Socal - Palos Verdes

[tfg50]

Visiting the stomping grounds of my youth.
Rat Beach, Haggerty's, Bluff Cover, Lunada Bay. It's been over 40 years.
How much time should I allow to drive from there to LGB (Long Beach Airport) on a week day morning?
Fred

[scottmandue]

Google maps say 45 minutes LGB to PV (without google I would have guessed 30-45 minutes).

Big tip, DO NOT TAKE THE 710 (Long Beach Freeway) they are replacing the Gerald Desmond bridge and the construction is a huge PITA to navigate.

Also kinda depends on if are you driving into San Pedro then up towards Redondo or Redondo to SP?

And no speeding on the coast road, the sheriffs are out with their radar guns.

[ossiblue]

Hey! I grew up in PV as well! Surfed all those same spots, saw the Dominator run aground, and could see Haggerty's from my bedroom window (my favorite spot, being a goofy-foot.). Used to surf the cove with Jeff Hackman before he moved to Hawaii at age 13. My friends and I were one of the first to surf Rat and we kept our boards at Struble's house which overlooks Rat. I wonder if I know you or some of your buds?

Oh yeah, time from LB airport varies but 45 min. is about right, but PV Drive South to Anaheim st. and the 110 and 405 can get very congested in the mornings so time of departure is critical.

[gary1101]

Good car show Saturday morning (7:30-9:00) at the Peninsula Mall parking lot near the Habit Burger place. Many P-cars show up. Also a Porsche Club event in at the Los Angels Yacht Club in Long Beach Saturday evening.

[tfg50]

Thanks for the insight.
Joel-I'm living the good life in Sequim on the Olympic Peninsula.
L.J.- I went to school at Malaga Cove '67-'69 and PVHS class of '73.
Fred

[ossiblue]

Originally Posted by tfg50

Thanks for the insight.
Joel-I'm living the good life in Sequim on the Olympic Peninsula.
L.J.- I went to school at Malaga Cove '67-'69 and PVHS class of '73.
Fred

Well Fred, guess we're about 9 years apart. I went to Malaga Cove from '55-60 and graduated PVHS in '64. Great place to grow up. Hope your visit was all you hoped, and enjoy your life in the PNW.

[Geary]

That's a pretty cool connection, ossi .. Jeff showed up at our school in either 9th or 10th grade. His dad (Harry) had him out in pretty big Makaha at an early age. They lived just down the street, and Harry helped me mechanic my first motorcycle ('54 Triumph 650). I later dated one of his sisters for awhile. Wonderful memories ..

[scottmandue]

Originally Posted by tfg50

Thanks for the insight.
Joel-I'm living the good life in Sequim on the Olympic Peninsula.
L.J.- I went to school at Malaga Cove '67-'69 and PVHS class of '73.
Fred

I'm a native San Pedro boy, my wife is from the PNW and wants us to retire to the Olympic Peninsula... how do you like the weather up in Sequim?

[ossiblue]

Originally Posted by Geary

That's a pretty cool connection, ossi .. Jeff showed up at our school in either 9th or 10th grade. His dad (Harry) had him out in pretty big Makaha at an early age. They lived just down the street, and Harry helped me mechanic my first motorcycle ('54 Triumph 650). I later dated one of his sisters for awhile. Wonderful memories ..

Yeah, great memories.

This was back in the day of LBNL (Long Boards, No Leashes). Jeff was a literal "Mighty Mite"--small but all muscle. One thing I learned from Jeff, by observation, was the secret to a rapid acceleration prone paddle. Put me at an advantage in wave catching for the next 50+ years and counting. Also grew up with the Irons clan--fathers and uncles to Andy and Bruce. Man, what a gifted surfing family. Torrance Beach, another local haunt. Breeding ground of many accomplished surfers (also where I met my wife!)

[Steve F]

Small world My wife lived near Lunada Bay from 1963-1970 on Chelsea Drive. Also attended Miss Dawns swim school at 4 years old by Woody's Restaurant, then 1st grade through 5th at Lunada Bay elementary school. Her older sister, Eileen, graduated PVHS in 1967.

[Geary]

OMG, ossi .. Andy & Bruce were two of my stepson's best friends growing up on Oahu. Those two kids would fight tooth & nail. Jason wasn't quite as consistent to get as far as Andy in the contest scene, but he made Surfer cover a couple times, and was very loved and respected in the surf community.

[R K T]

Bringing back memories.....also my stompin' grounds. Surfed Lunada Bay, Rat etc. Hung out with Rick Griffin and worked at Newberrys in Peninsula Center from '66 to '70.
What a great time to be young!

[ossiblue]

Originally Posted by R K T

Bringing back memories.....also my stompin' grounds. Surfed Lunada Bay, Rat etc. Hung out with Rick Griffin and worked at Newberrys in Peninsula Center from '66 to '70.
What a great time to be young!

Man, this thread is bringing cronies out of the woodwork!

I knew Rick since high school where he produced an "illustrated Beowulf" for his English class and first began the "Murphy" character for Surfer Magazine. He tried to get me to go with him for a haircut, just before his first trip up to San Francisco on his way to Australia. He never made it (that time). When I next saw him, at the Torrance Beach parking lot, he had an eye patch, bandages, and walked with a cane. He told me later that he was riding with a guy that picked him hitchhiking, the guy rolled the car and Rick was thrown out. Last thing he remembered was seeing the pavement coming right at him then, moving rapidly away. This was when he lost his eye. I went on to college, he went on to his art career in S.F., and we never saw each other again. Still, a great, quiet, yet energetic guy with amazing talent that I was proud to know.

And Newberrys! My (later to be) wife worked at the Buffum's in the Peninsula Center and we would go to lunch at Newberrys during her break--right during that time period! Also, hit Mayer's bakery on occasion. Truly a small world.

[Geary]

Murph the Surf. These mags bring back memories of exciting times whenever I pick them up. Going from balsa/redwood to foam was "YUGE" ..

[356RS]

Wow, Fred & L.J. I to lived in Palos Verdes as a kid. Went to Malaga Cove grade school, lived at 408 Via Almar 2 blocks up from Haggerty's. Went to P.V. High in Lunada Bay, graduated 66/67. Surfed Rat Beach, Haggerty's, Bluff Cove and the "Indicator" for many years. Also saw the Dominator run aground at Rocky Point, Lunada Bay. Good memories.

[ossiblue]

Originally Posted by Geary

Murph the Surf. These mags bring back memories of exciting times whenever I pick them up. Going from balsa/redwood to foam was "YUGE" ..

Rick created Murphy based on my cousin who also knew him well. In fact, Rick painted a giant Murphy character on my cousin's bedroom wall! If the house is still standing, it's probably still there, under layers of newer paint. Sometimes parents just don't understand.

[tfg50]

Well, some things change and some remain the same.
The old pool by Rat Beach.
There were no lifeguard shacks back in the day. The only visitors from Torrance were surfers and the cops somtimes at late night beach parties.
Distances seemed smaller but fairly steep hills... Used to cover a lot of territory on the StingRay bike! So much youthful energy.

No break at Haggerty's!
Traffic seems worse in Seattle!
Fred

[tfg50]

Originally Posted by scottmandue

I'm a native San Pedro boy, my wife is from the PNW and wants us to retire to the Olympic Peninsula... how do you like the weather up in Sequim?

Well, returning from SoCal Thursday to snow and freezing temps was shocking.
Generally the weather in Sequim is temperate ... can go years without snow. If it does snow it usually thaws within the week. Average 15 inches of rain but not necessarily sunny all winter. Summers are great and tolerable with AC delete in the '82 SC.
So, I think the weather is just right!
View to the north of sequim from friends house:


And to the south from my place:

Fred

[scottmandue]

Originally Posted by ossiblue

And Newberrys! My (later to be) wife worked at the Buffum's in the Peninsula Center and we would go to lunch at Newberrys during her break--right during that time period! Also, hit Mayer's bakery on occasion. Truly a small world.

Was that one that was on the corner of Artesia and Hawthorne?
I had my first job working there as a stock boy.

[flyenby]

Went to Barton Hill in SAN Pedro. But lived in the projects..near the old real Beacon Street