The pier at Hermosa is literally just that, a pier. There are no attractions, but it is popular with those who like to fish.
A memorial to astronaut Greg Jarvis and the other Challenger crew members sits by the side of the beach. Jarvis was a local resident of Hermosa Beach and a keen cyclist.
Some of the houses on the beachfront are quite magnificent:
while other residences are more noteworthy for their trees:
Another mile or so of walking and we were in Manhattan Beach. This also has a pier. I haven't checked this one out yet but it has a small aquarium in the building at the end.
Manhattan Beach also has its share of grand residences:
But there's a reason it is so deserted. Because while the view in one direction is very pleasing to the eye:
That can't be said about the other direction:
A huge RV park is adjacent to the beach and numerous fire pits on the sand mean it is one of the few beaches where visitors can enjoy bonfires.
After walking almost ten miles, it was time for a lunch break. We headed off the beach into Playa Del Rey where we found The Shack, one of those places which looks small (and to be honest, shabby) on the outside but turns out to be a lot bigger than it looks and a great place to eat.
Playa Del Rey |
After lunch, we discovered that the path detoured around the huge marinas that make up Playa Del Rey and Marina Del Rey so that to get to Venice, about two miles further up the coast, we had to walk another four miles! It's a good job we like walking.
One mile later, after strolling through pleasant residential streets we were finally in Venice and headed back to the beach.
Not sure how often this happens, but the beach boardwalk was a bustling market place with vendors, musicians, and psychics, and a guy offering coffin rides! Rather macabre.
After the relative peace of the earlier part of our walk, the bustle and crowds were almost too much. We thought about having a drink, but the bars were all crowded despite it being only about five o'clock. Instead, we headed onto the beach to the skate park to watch the skateboarders show off their moves. I'd like to have included some photos but it turns out taking pictures of skateboarders in action requires greater skill than I possess.
Eight hours and over seventeen miles after we started we finally made it to Santa Monica. I have to say the pier was a welcome sight. We were tired and foot-sore, but we'd achieved our goal. It was time to get a celebration drink. And where better than Ye Olde Kings Head, a wonderful British Pub just up from the seafront. Their sausage rolls were worth the walk!
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