Coast to Coast 2026 Part 5 Los Angeles

 

Coast to Coast 2026

Part 5 Los Angeles

We had a meal at the restaurant, Ironwood,  recommended by the chef at the hotel and went unbooked  by Uber. The recommendation was well worth it and had an excellent meal. 

The next morning we checked out and said our goodbyes  to the staff and drove to the airport to drop off  the rental car. Park it and drop off the keys. No staff  to do anything. We found the entrance and the check-in for Delta Airlines and with assistance dropped off the luggage and got boarding cards of  sorts to get us through security but no allocated seats. I expected delays at car drop-off  and again through security but it all went so smoothly. Time to get a coffee.  It was a strange flight taking off from Birmingham flying east to Atlanta. A two hour flight and one time zone and hanging around for an hour and a half to catch another plane to LA and again not having any seat allocation. They obviously know where we are going to sit on the plane but did not decide to tell us until we boarded. I could not do an on-line check in because I did not have a US mobile phone number. How irritating. Air India is no different. Delta only offered snacks for our flights from Birmingham to Atlanta  and then from Atlanta to LA. We took off at 10:30am  in Birmingham  and  landed  in LA at 4:30pm traversing three time zones and flying some six hours. You can lose where you are in the day. We were at the Sixt pick-up point at 5:30 after collecting our luggage and a bus ride.

 There was no RAV 4 to have so got a Chevrolet Equinox and compared to the Nissan Rouge it was a tank and nowhere near as economical or comfortable or roomy. I t took me a couple of tries to find the best fit for the suite cases. Gita took  charge of the driving and left me to navigate. She successfully got us to the hotel and checked-in. The Dunes Inn on Harrison street  reported to be on Sunset Boulevard not quite and further away from Hollywood  Boulevard than was walkable. Acceptable accommodation with no restaurant but food was close having a Chinese restaurant a few minutes away  for an evening meal and an even closer supermarket where we could get pastries for breakfast.

We try to plan our only full day in LA and are thwarted as the scenic tours are cancelled because of too many road works. We take an Uber to a local market on Melrose Avenue.

 You pay an entrance fee to get access to some different vendors. The preowned  clothes are exceptional . Gita had her eye on some $500 Gucci sandals that were on sale for $125 she didn’t take the chance and missed them . The y had gone by the time she returned. There was some exceptional jewellery that was made for movies that was being sold off at some incredible prices. Gita did buy some cowboy boots  for our youngest daughter. At this market was the Juneteenth Annual Festival. Black rights –Black lives matter and spend the afternoon watching dance performances and a very good live band. 

Back to the hotel by Uber for a short rest and the out again by Uber to find the walk of fame. What we did found was the Pride Festival some great music  and just as many people trying not to be who they are.

Half the street was closed at was a totally gay area Joon had a tarot  reading then we finally found the feet and hand prints of the stars. It was getting close to nine pm and we had to eat. The closest place was the Hard Rock Cafe and we dived in there just in time to get some food.

There was a stage there with drums and guitars  on display. The waiter allowed us on to the stage. Gita on drums, Joon on lead and me on bass. We suddenly had our own band.

 

Coast to Coast 2026 Part 4 Birmingham 2

 

Coast to Coast 2026

Part 4 Birmingham 2

Just me and Joon go to the museum this morning. Gita stays at the hotel. I have a mission to complete all the floors today. I am walking around each level ensuring I see everything and taking a photo of each bike and the information sheet. Some of the bikes I have never heard of as I have gone through Tragatsch’s Encyclopaedia it was not many. What was interesting were the number of prototypes on display particularly from Triumph many I knew about and those from individuals who had done overhead cam  modifications for racing I didn’t.

Odd things adorned the walls like a whole selection of outboard motors. There was a Britten from New Zealand, a Valiant, but no LE. There was a whole area dedicated to motocross on a motocross course.

There was an area devoted  to Buells, drag bikes and other forms of competition. There were

motorcycles from floor to ceiling. I met lots of people and talking to one of the volunteers got me access to the lower ground floor with a proviso not to take photos  in part of that area. It was to prevent new bikes not being posted on social media before they are unveiled  by the museum. The lower ground floor was their workshop accompanying me were the volunteer,  Riccardo and his family. Riccardo  was from Brazil and worked for a motorcycle dealer in Orlando. We exchanged contact details. I learned allot about George Barber and the continuing projects the museum pursues. Joon missed this. He was nowhere in sight. I could not agree to the supervised visit to a restricted area then walk away to find Joon. I waived the white flag when I got to the cinema on the fifth level. It is an amazing place and  needs more time than I had  to devote to visiting.

Coast to Coast 2026 Part 4 Birmingham

 

Coast to Coast 2026

Part 4 Birmingham

Why would anyone want to go to Birmingham Alabama? It is a place for petrol heads, it is a museum and raceway. Just getting there was a challenge. We were not far away, only in Memphis checking out of the Comfort Inn with Gita driving the first part and as soon as I took over there were low tyre pressure warnings. I stopped and got the tyre inflated at a service station. Continuing on to our next hotel. We arrived at the Hampton Inn and suites about three and rested for a few hours before going out for a meal and some entertainment. The recommended place was downtown, the Tin Roof. It was a bit disappointing. It was Bingo night followed by Karaoke. Which we did not hang around for. We breakfasted at the hotel and spoke to the chef. He and Gita discussed flavours and discovered there is a corporate flavour that the chef has to cook to. We start to go to the museum and we get flat tyre warnings from the car. Across the street from the hotel is a petrol station which I pull into only their compressor is not and I can’t inflate the tyre. In sight is a tyre place that we crawl to on a flat tyre. It seems to take ages counting the revolutions of the wheel wondering what damage is being done. At the tyre place we have a helpful reception. I have a conversation with  Hertz using their phone. Our mobiles don’t work. They will not have the tyre fixed at this place and need to get to one of their accredited places. I remain calm as I see the visit to the museum disappearing in waiting around. There were a number of questions: can I drive the car one and a half miles to their accredited repair place: No, Then the car will need recovery. How many people are there? Three, Oh, you will need another car. Do you want a replacement car? No because travelling things get separated and adds another dimension to what you can forget. In the end they agree for the tyre shop to carry out a repair. During that time a friendly customer was telling me about the process of reporting to the hire company and the need to follow their procedure. Finally we are able to carry on to the Barber Motorsports Museum.

For me it was a place of enlightenment. I spend two full days there and still it was not enough. The collection of motorcycles and sports cars was over 5 levels. It was spacious and well laid out and reflected the owners racing career. George Barber raced motorcycles with great success then turned to cars racing Porches in the sports car series and Lotus in the American Race Car series he had strong connections enabling him to exhibit some of the cars he raced. 

The museum is situated south east of Birmingham in rolling countryside and the entrance is through a wooded area leading up to the museum. The first views are of a winged threesome on monocycles depicting a chase that looks like TT trophies on wheels. There is quite a bit of space for parking for bikes and cars. There is no place to eat but refreshments are available on the lower ground floor. There are water faucets on each floor I did appreciate that as I was not permitted to have a bag with food and water with me during the visit.

I am exhausted and by the end of the afternoon we leave the museum and head for the nearest shopping mall to find something to eat. We decide to rest this evening so drop into our local supermarket. Publix for something to snack on. Gita almost misses the turning and tests the stability of the car to achieve a very tight  ninety degree turn at speed.  We appreciated a night in.

Coast to Coast Part 3 Memphis

 

Coast to Coast 2026

Part 3 Memphis

Up early to pack then took the hotel shuttle bus to the Hertz pick up point at the airport. It took an hour to be processed and pick up the car. The car was a Nissan Rouge. Gita claimed the driving seat and took us all the way to Memphis some 240 miles. At one point on the interstate there was some terrible driving with a pickup truck doing an overtake, undertake,  overtake manoeuvre and almost lost it in weaving onto the central reservation with the truck going sideways as he oversteered going onto the grass. Fortunately he saved it as I visualised the truck rolling causing a serious accident involving us on our first drive in America. We had a stop at a Mexican fast food place for chicken and rice and dove through some very heavy showers. We arrived safe and checked in to the Comfort Inn hotel around four.

Joon’s thirst for live music got us to Beale street in the evening at the Blues City Cafe. A meal and music with a live band made for a pleasant evening until ordering an Uber I had no battery left on my phone and neither did Gita so enlisted the help of the Memphis Police Department outside the cafe and charged her phone. Ten minutes was enough to order the Uber and for it to arrive.

A day at Graceland for Elvis. I had booked the Elvis Experience Tour. It was a very hot day and being inside was a bonus, viewing the house which had some of Elvis’s eccentricities. No show house. It was used and particularly the kitchen which fed everyone 24 hours a day. I liked the bikes and cars and planes. Visiting the family graves it does not matter how rich and famous you it is what you do that leaves the legacy. Elvis loved to perform anywhere and has a record for the number of consecutive performances in Las Vegas. Going around the displays of garments  you can see why there are so many jump suits. Lunch in Grace’s kitchen (cafe) and retiring to the hotel to get ready for another evening out

We went back to Beale Street and walked to the Peabody. It is a luxury hotel and you have access to the roof from which I took photos of the sunset. It is the hotel where Ike and Tina Turner had a famous bust-up. In search of somewhere to eat with music we found Silky O’Sullivan's famous for the ribs they do.

 Being an Irish pub they had Guinness on draft and not appreciating the flavour of the local brews it was time to introduce Joon to the dark nectar. Thereafter we went in search of Irish pubs. The man providing the music at the piano played a whole variety of songs  performing requests including Rocky Mountain High a number of times and attracting punters to sing themselves or a duet with Piano Man. I was impressed by his repertoire. We stayed to the end enjoying the performance.

Coast to Coast Part 2 Nashville 2

 

Coast to Coast 2026

 Part 2 Nashville 2

I have a cold  and stay at the hotel all day. A combination of too much aircon and tiredness. I got very cold while sleeping. I spend the time catching up on my diary. Joon and Gita go shopping and bring me back pork and noodles and a nice cup of tea. Joon has brought the tea and we have the kettle and tea pot. We use an Uber and leave for the Stadium at 7:30.

 The music has already started as we climb to our seats. Fantastic night of entertainment opening with Rita Wilson, Carin Leon joined Cody Johnson followed by Keith Urban, Kelsea Ballerini, Shaboozey, Cody Johnson,  Parker McCollum. We stay to the end. After the show we walked across the bridge to find a place for a beer and something to eat. We were directed by the local police to the Mellow Mushroom and had more entertainment. Joon bargains for a taxi ride home then asks for a stop to buy a burger. This costs him $10 for the privilege. Finally get back to the hotel at 3am.

Still not well but we decide to have a mega breakfast “All you can eat” for $17 at Shoney’s. We use the hotel shuttle to get there and the walk back takes only 10 mins. Joon and Gita go exploring. Eat at Shoney’s again in the evening before taking an Uber again to get to tonights’ show. Another great evening opening with Deana Carter, Carly Pearce joined Rascal Flatts and followed by Megan Moroney, Rascal Flatts, The Red Clay Strays, Blake Shelton, Jordan Davis and managed to book an Uber back to the hotel slightly earlier but we still  didn’t get to bed before 2am.

Breakfast at Shoney’s then an Uber to find a farmers’ market. Not enough research into where we were going and could not find that market but did find one eventually. Fortunately our Uber driver didn’t abandon us and did take us to a market. Joon and Gita did buy something so it was not a complete waste of time.

Another evening meal at Shoney’s and then out to our last night at the CMA. Tonight Opened with Rodney Atkins with additional appearances from Scotty McCreery and Dylan Scott followed by Dierks Bently, Luke Bryan, Bailey Zimmerman, Ashley McBryde and Zach Top.

Still not in bed before 2 am.

Coast to Coast 2026 Part 2 Nashville 1

 

Coast to Coast 2026

Part 2 Nashville 1

Up at some unearthly hour to finish packing and check out and the taxi arrives at 04:00. I am in a bit of a state as I have received reports from JetBlue that there is road works around the terminal causing long traffic delays. We are on the edge for times and as we approach the airport we join a slow moving column of traffic. Inching forward I see our departure  creeping closer. Then the traffic was gone and we are at the building entrance. Still with a good margin of time we are helped with the check in  and a kind representative printed everything for us including the baggage tags. The last ones I did I destroyed and had to get them reprinted. Bags handed over and then security. So quick there was time for breakfast and I could relax a bit. The flight was only a couple of hours but there was a time zone change adding an hour.  It was a comfortable flight and we collected the baggage with no problems. I had been afflicted with stories of lost luggage watching too many American soaps. We called taxi and within a few minutes we were at the hotel. Had we been able to use our phones we could have called the hotel for a shuttle. We had Nomad our E-sim so as long as we had that connection we could contact each other. We were at the Raddison far too early to check in but were instantly offered an early check in, for a price which we took and after about an hour we were in a taxi heading for the venue to get Joon’s electronic ticket sorted. That was no mean fete. We were delivered to the back of the Stadium near gate 1. It was not yet open. Gate 11 was directly opposite. The Nissan Stadium holds 300,000. It is big. We headed for the city from that point walking across the main bridge following the music.

 Performances filled the free spaces. We found the broad street where every establishment had acts performing. We found some space in one bar, Posty’s, for a cool beer and a bite to eat. We walk up and down the street  and stop at the Hard Rock Cafe for tee shirts and gifts. We then head back to the stadium for when it opens at six. We find the ticket office at Gate 3 and they resolve Joon’s problems of no internet on his phone. He gets proper tickets but he has to do to Gate 1 to collect them. Back towards Gate 11 and find Gate 8 and hidden next to it Gate 7 the entrance we need to get to our seats. Gita can’t go in as bags are not permitted. She has to leave it in a secure locker in a tent in the car park across the road. Finally we get through electronic check in and are directed to a lift that takes us to a our block of seats. High and at the back. We climb to the top of the Stadium and find our seats.

It was amazing to see so many people and have so many big screens to see the artists and a sound system that acted as one. Our first night at the CMA opening with Charles Esten, Special appearances by Marcus King with Brooks and Dunn. Followed by Main Acts Jason Aldean, Brooks and Dunn, Darius Rucker, Ella Langley and Riley Green.

 Too much for our first day and we left early grabbing a taxi for $55 moving as the police demanded all the taxi’s to move on. W were quickly back to the hotel but too late to get something to eat. We survived on crisps and brandy and talked late into the night.

Coast to Coast 2026 Part 1 New York

 

Coast to Coast 2026

Part 1New York

It seems I have spent the whole of June travelling. The tale starts in New York where we met up with Joon, our friend from Guwahati in Assam where we planned this whole trip. We rendezvoused at the hotel Leo House which was a 120 year old converted church. We were supposed to meet up at Newark airport but because of the Gulf War travel arrangements were changed and Joon’s flight came into JFK so we could not travel together to get to the hotel. Within a few hours we were in our rooms and ready to have an evening out in the Big Apple.

Out to Times Square to view the sites and a bite to eat using the metro to get there. A station was less than a block away from the hotel. Using Google maps to get around was not a success and we got lost getting back to the hotel. No land marks and no idea where the recipe.

After an excellent breakfast we went to explore and found the Rockerfella building and did the Rock Tour. Some great views from the top including Central Park and the Statue of Liberty. It was a warm day and we went in search of a traditional ice cream parlour but had an ice cream in a cafe instead. In the evening we met up with Joon’s old school friend at the Oyster Bar in Grand Central station. A memorable evening and learned more about how to use the metro. Got lost again going back to the hotel.

I had booked a cruise and tour of the Statue of Liberty from the UK in preparation. Again we used the metro to get to the South Ferry station with a long walk to the departure quay and got there just in time. The boat took us to the Statue where we disembarked to walk around.

It was a warm walk, there is no shade but good for taking photos. Back on land we walked a little to get to the 911 memorial and the World Trade Centre. We were getting better at asking for directions and the policemen on patrol were very helpful.

From there we took the metro again to a booking office on 62^nd street and got tickets for Moulin Rouge that evening. We returned to the hotel to check in our flight to Nashville the next day and book the taxi to get us to JFK in time. We would have to check out at 4am.

Out early evening for a bite to eat before the show at a pasta restaurant just up from the hotel. We arrived in time for the show which was the spectacle anticipated from Broadway. Did more souvenir and present shopping on the way back and got lost again. It turned into quite a late night. There were only a few hours before we would be up again.