Newport Beach Chilling

Day 6: 18 February 2009

Met an interesting man who claimed to be a multibillionaire. It was hard to believe because he was in clothes of drab, wrist contorted from a fight. Then again, he had such an elaborate backing story. Back in the day, he said he was the Big Cahuna of LA. Owner of M&M motors inc. His name seemed to ring a bell when he said it. Brandishing numbers and figures scribbled on the back of a magazine, he proudly said he was gonna collect his car. In fact, so powerful he was that if we wanted any car he could give it to us for cheap. Before we parted, he gave us his number and told us to give him a call once we were at Balboa Island. Also, he persuaded us to invest a small sum to his bus fare. 

The beautiful sun, sand, sea. The plan was to cycle the beach for about an hour and then spend the remainder of time studying. Yes, why not catch up on some work when I can afford it. 

Upon knowing huntington beach was just north of Newport Beach from the rental shop owner, we just had to make a trip there. The pavements alongside the beach and in front of the houses suddenly ended, and we were turned into the road behind the houses and continued northwards. Not the nicest picture, but just illustrating the road behind the houses.

Oh and I was on rollerblades. After a few hundred metres along the Huntington Beach pavement, I was tired. Clearly, fitness has become a liability. But with encouragement of my friend on his mountain bike, I ducked low and persisted on towards the main street. 

I stopped to take pictures. As it was a convenient excuse to rest, stop and stare- at the beach goers and the scenery. According to google maps, 9.0123264km from Newport Pier to Huntington Pier.

At main street the pier plaza, I sat and rested. Surfers and volleyball players and many others sitting all around too. I saw this ugly cute monkey-looking dog.

Rollerblading back towards newport was a breeze as the wind force was pushed in our direction of travel. Below is the river mouth separating Newport on the left and Huntington Beach (technically Santa Ana River Beach) on the right.

Having failed to cover Newport, we decided to extend our rental to the whole day. I switched to another kind of bicycle- the beach cruiser. We headed towards the Wedge. The whole way, admiring the charm and beauty of rich people's houses by the beach. The Wedge itself is a very beautiful scenic spot. A team of dragon boaters training at the bay, surfers riding the waves, people reading books or catching twenty winks on the breakwaters, and on the opposite side of the bay was a view of the Corona del Mar Beach. Below is not the Wedge.

It is the Ferry point to Balboa Island but unfortunately, time did not permit us to go there. Something puzzling is that there was little or nobody on this side of the waters.

Cycling back in time for return of the bicycle. The beach cruiser is very fun to ride. With its high and curved handle bars, it suited my posture perfectly. The method to brake was by reversing the pedal direction. No gears were necessary because the terrain was largely flat ground.

Waiting for the sunset. Scribing on the sand and then, swash! The water is freezing cold. I had wanted to bathe in the sea but that is a insane unfulfilled wish. From the first touch of my toe into the water, the cold threatened to paralyse my nerve endings. Inching deeper and deeper only to turn back at ankle level and run back to the dry sand. Any longer and the idea of walking over burning charcoal would be mighty inviting.

Sunset was beautiful.

No studying done after all, perfect!