Dublin, May 2022

This year our humans were going to drive around California and other states. It would Roger's 10th visit to America, and he was excited with the prospect of cruising the Pacific west coast on Highway 1 to Hollywood in Los Angeles. Then we'd tour deserts in Arizona, Utah and Nevada, before returning to California to follow some of the footsteps of the gold rush in the mid 18 hundreds.

Click each photo to enlarge

With the seat belt fastened, sitting on our seat 1G, we took off from Dublin Airport and enjoyed business class at 35,000 feet.

Grange was with us. This was his first great trip with the Travelling Bears to USA and he was all excited. He was looking forward to hotels, interstates and bagels... besides being squashed in a bag, as Tom had told him. Yes, Grange knew all about the commitment and life as one of the travelling bears.

Kangerlussuaq, Greenland, May 2022

Previously, when flying to San Francisco, the flight route went across Greenland, and this was also the case this time. The flight went across a cloud covered ice sheet, before the sky cleared as we approached the west coast just south of Kangerlussuaq.

The Pacific Coast, May 2022

After ten and half hours we touched down at San Francisco International Airport and stayed for the night at the Hampton Inn.

The next morning we went down the Highway 101 and caught up with the pacific highway, California state highway 1 at Half Moon Bay. Not surprisingly there were clouds - it even rained at times.

Pacific Coast, California, May 2022

Further south the sky got clear so we could enjoy the magnificent views of the coast line.

Big Basin Redwoods State Park, California, May 2022

In San Francisco we had picked up our rented car, a Mitsubishi Outlander. It turned out to be an excellent choice. Here we are at Waddell Beach.

Paso Robles, California, May 2022

We went to Paso Robles and stayed one night.

Paso Robles, California, May 2022

Paso Robles is a famous Californian wine district with good wineries like the winery behind us, Donati.

Carrizo Plain, California, May 2022

From Paso Robles we drove down the Highway 58. McBear was keen to see some of the visible signs of the infamous San Andreas Fault Line. Highway 58 crosses over one of the points, this ridge.

Carrizo Plain, California, May 2022

We also went to see the Wallace Creek. Wallace is a small (dry) river coming down from the hills, but it is being moved in a perpendicular direction by the fault line. West of the line is the Pacific plate moving northwards, and east of the line is the American plate moving south. Hence the oddly Z-shaped path of the creek. To make it more visible we've placed a Z-shaped greyish line over the creek on the photo.

Solvang, California, May 2022

On our way south, we did a detour to Solvang. McBear wanted to visit this small town. It was found around 1911 by Danish settlers and the town has kept its traditional Danish building style. There is a mill - and half a copy in small size of the original Round tower in the Danish capital, Copenhagen.

Solvang, California, May 2022

The town has also installed a small copy of the Little Mermaid from Copenhagen.

Cruising on Highway 1 south we passed through another famous spot, Malibu, with its famous beach, 21 miles of sandy beaches.

Hollywood, California, May 2022

Then we arrived the Best Western Sunset Plaza on Sunset Boulevard in Hollywood north west of Los Angeles. The next couple of days we were going to visit some of the highlights. We started out the next morning by visiting the famous Warner Bros. Studios. Maybe you recognize the famous water tower in the background.

Hollywood, California, May 2022

We went on a guided tour around the Warner Bros. Studios. It was very interesting. Roger, with his background, could have done the guided tour himself.

Hollywood, California, May 2022

The next day we went to Hollywood Boulevard to visit the famous Dolby Theatre. This is where the famous Oscars are handed out once every year.

Here we are on stage, where the Oscars are being awarded to all the famous actors and actresses.

Hollywood, California, May 2022

We wanted to walk Hollywood Bouleward to see the famous tiles with pink stars.
"One day, one of the pink stars will have my name listed..." Roger said.