Valencia Travel Park, Valencia, CA:  Drove down to Santa Monica and Malibu today.  I decided to drive and give Mike a break for a change.  Took the 5 down to the 405 and then west on the 101.  Gave Mike a break from the driving but he had to listen to me bitching the whole way.  Either people were driving too fast or too slow.  I was so glad when we got off the freeways.  Got off the 101 on the Topanga Canyon Road down to Santa Monica.  A beautiful drive through this rugged canyon.  Parked at the Santa Monica Pier and we walked around the pier and had lunch at Mariasol on the pier.  The old Route 66 ends here in Santa Monica.  After lunch we walked back down the pier to the old, historic merry-go-round house.  The merry-go-round is still running and they have an old soda fountain in there.  I continued driving down the Pacific Coast Highway to Malibu.  Beautiful ocean views and some amazing homes.  Out of Malibu we hung a right at Pepperdine University on the N1, changed drivers and drove through an even more amazing canyon with beautiful views. Back on the 101 to the 405 and then the 5 back to our park.  Relaxed and read the rest of the afternoon. 

Route 66 ends in Santa Monica

Santa Monica beach.  Temps in the low 70s.  Water temps probably in the 60s.  People in there swimming and surfing like it was no big deal.  We're wimps I guess.

Heading up the canyon out of Malibu.