Today I have begun my voyage to Moscow, Russia. My journey starts here in San Diego where I will be taking a train to Irvine. My good friend Chris Peel will be picking me up from the station and we will spend the rest of the day together until he drops me off at Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) for my 11:55pm flight to Washing DC (IAD). From there I have a 12-hour layover that is followed by a 17-hour flight to Moscow.
My trip has already had an interesting start to it. I woke up at 11:00am, took a shower and packed my bags. My boy Justin came and picked me up at 12:45pm and drove me to Rat Tail to grab some last minute items before Dropped my off at Amtrak to catch my train. Unfortunately the train has been delayed by two hours because someone was struck and killed by the train that I am supposed to be on. Supposedly it has started moving again and should leave San Diego at 3:15pm. Next stop Irvine.
San Diego's Sante Fe Depot train station.
Yup that's me!
Chilling waiting for the train.
San Diego Downtown
San Diego Downtown
San Diego Trolly
San Diego Downtown
Front of Sante Fe Depot
... a close up.
The inside.
When my train gets here out these doors I will go!
The Train ride
The train finally departed San Diego at 4:00pm. I take this train every time I go to Los Angeles and there is always some sort of delay. Today however took the cake. Luckily the train is pretty empty today and it hasn't filled up much since I've been on it. I've had a chance of plans and instead of getting off in Irvine; Chris Peel will be picking me up from San Clemente. I really need him to take me to the post office to drop off some letters and drive me to either CVS or Walgreen’s to get some hygiene items
Waiting in line @ The Sante Fe Station in San Diego
The train has arrived!!!
This train looks fast, but it travels at a snail pace.
The train between San Diego & Los Angeles is called the Pacific Surf Liner.
Inside the train.
The journey is getting some momentum.
Ah you can't beat the scenary in Southern California.
Famous skate spot that Haffey destroyed in Drip Drop now overgrown and unskateable!
The waves of the Pacific Ocean.
I never go to the beach, but it sure is pretty.
Pacific Coast Highway.
Best thing about Amtrack, constant power.
Surfers at Tressels.
Surfers at Tressels.
San Onofre Power Plant.
The beach heading towards San Clemente
The San Clemente Pier.
San Clemente, CA
I arrived in San Clemente at almost 6:00pm. Chris was waiting for me at the station. I was shocked how the station was nothing more then an asphalt sidewalk, which happened to be next to a famous down stair ledge skate spot. We hung out at the pier for a few minutes before walking up the hill to his car. Our first stop was his brother-in-law's house to say hi to his wife Julie. We hung out there for about an hour then made the 45 minute trek up the 405 to Long Beach.
Chris Peel and I, with the train I was on pulling away.
The San Clemente Pier.
Famous skate spot.
Famous skate spot.
The San Clemente Pier.
Julie and Chris Peel.
Long Beach, CA
We drove down 7th Street right past another famous skate spot, Cal State Long Beach. Chris then drove me up to the top of a hill with a great view of all of Long Beach and parts of Los Angeles. After shooting some pictures, we headed to his house to drop of his dog. We were both hungry and went to a sweet taco shop where I had blackened Mahi Mahi tacos and Chris got the Zesty Beef Tacos. Time was just flying by today and by time we had done eating it was already almost 9:00pm. I really needed some last minute goods from Rite Aide, so Chris drove me to one. I had trouble looking for what I needed and spent about 20 minutes in the store. We were suppose to go to an art show after, but we decided it would be better just to make the 30 minute drive to LAX, so that I wouldn't be late.
The Drive to Long Beach.
Long Beach is coming up soon!!!.
This burger joint looked pretty cool.
Chris pointing out the different areas of Long Beach.
View of Long Beach.
View of Long Beach.
Chris Peel and I, with Long Beach behind us.
View of Long Beach.
My new shoes from Payless.
Chris' art.
More of his art.
Chris in his living room.
Chris' Nimh Shima v1 skates.
Cocoreno's Taco shop.
Cocoreno's Taco shop.
Los Angeles, CA
I made it to LAX by 10:00pm and checked in within five minutes. I was still a bit hungry and ended up getting a Big Mac, which is something I only eat when traveling, and a bottle of water. It is now 11:00pm and I have thirty more minutes to wait to board this flight to Washintgon, D.C.
Sign to LAX.
Jews for Jesus?.
At the airport.
Ready for this flight!