A Walk in Venice Beach

It is November but the weather is wonderful, bright blue skies, the temperature in the high seventies and a beautiful beach to enjoy. We decided to walk along the boardwalk from Venice to Santa Monica, explore new places, watch new people and wildlife.

Some of the birds we recognised easily, like the Egrets and Little Egrets by the canal and the Pelicans swooping so low over the waves that I couldn’t get a clear picture of them. Other birds were more helpful, so I could get their pictures even if I didn’t recognise them. The gulls and pigeons, although familiar are different from those resident in Cornwall.

We enjoyed the Santa Monica shopping mall and the variety of stalls along the way. Returning on Main we came across an amazing sculpture created by Paul Conrad from chain links. This is his attempt to promote peace and an end to war.

As we stopped for lunch at a restaurant on the beach, the place was invaded by a large group of hopefuls from the next series of American Idol. As well as the contestants with numbered badges, there were people looking important and others with cameras and all the paraphernalia of a film crew. Good luck candidate no 98999.

As I was not sure I would ever see the Pacific Ocean from this side again, I felt compelled to have a swim joining the surfers in the sea. It was cold, very cold; nearly as cold as the sea around the UK.