Californicashite - Land of Fruits & Nuts

2,254 · May 1, 2012

Well folks I'm back over stateside, this time in California so watch this space for a variety of West Coast chod.

I've been driving around Florida in a Nissan Altima like this:

And now currently running around California in one of these:

The Altima got a very respectable 29.4MPG (U.S.) which is around 35MPG (Imp) I think...?

The Sonata feels very cheap and lightweight compared to the Altima to be honest but it seems to drive well enough and has more things that illuminate at night than Blackpool by the looks of things so far....

I've already spotted a Golden coloured 70's Corvette in the car park here so that will be snapped soonest and up-loaded

May 1, 2012

Is the 'Cronic Nissan' dealership sponsored by Dr Dre?

'Cron' is Stockport slang for weed. Context 'Eahhhhhh deck ed, gis sum cron'

2,254 · May 2, 2012

Oh those were just random images scavanged from Google...

Well here is that Corvette that I mentioned:

And I saw this old red Yank tank which was obscured by the bloody pick up truck FFS!

It's a fair bit more expensive here in California for sure - a loaf of the usual SHITE American bread is $4.99 here - you'd probably pay around 80p for a loaf as shite in the UK and be pissed off you were over charged.

Gas has dropped below $4 a gallon but most places are charging $4.17 to $4.25 round here.

May 2, 2012

That hidden car looks like an early to mid 70s Buick or Olds

26,983 · May 2, 2012

Is the 'Cronic Nissan' dealership sponsored by Dr Dre?

'Cron' is Stockport slang for weed. Context 'Eahhhhhh deck ed, gis sum cron'

.. and the Hyundai dealership is dealin' too.

12,813 · May 2, 2012

Well folks I'm back over stateside, this time in California so watch this space for a variety of West Coast chod.

I've been driving around Florida in a Nissan Altima like this:

Ole' FATHA_Sterling used to have one of those Altimas in Kuwait, albeit slightly older shape:

Of course, when he wasnt using it (if he had a day off or something) he'd send me out on errands and even let me once take it to work. Blasting Arabic party music and driving like a dickhead seemed to be the oreder of the day. I like to *think* I might have grown up now.

The Altima was only a 2.5 Auto. I'm not sure why he didnt get the 3.5 one.

As FATHA_Sterling left Kuwait a few years ago, the car was given to my cousin (How nice ) I think if I ever get to Kuwait (As in, 'for good' like) I think I'll be taxing that car off him.

2,254 · May 2, 2012

Well here is a bit of local Americana - snapped by a colleague of mine here!

2,254 · May 2, 2012

I thought the Altima was a pretty decent car overall but the boot was a bit too small for my luggage - not usually a problem with fat arsed Yank market cars to be honest!

2,254 · May 4, 2012

28,124 · May 4, 2012

Wooooooow, a nice old Scout on blue plates. Lush!

May 4, 2012

Liking that Jeep-ish looking thing! Gorra love the kink in the back windows a-la Scimitar! Looks like a bigger early Bronco, kinda.

2,254 · May 6, 2012

So I took a drive down to San Fransisco today, then over the Golden Gate and up to the Napa Valley.

Here we go:

On my way to San Fransisco..

East side of the Bay...starts backing up at the toll for the bridge...but what shows up beside me

Traffic was horrendous before this point!

GPS takes me off the obvious route and I end up downtown...

End up back on Route 101 and here she is..

A word of warning..

Not much shite to be seen but I walk from the North side down to the viewing area and back up - should have worn sunblock - feeling a bit sunburnt now..

Northside Vista..

Back in the car - Napa Valley here I come!

I pass through Sonoma and find a Warbirds Airfield and take some snaps, considered taking a flight but the prices were distinctly Californian!

Back in the car and head off down to Napa Valley which is a bit of a Shitefest in the streets

Even have and old ShiteTheatre..

And a ShiteGarage...

Loads of Shite cars too...

Decide I've seen enough of trendy Napa Valley - which is very nice and head back to Oakley and decide to grab a bite to eat and spot this at the lights:

Once I've had dinner at The Outback (Lard Ass Baked Potato Soup & Lard Ass Alice Springs Chicken...)

I come off Highway 4 and spot a side street that has some real weapons grade SHITE

What could be down here then....?

Maybe I shouldn't park in this neighbourhood?

This is what was outside the house...enjoy

Well, I think it's time for a coffee

2,157 · May 6, 2012

F*** me, that's an Austin Healey 100/4!

2,254 · May 7, 2012

The offerings for today...

May 7, 2012

Are you in LA at the moment?. I was working at Coda Automotive last year on Fairfax Ave.

2,254 · May 7, 2012

No, I'm further North in the East Bay area (San Fran) - it's certainly warmed up here since last week - was in the 60's now it's high 80's!

4.1k · May 8, 2012

Great pics - that's my kind of AH 100!

2,254 · May 12, 2012

Latest update: OK these are not really shite but they are nice to look at!

These two were futher down the car park outside "Winco":

After work a few of the colleagues were going out for a drink - in a suitably shite bar - The Red Caboose.

http://redcabooserestaurant.com/my_website/Home_Page.html

Nice glasses too...

The did have some older Japanese shite out in the car park too!

I'm not sure if it's going to turn into an episode of Sons of Anarchy or not yet...

2,254 · May 19, 2012

Well the sun is shining as ever here!

Been sneezing like a bastard due to hayfever though

Drive by shooting in Oakley, CA...

Went to the shops to get some sunblock for my Scottish skin...

No need to have wipers here or a roof by the looks of things either.

I've put this date in my calendar - for the Sons of Anarchy lifestyle..

Ever wondered what a 2012 Hyundai Sonata gets on average to the US Gallon?

Now you know - but it was up at 34.x....

9,059 · May 19, 2012

I want to visit the Red Caboose. Looks like a quality venue and no mistake.

2,254 · May 23, 2012

Yup a quality joint indeedy!

Well I headed on over to Sacramento on Sunday for a wee look see.

Decided to park the car further out and spotted this Toyota

Was a bit of a walk into the Old Town area (not a bad thing) though:

I have to admit there's not a great deal of shite around here at all compared to many parts of the USA that I've been to previously. It's true that there's lots of overpriced shit here.

Spotted a Hyundai locally yesterday:

And when I was out and about on Monday night I popped into Big Lots and found some shite wine for car lovers...$2 a pop as well!!!

May 23, 2012

Keep an eye out for a Coda Sedan, they are instant off the forecourt shiite!

2,254 · May 23, 2012

I had to look that up...

And to help others that are less informed (like me) here it is:

May 23, 2012

It actually predates the Nissan Leaf by a few years but the company had a number of delays putting it into production so first deliveries went to customers in March 2012.

I like the car, but as I worked for Coda last year in Los Angeles I know how much time effort and money went into putting it together. It drives great, its very quick off the mark and gets to its restricted 84 mph quickly.

2,254 · May 24, 2012

The front wing and light detail remind me of the Astra...

2,254 · May 28, 2012

Well it was time for a trip in to San Francisco yesterday...

Took the train (Bay Area Rapid Transit) as driving is a bit of a bore going over the bay bridge.

Once we got off the train we jumped on a "trolley" and headed up to Fishermans Wharf/Pier 39 area:

Trolley snaps out of the way my pal decided we should "go for a beverage and something to eat" so we headed into Pier 39:

There's a bit of a smell in the air near a cafe...so we investigate:

We opt for some seafood restaurant at the end of the pier with a great view of Alcatraz:

Food is shit but wonderfully over-priced and the server had a personality lobotomy it appears.

But luckily for us, something very large was coming under the Golden Gate (75th Anniversary this weekend btw)...

It was the USS Nimitz...

Views from on-board: http://www.flickr.com/photos/compacflt/

So, filled with below average food and a pint of Stella, lets see if we can find any more shite in the neighbourhood:

We arrive up at the Fishermans Wharf area and find one or two guys begging for money - very honest about their intentions - carrying bits of cardboard with need money for beer or weed written on them - lots of fucking mugs giving them money as well!

Further up the steet we can see the masts of an old schooner so decide to investigate and it was a good job we did!

Another shot of Alcatraz over the bay:

And this was our waypoint..

Had enough of old boats and cars so headed back to Pier 39 to the Hard Rock for a couple of drinks, the drinks were not that stong but we see things up in the sky...

So now we head off to Chinatown to take in the scene:

Oh look at this pile of shite - this is probably the only vehicle that actually qualifies as shite on this day out!

Larry flint's place is just down the street from the Toyota.

Have some architecture as a fade out of the day

2,254 · May 28, 2012