Sunday, Sep 09, 2007
On the Streets of Los Angeles
Route: Hollywood-Santa Monica-Hollywood
Distance: 74.21 km, Time: 5 hours:54 minutes:58 seconds, Total: 74.21 km
I've
continued to the famous Muscle Beach, closely associated with the
current governor (in 2007!) Arnold Schwarzenegger.
The original Muscle Beach dates back to the 1930s when the Works Progress Administration (WPA) installed exercise equipment immediately south of the Santa Monica Pier. Popular gymnastic and acrobatic performances were routinely held on city-provided equipment. A platform on the beach with weight lifting equipment provided a workout area for famous bodybuilders.
After the closing of the original Muscle Beach bodybuilding attention shifted south to the known Venice Beach Weight Pen, operated by the Los Angels Recreation and Parks Department. A small spartan weight pen was build near Windward Avenue in 1959, later replaced by the larger current facility during a complete renovation and Muscle Beach Venice redevelopment in 1990 which sports a huge concrete barbell on the roof and bleachers (or stands) for spectators (wikipedia).
Even with the many interesting sights and sounds of the American way of life the sun did not want to wait for me; it was time to leave. I did not return on the same bike path I came but rather the next road behind the houses of the beach front, the Pacific Coast Highway. Tomorrow I will ride on it to San Francisco, the actual start of my bike tour. Of course, I was very excited...
The way back to the hotel in Hollywood was not as simple as I thought. As it was getting darker I've got lost but discovered the famous 'Hollywood' sign on the hill in a distance. I've tried to keep the direction and somehow found the way to the hotel. I was already dark night when I arrived. The night watchman opened the gate and let me in...
After my first 1/2 day riding the bike on American roads was a very interesting experience. Flying in from Taiwan I disassembled some parts (handlebar, wheels, saddles) and assembled it after arrival everything worked as expected. My bike passed the test for tomorrow's tour start.
Let's hope that the next 4 week will be as smooth as today!
(to be continued)
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Sight @ Santa Monica Beach
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The bike path beside the Santa Monica State Beach led me to a
sophisticated designed skateboard park crowded with beach boys and their
boards. Between them I could spot some BMX bikers testing their skills in the some park. The outer wall was sprayed with graffiti art.
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Graffiti Artist @ Work
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The original Muscle Beach dates back to the 1930s when the Works Progress Administration (WPA) installed exercise equipment immediately south of the Santa Monica Pier. Popular gymnastic and acrobatic performances were routinely held on city-provided equipment. A platform on the beach with weight lifting equipment provided a workout area for famous bodybuilders.
After the closing of the original Muscle Beach bodybuilding attention shifted south to the known Venice Beach Weight Pen, operated by the Los Angels Recreation and Parks Department. A small spartan weight pen was build near Windward Avenue in 1959, later replaced by the larger current facility during a complete renovation and Muscle Beach Venice redevelopment in 1990 which sports a huge concrete barbell on the roof and bleachers (or stands) for spectators (wikipedia).
When I arrived I had great expectations but even on a Sunday afternoon I could only spot very few body builders. It looked that the golden age of Muscle Beach has already gone or the athletes prefer rather to train in climate controlled gyms than under the hot sun at the beach.
Continuing riding southwards along the beach front the road became lined with shops (I've seen a Harley Davidson clothing store), snack food stalls and restaurants which even serve cold German wheat beer. It's a nice atmosphere to see and to be seen, a leisurely pace let the weekend fade off in a cooling breeze from the ocean.
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Beach
Cruisers @ Venice Beach
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Beach Promenade @ Venice Beach
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The way back to the hotel in Hollywood was not as simple as I thought. As it was getting darker I've got lost but discovered the famous 'Hollywood' sign on the hill in a distance. I've tried to keep the direction and somehow found the way to the hotel. I was already dark night when I arrived. The night watchman opened the gate and let me in...
After my first 1/2 day riding the bike on American roads was a very interesting experience. Flying in from Taiwan I disassembled some parts (handlebar, wheels, saddles) and assembled it after arrival everything worked as expected. My bike passed the test for tomorrow's tour start.
Let's hope that the next 4 week will be as smooth as today!
(to be continued)
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