Day 5: Walnut Creek

Renaissance Club Sport

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Today began late as we headed out of the very poor hotel the Ramada Limited. A quick stop on the way at the data center to fix something I accidentally broke yesterday, then over the impressive Bay Bridge and on to Walnut Creek. The drive took about 40 minutes and we were at our new hotel, the Renaissance Club Sport. From the worst hotel I have stayed at, to the best. The Renaissance Club Sport is an excellent hotel, great value at $140US per night (www.travelocity.com) and it has everything. Spacious rooms, great décor, three swimming pools, kids club, two basketball courts, bar and restaurant. Definitely blows away any other hotels around this price bracket I have stayed in.

Billy spent the afternoon in the pool, Kim beside it, and myself on the basketball court. Once it hit 4pm we headed out to have an early meal. A nice restaurant (Copper Skillet) with a good range of food, fries (again) for the little guy, Mexican for me and a sandwich for Kim (no fries for the first time since we arrived in the US).

Driving Lombard Street

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Walnut Creek is a cross between Craigieburn and Pleasantville. Everything looks similar and new. You could easily live here, but probably just as easily get bored! We checked out the supermarket for snacks for tomorrow drive, and found many unrecognizable breakfast cereals that looked like they must contain Disney characters as any mention of actual food contents seemed lacking. Kimmy bought some ‘Bunny Love’ carrots as she had missed her daily rabbit food overdose since leaving home.

The babysitter for Billy arrived early at 6pm, and we headed out to our concert. The range of different people there was bizarre, from the obvious trailer trash, the hard rocking black t-shirt wearing brigade, families, substantially weight challenged who really should be made to buy two seats, and the occasional regular looking people.

Cinderella were the opening band, and our major concern after their performance was whether Poison were going to be anywhere near as bad. Cinderella can be summed up in one word…crap! Or two, if you want the long version…really crap!!

Poison however did rock (at least in my opinion), I think even Kim enjoyed herself. My only complaint they didn’t play long enough, though Bret (the lead singer) apologized as he had the flu and a fever. They were still excellent however, and got the entire crowd involved, as well as the band members all getting to turn it on in their own way (incase you don’t know any of their songs try: Every rose has its thorn, Nothin but a good time, Your mama don’t dance, Fallen Angel, Unskinny Bop.

Billy was great for the babysitter, and went swimming again after we had left. They polished off quite a few kit kats and he was not complaining at all about being left alone with Amanda who did a steller job (www.tandcr.com).

We have a long drive down to LA tomorrow, so that is it for today. We didn’t take photos today so it’s a boring blog I’m afraid. We are missing the girls at home and hope they are having a good time and don't miss us (or Kim's cooking/cleaning) too much.

Tool of the Day

Cinderella, for thinking they can play music and even worse…sing. Even worse believing we wanted an encore when we were actually clapping because they were finally over…or so we thought!!