Monday, January 25, 2010

New Years in California & the Rose Bowl

I've never been to LA before, and I've never seen any of the pacific coast for that matter. So the chance to go to Pasadena and see the Rose Bowl (+ a little extra time) was an opportunity I jumped at. It turned out to be the best bowl game of the year and was a great break from the Ohio snow and cold.

The trip was great, and when we found out that our friends Dan & Teri were going (actually on the same flight & hotel) it was just all the better. So we landed wednesday in LA at around 1:30 and headed straight to Pasadena to watch the floats being built. That was OK, but little down time would have been great also. Pasadena was cool, and then on to Hollywood and Beverly Hills. At least I've been there now, but not overly impressed.

The fun started on Thursday (New Years Eve) as the weather was getting more beautiful by the minute, we headed to Glendale Community College to watch the OSU Marching Band Practice. That was a treat most people don't get to see, so I soaked it on up.

From there it was on to Santa Monica pier for the Buckeye Bash with about 30,000 of our friends in Scarlet & Gray. They pulled out Archie Griffin, Gordon Gee and even Joe Germain (last Rose Bowl quarterback for the Bucks). After that, the OSUMB along with Brutus rocked the house till we all broke up to a beautiful sunset over the Pacific.

While I was taking the photo to the left, a photographer from the Columbus Dispatch came over took almost the same picture of Joe & 3 other band members (he actually had one of their band buddies taking their picture, so there were 5 of them in his) that made the front page of the Columbus Dispatch on New Years day...That was Big!

On back to Marina Del ray, were it turned out to be a very passive New Years eve. We ate at a little Mexican restaurant, had a few beers and that was it. Now its fair to say we had to get up at 5:00 to head to the parade.

The next day was even more beautiful, sunshine and in the 70's for the parade and the game. The parade was something to see, floats like I've never seen, plus a million tortilla shells in the street??? Don't ask me.

The bus ride to the game was also something else. Our driver, Rachel (with the roll
of the tongue) I think drove NASCAR on the side. Flying through the side streets of Pasadena, we DID make it to the game with time to buy some $9.00 beers (the cups were collectibles).

The game was unbelievable, I think there were more Bucks than Ducks there, but after the 4th quarter (under the most unbelievable red sunset I've ever seen) it was evident they were not going to win, so they quacked away. 95,000 people and I think 3/4 of them were rooting for the Bucks. What a day, especially when your son is marching Script Ohio in front of the world.

The next day was a relaxing but scenic drive up the Pacific Coast Highway to Ventura and back, with lunch in a hoity toity Malibu beach restaurant, see the freak show at Venice Beach and on to Dan's sisters, who had a little dinner party for us in her Topanga Canyon house (Note: Wally from Leave it to Beaver lives across the street from her). Great corned beef dinner Lynn!

I'd do it all again in a heartbeat, but if by any chance the bucks can make it to the National Championship...Tempe here we come. If not, there will surly be some bowl that we'll have to travel to.

Check out all the photos at Green Boat

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