I don't even know what to update! I'm in California now
have been for a few days. I'm taken back by how much I like it here too!!! I stayed near Laguna beach. And have just done the mega drive up highway one and my first stop off alone! The drive was great! Well. LA was not great, as I wanted to see venice beach, and the traffic was mental. Venice beach is mental. Like utter madness!!!!! I didn't stop long, just enough to eat and leave!
The coast is pretty. I took a bit of a detour away for awhile and went inland, and that was just as nice. Loved it! Rolling hills and vineyards.
I'm at my motel now, and I'm happy with my first America motel experience!! To be fair, I've paid extra for a posh "boutique motel" and I'm glad I did
it's lovely! Strange being on my own for the first time in a week!!
Observations so far.
Omg filling the car up with fuel is a traumatic experience every single time.
At home - pull in to pump. Insert nozzle. Fill car up. Go to shop. Pay. OR pull up to pump. Insert card and PIN number. Fill up car.
Here.... Arrive at pump. Try to fill up. Wonder why it won't. Ask man in shop. Man in shop asks how much fuel I want. I have no idea??!! Man in shop tells me to pay at pump and enter code. I explain I don't have a code. Man says I need to pay for fuel up front and enter code. Explain I don't know how much I want and I don't have a code. Man takes my credit card and driving licence. Realises I'm not local, calls over manager. Manager finally says oh you won't have a code! Go fill up and come back and pay here.
It kind of runs like this every time, except now I hand them my card, say I don't have a zip code and I will fill up then come in and pay of they will unlock the pump. Seems to be working..... They clearly don't trust you with fuel here!!!!!
Otherwise I'm having fun
I might even go in the sea tomorrow if it's warm enough
and I'm going to find moonstone beach and collect rocks!