When I planned my visit with Leslie in Tehachapi, it was months ago. In the meantime, her father's health took a turn for the worse and she decided she needed to see him. This wasn't easy as he resides in Ecuador.

Through excellent planning, arrangements were made with me being Leslie's transportation to Los Angeles Airport, 125 miles away. I wanted to treat her to a wonderful meal and through a yelp search found Veranda Restaurant at the very cool hotel The Georgian.
I loved my choice, Monica's Ranchero- crispy corn tortilla, farm eggs-any style, roasted tomato salsa, braised black beans, cotija and cheddar cheese, avocado, cabbage salad, and sour cream.
What sold me on the choice was the view.
And the hotel's history (a must read) is pretty special, too. The Georgian Hotel was established in 1933. Built during the peak of California's coastal expansion in the 1920s and 1930s, this historic Los Angeles hotel was the vision of Attorney and Judge, Harry J. Borde. Showcasing Romanesque Revival and Art Deco architecture, the hotel was among the first skyscrapers to call Ocean Avenue home.

After a sumptuous brunch, we headed to the pier. We were drawn to this One World statement at the beach. Leslie is embracing the Ecuadorian flag.
Another history lesson was learned on the Santa Monica Municipal Pier. Opened on September 9, 1909, after sixteen months of construction, thousands of people swarmed onto the 1,600-foot-long concrete pier (the biggest on the West Coast at the time) to enjoy a festive day of band concerts, swimming races and the novelty of walking above the waters of the Pacific Ocean. While originally built to satisfy the City's sanitation needs (a pipe ran its length and then out to the sea, at the end to dump waste), the Pier quickly became a magnet for the fishing community (did you read the above about sanitation needs?) and fueled the imagination of many local entrepreneurs.
And how very cool is this... Route 66: End of the Trail? This sign, on the Pier, marks the end of the legendary American highway, symbolizing that this road only ended when the sea stood in its way. 
According to this sign, Popeye the Sailor Man was created in the late 1920s by Elzie C. Segar right at the Pier. Rumor has it the character is based on Olaf Olsen, a Norwegian immigrant, who fought net fishing in the Santa Monica Bay, rented boats off the end of the pier, and, before moving to Santa Monica, survived a wild storm off the Oregon Coast. Interesting stuff indeed.

We even witnessed a Coast Guard rescue.
The street performers varied but this guy was incredible... a mix between a mime and a dancer. He was mesmerizing.
At 3 PM, I left Leslie at LAX and headed north. I had a 432 mile drive to meet up with Steve in Santa Rosa. The sunset was magical.