Tales of the LA Freeway

Well I just got into town about an hour ago

Well, I just got into town about an hour ago
Took a look around, see which way the wind blow
Where the little girls in their Hollywood bungalows
Are you a lucky little lady in the city of light
Or just another lost angel, city of night

(The Doors – LA Woman)

The bus from LAX has taken us to the Alamo Car Rental HQ where we get out and trundle luggage into the reception area. There are kiosks where we can self-book a car or the desk. Because we had booked a premium car and because I wanted a standard size instead with a decent boot we decided to wait for the desk.

Enter Chase clad in casual Alamo livery assuring us that we can do everything that we want at the kiosk and he will make sure that we get the vehicle we want.

And so it begins.

Simple and easy says Chase. Y’all got your booking number.

Yes.

Then enter it here says Chase indicating the screen.

And so it goes.

The miracle of modern technology. Details, addresses, drivers license, insurance details – the whole enchilada.

Now all we need – says Chase with a wolfish smile – is your credit card.

Duly swiped.

A printout emerges from the kiosk. Triumphantly Chase hands it to us and says I told you so. Now lets find you a car. What would you like.

We had been through this. We are in America. We want an American car. Maybe not Detroit iron anymore but an American car. What you got, Chase.

We got Chevvies he says.

Great – you got a Malibu.

Sure – you want a sun roof with that.

Why not.

Here you are says Chase leading us to the car – gleaming white and shining in the warm California sun. Keys are on the dash. Its all yours. Have a great time.

Thanks Chase. Here’s something extra for you. Enjoy your day.

Load up the spacious boot. Plug the USB cable into the phone and connect to the car. Apple Carplay is available. We can use the maps and directions to get us where we want to go. Push <start journey> and we are away.

Through some city streets and onto the I-105 heading roughly east and it begins.

Tune in the radio and whaddaya know – LA Woman by the Doors. Good LA driving music from a good LA band.

And looking ahead are cars travelling VERY fast, huge semi-trailer trucks, speed limit 65 MILES per hour but no one is going that slowly. Revelling in the space – the freeway lanes are so much wider than in NZ. Just follow the traffic and keep an eye out for exits lanes and merge lanes – there are going to be a few of those.

And the Doors gives way to Bob Seger and “Hollywood Nights” – another piece of perfect driving music.

And the LA freeways are everywhere, the cars going fast, the wonderful Southern California light of a late afternoon and the magical haze which is unable to screen out the distant Sierras rising further to the East. We have been over those before but not this time. Our destination is much closer.

And it is there that I got a chance to pilot the “Millenium Falcon”.