If you’re like me you’ve probably got press conference fatigue . Please I know I sound insensitive but is there other news ? Anyway pups ,we are 2 weeks from summer ,although we are kidding ourselves there . It’s here already . I know you don’t care , but I’m telling you ,the waves keep coming . The spirit has copped a beating but Hermosa Beach has been its usual positive self . I miss Australia worse than ever but I’m bloody glad we live in Hermosa Beach . For now pups ….cheers to this week . I thought I’d leave with another beautiful outlook ….

Gday chowbaggers . 63 days of lockdown has been put in the bank . Not much has changed but little things have happened . The beaches reopened on Wednesday and shit did the water users arrive . Ole mate Marcus floats by consistently but he won’t come in because he knows Emma is working from home .He has found a new victim , which makes me laugh . There’s talk that school may possibly stay online until at least the start of 2021 … fuck , that’s frightening . We know of a few people that have had covid 19 and have now recovered ; it seems as if the virus was here earlier than 1st thought . The beers are still flowing ,but I’m trying to hold back Monday to Thursday . 2 weeks in a row I’ve ticked that box . The parks are pumping , the paths too . Everyone is exercising out doors . It’s show time for the body beautiful. The weather continues to warm ,the days get longer and the sunsets well they always deliver .

The beaches : They were to open tomorrow morning but it was brought forward to Wednesday just gone . Water users , walkers , runners and joggers only was the edict . My pessimism had declared that Wednesday would surely be a shitty day with no surf . Wrong on that count . A beautiful warm morning with nice little waves awaited . I didn’t rush , I knew everyone else would do that . Nah fuck it , I’m having breakfast , my coffee ,a rest stop and then I’ll check it out . Hay , I know it’s gonna be busy but it never gets outta control down here …and then I walked down and saw for myself …

Crazy busy . Each morning has been bedlam . What’s been a shock is the quality of surfers out here ; they’re young and bloody good . I haven’t seen most of these guys . Why have they shown up now and not in the past ? College kids ,they’re all back at home . They’ve cut their teeth on these beaches and not only that their here early each morning .Yeah that’s it ,they’re less likely to be hung over when they can’t drink legally until 21 . Of course I know they’ll be up to stuff ,but these young guys are out there by 7-730 and ripping it . This 50 year old has found things tough . Still , it’s a tough life when you can’t work and live on the beach in California.

“ Hey Troy , come out here ! “ Who the fucks that . Who else dickhead …none other than Marcus . He’s parked in the middle of the road. Our front door is now open as we no longer have to worry about him walking in from across the road , but it doesn’t stop him from driving by and yelling out to me every 2nd day . “What’s up Marcus ? “ I enquire . “ I want to introduce to my mate , Damien .” , replies Marcus . “ How ya goin Damien “ ..” Gday mate “ he replies ….Knock me down with a feather , ole mate has found himself a new Aussie to latch onto. It turns out that Damian ,a 20 something year old bloke has just relocated from Sydney and unfortunately for him he’s landed right across the road from Ole Mate himself . To top it off he landed on March 10 , just days later the whole country has been paralysed and locked down . He now has to work from home and has the old boy across the road just waiting with joy to knock on his door . He got his phone number too ….poor fucka has fallen for the trap too . I grab Damiens phone number before they go , all the while with a smile on my face . Strap yourself in Damien , cause ole mates gonna drive you nuts ….and he has . Damien rang me last week . He tells me that Ole Mate rings him at least 3 times a day and knocks on his door regularly . He told Marcus that not his girl friend , his mum or his boss has ever needed to contact him so regularly everyday . I laughed , oh yeah I laughed . Sorry Damien but Ole mate has found a new victim ….. another Aussie . For now hound dogs , cheers to groundhog week number 10 … it’s starts tomorrow…….and it’ll be our little mans 10 th birthday …Happy birthday Leroy

Well hound dogs , it’s getting hot in SoCal . The days and the nights are creeping into their 6 month sojourn of summer . It’s day 52 of lockdown .When this lockdown began it rained for the first week . The thought of being trapped inside was depressing , but it wasn’t that bad . Even as the weather improved the lockdown didn’t dampen spirits too much , but over the last few days the heat and the close vicinity to the beach has made it tougher . Not to worry . May 18 ,the beach will reopen to water users . Finally , surfing , one of the few outlets available will once again be viable . Of course over the duration of the quarantine the surf has done its thing . It’s been pumping consistently for weeks on end ,and that doesn’t happen too often over here .

The smell this morning was intense . I threw the garbage out early , as I could smell the bin in the kitchen . Still , 10 minutes later it didn’t fade , in fact it grew stronger . I blamed it on the construction site in the lane way . I closed the back door ,but the waft of rotting materials kept sweeping through the house . I went to the front door to see if I could smell it there too . I could , but this time it was mixed with salt . Then it dawned on me .Its the ocean . An unusual event has occurred in the South bay waters . There’s an algal bloom that has turned the water a rusty red , actually it’s the colour of the Yarra river in Melbourne . With a bit of swell and an incoming tide the briny broth floated its pong right through the neighbourhood. Last year it also turned up , but it stayed off shore and wasn’t any where as rich . It turns out the rain at the start of lockdown helped cultivate a red algal bloom . There’s a positive to the waters looking and smelling like a shit farm , bioluminescence. At. night the waves turn fluorescent blue . The phytoplankton emit light when stirred up . The thing is , the beaches are closed . Even when I stood at my lookout spot to look at the surf I had a woman drive up to give me the eye . She made it abundantly clear that I was to not step on the sand . I laughed and shook my head .

. Emma , Leroy and myself walked down the end of the street at 830 pm . We intended to stop at the top of the stairs looking over to life guard tower 28 . Hopefully we could see the blue waves . When we got there there were others with the same idea . Cars pulled up , families , teenagers ,anybody . We were all coming down . Geezus , there it is . A shimmering blue roller glides down beneath the sand . As is it slides by it lights up the bodies on the sand . There’s people on the beach ,in the dark , out of sight on the shoreline . That’s all I need . I’m out there too . By the time I get to the shoreline I can see people all down the line spread along the shore . Surely its safe in numbers if security turns up looking to hand $1000 fines . Only problem is I’ve done my hammy , so I won’t be running for it . Not to worry , there’s no threat tonight . I did think I could video it live on Facebook but I realised my camera showed nothing but blackness . Ahh well I’ll take a photo and show you that instead , but my old IPhone 6 couldn’t pick up the blue either . Eventually a bit of editing revealed exactly what it looked like .Red tide during the day ….blue wonder at night . 12 days time I’ll be floating in it . Bring on May 18 …….Stay healthy hound dogs .