How the other half live - mixing with the millionaires in chi-chi La Jolla

The headlands at La Jolla
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There is no doubt that California is a golden corner of the world.

I was reminded of this this afternoon when I was standing on one of the rocky headlands that dot La Jolla. The waves crashed against basalt outcroppings sending wheeling gulls into the air. Even in late November the sun is out and surfers ride the waves. The whole area feels agreeable and mellow...not to mention extortionately rich.

I was impressed not to say a little intimidated. La Jolla is chic;

Another cove
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I got to meet the Vincents this morning. It was OK that I stayed in their house and to say thank you they wanted to take me and Andy to breakfast. I think he had done a nice job in reassuring them that I was OK and unlikely to run off with any valuable and according to Jane Vincent, two boys in the house is a better deterrent to burglars then just one. As she told me later theres alot of crap that comes up of south of the trolley stop and there have been break-ins down that street all year. But I felt she was doing me a favour and thanked her profusely for letting us stay there.

La Jolla
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She was kind enough to pick us up at 8.00am in her Jaguar and drive us north to wear they live in La Jolla (pronounced La-HOY-ya). We drove past Mission Beach and then along the San Diego highway to the little millionaires enclave. I was impressed not to say a little intimidated. La Jolla is chic; it reminds me of a slightly more artistic Beverley Hills There is the smell of 'Old Money' here. I felt I was entering a world that was completely different from my own.

We joined her husband, Jean, and daughter, blonde Susan, at an oceanside restaurant for Sunday breakfast - Jean was a rotund mustachioed man who was fascinated by my travels. He took great pleasure in seeing me enjoy the salsa omelette that he recommended to me. Susan is abit more serious, Andy doesn't like her - he says shes calculating and has her life mapped out already. She might just be an overachiever but she sort of steered the conversation to topics that Andy and I couldn't follow and despite Jeans best efforts we felt excluded from some of the conversation.

We said we would meet them about five and spent the rest of the day wandering along the beach/ocean. Theres a little footpath over vegetation covered headlands where you can watch Pacific breakers smash into little coves and inlets. Both of us had brought our trunks and while enjoying the waves I got chatting to some thirtysomething surfers. Its amazing how the British accent opens people up out here.

More headlands and the superb Scripps Aquarium but the highlight of the day was bumping into the surfers again and having a good time chatting to them on the beach. They even let me try out one of the boards. Time flew by and we realised we hadn't even noticed we didn't eat lunch and then it was back with the Vincents. They were in their own little world but both Jane and Jean made the effort with us and Jean kindly drove us back to downtown San Diego.

Then it was time to say goodbye to Andy Atkinson. He's been good company for the last week.Top bloke. We exchanged addresses (and we did meet up in the new year) and said goodbye. I then strapped on my backpack and headed for the Greyhound station. My destination needed four tickets - overnight bus to Fresno then courtesy bus to Yosemite, leaving will be Yosemite to Merced then Amtrak to San Francisco.

My big worry is accommodation in the park. I tried to ring but no answer. I'm turning up on speck with no accommodation booked. I hope they have something or its a cold night under the stars.