Fog / Smog, Manhattan Beach

Along the beach looking north, past the pier, past the palm trees, past the lovely homes, an ominous sign of Los Angeles civilization looms.

An advantage Manhattan Beach has, is that the wind usually blows from west to east and the smoke from these stacks probably rarely ruin a day spent at this beach. However, if you are sensitive to pollutants in the air, you might beware of the wind's direction before staying out too long.

Well while most of you suckers are freezing under your third month in a row of icy sleet, we are cruising the bike path in shorts and a t-shirt, chatting on our cell phones and making plans for the out door Barbeque we're having. Of course, 5 months later when you've dug out from the snow and are sweating under in humane heat and humidity, we are under gloomy skies of 'marine layer' and "june gloom'. It might be 100 degrees in Hollywood, but at the beach, it's probably about 70 degrees. Hot inland air + cold pacific ocean = Fog at the beach. If you come in may or june, it is very likely that your California beach dream will be more like London Fog. Be prepared to come a little later or be prepared for the hit or miss nature. Today it's a splendid bright day, yesterday it was foggy..go figure.

The Californian law prohibits smoking in restaurants, so a great meeting point for all smokers is outside ...

you get to know more people smoking outside than in a pub hehehehe