Archives for September 2008
A sorry welcome at the first Mo-Tel
A couple of days in San Luis Obispo reveal it to be an epicentre of motel history, appropriate for the midway point of the journey between Los Angeles and San Francisco. Just yards from the old-fashioned charm of the Peach Tree Inn stand the remnants of the world’s first motel.
Back in 1925, California architect Arthur Heineman decided to get into the lodging business. He chose a site on the outskirts of San Luis Obispo, a ranch town about 200 miles north of Los Angeles (a long day’s drive in those days)
Heineman designed his place so guests could drive right up to the door of their rooms (or an adjacent garage). He decided to call it a “motor hotel” and then shortened it to “motel.”
“There were a few ‘auto courts’ around where travelers stayed, but you couldn’t necessarily park right in front of your room. And this was the first place in the world to be called a motel,” says Mark Hall-Patton, director of the County Historical Museum in San Luis Obispo.
A site worth honouring.
The Realignment
There’s a new axis of power in California. Obama, meet Marvin. And they’re on the back of a Corvette.
Oh, Madonna Inn
Driving California Route 101 past San Luis Obispo, a stop at the Madonna Inn is hard to miss.
Umberto Eco wrote, ‘the poor words with which natural human speech is provided, cannot suffice to describe the Madonna Inn…Let’s say that Albert Speer, while leafing through a book on Gaudi, swallowed an overgenerous dose of LSD and began to build a nuptial catacomb for Liza Minnelli’.
If Eco can’t describe it, how can I? Safe to say it’s… remarkable gaudy kitsch. Disneyland meets Travelodge for a pink paint party.
Leaving Las Vegas
Or rather, overflying Las Vegas in seat 1K of the BA 279 to LAX. It doesn’t look so big from up here, eh? Look closely and you’ll spot all of the landmarks on The Strip.
Oh yes – I’m in California for a week. A holiday at last!
Happy Birthday, Boss!
Ma Down was, well, she reached an important landmark last week and we celebrated with some of her friends on a 45′ yacht trip across the Solent to the Isle of Wight for lunch at the Royal Corinthian Yacht Club in Cowes. The weather was stunning which meant that we didn’t get any sailing done, but has a very pleasant day motoring and avoiding the cargo ships.
Here are a few photos of the day. Glad you enjoyed it! (I know she’ll read this). She’s a pretty good sort overall, you know.
(I’m taking bets on how long it will be before the writ is served to remove some of these photos.)
And your Duathlon time is…
Cursed, I tell you, cursed! After being 12 seconds over three hours for the London Triathlon, now I’m six second over two hours for the London Duathlon. Sigh.
And just to rub salt into the wound, ‘the system’ texted the same result to me 27 times!
I’m not dead, just not posted here for a while due to various work and sporting commitments. My sports year in review to come very soon…
