Day 3: Everybody Is a Star

The Heights of Hollywood

Raeray awakened refreshed on the third day of the excursion. The Motel 6 Carlsbad Beach was also a temporary home to two Florida truckers who Rae befriended. Their names were Eric and John, and they looked like brothers with their shaved heads and colorful tattoos. Actually, they were lifelong friends who had the chance to meet up every few years in an exquisite place to relive memories. They had driven all the way from Gainesville; John would pick up a load in California later in the week, while Eric left today for Kansas. They didn’t rely on Motel 6 coffee. The truckers brought along their own coffee pot, and Raeray helped them empty it on this chilly Tuesday morning. Both had their dogs in tow, so Penny Lane met another pair of new friends. Rae exchanged numbers with them as she does with most unique people she meets. She expects to meet them again somewhere along the open road.

The Five beckoned Raeray north to Los Angeles. The next planned stop would be an adobe house on South Dunsmuir Avenue in a neighborhood between Culver City and West Hollywood. Raeray debated the next site they should visit. Why not hike to the Hollywood sign? The drive would be a little over an hour up The Five and over to The 101, then across the city streets. Raeray found the entrance to Griffith Park and began their ascent. The drive twisted and turned up Western Canyon Road. About halfway up, signs announced that parking was $4 and hour. At the intersection of  West Observatory Road, a security guard showed us the trail toward the Hollywood sign and suggested that we pass the Observatory and begin our descent toward the Greek Theatre. Parking is free there, he said, and a brief walk would bring us back to the trailhead. It was a great idea.

Raeray and Penny Lane returned through the Vermont Canyon Road tunnel and began up a closed access road toward the sign. About a mile up, we realized that the sign was guarded by gates and security, and we would not be able to touch the 45-foot letters. We settled for a cragged peak overlooking Beachwood Canyon. Michael Ray’s knees wobbled up the crooked trail through the crags to the tip of the peak. Mount Lee was just across the valley displaying the huge capital letters. We were satisfied with the climb. It was time for a new adventure.

Michael Ray is a sentimental fool; he likes to revisit places from long ago. He remembers a long-ago visit to Hollywood Boulevard, the Walk of the Stars, and to Whiskey A Go Go on the Sunset Strip. He suggests to Rae that they head down the boulevard. Afterall, he loves watching the Jimmy Kimmel Show every night, and he’d love to see Cousin Sal walking the street. Raeray winds back down Vermont Canyon Road past the Greek Theater to the streets of Hollywood. The Subaru parks near Hollywood and Vine and Rae, Ray and Penny Lane begin their trek down the Walk of Fame toward El Capitan Theater. Along the way, we saw Marilyn Monroe with Capitan Jack Sparrow, Superman and a host of other characters. Mr. Muscle insisted on having his picture made with Rae and Penny Lane and then insisted on a donation. We had no cash with us. A line outside the Jimmy Kimmel show had formed, where a host said the crew came out at 4 p.m. and picked guests to fill the empty seats. Raeray kept walking until a drag queen stopped Morgan Rae and Penny Lane to join in his/her film production. Two cameras followed them for a few steps on the street, then we kept walking. Walk of Fame was the mad scene we expected. It was time for dinner with Matthew Boxt and his daughter Emilia – our hosts for the evening, along with Matthew’s son Frank. We headed for Culver City, pre-empting our visit to Sunset Strip.

Matthew’s house is on a quiet lane off Washington Boulevard. The front yard is adorned with cacti of all varieties, and the rear court boasts fruit trees and vegetables. It is a haven in the midst of the big city. They prepared us a healthy meal of salmon broiled with a glaze of brown sugar and blood oranges from the back yard. The nopal salad consisted of store-bought cactus and avocado, but the tomatoes and peppers were picked from behind Matthew’s house. It was a truly California feast. The cornbread coffeecake dessert also became a delicious breakfast the next morning.

After dinner, Emilia and Morgan Rae toured the neighborhood with Penny Lane, while Michael Ray and Matthew discussed the history of American music and reminisced about the Brooklyn Dodgers. Although ageless, they’ve both lived 66 years. Frank helped entertain Raeray throughout the evening. He is a special person who is always happy and knows no fear. He set a wonderful tone for Raeray to continue our journey.

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