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California is the richest and most populated state in
the US and is situated on the West Coast. Justine begins
her journey in the Joshua Tree National Park
– 800,000 acres of desert, which receives just
3 to 5 inches of rainwater a year. It’s a surreal
experience, and Justine’s guide introduces her
to several colourful local characters.
Next stop is Palm Springs, an artificial
oasis in the middle of the desert and playground to
the stars and idols of Hollywood’s golden era.
She stays in a hotel which has been frequented by stars
throughout the years, and meets the manager of The
Raquet Club, where Marilyn Monroe was discovered.
Just outside Palm Springs is a natural wind tunnel where
2 long mountain ranges on each side of the valley floor
concentrate the breeze from the coast. Wind power is
big business in California, and 3500 wind turbines generate
enough energy for 2000 homes. |
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Freewheeling: Justine Shapiro
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The last place to expect snow:Justine explore the
Sierra Nevada mountains
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A 3 hour bus journey from Palm Springs takes Justine
to the notorious City of Angels, Los Angeles.
LA is a massive city which sprawls over 1000 square
miles. Justine hires a car and cruises Hollywood, home
of the movie industry, in search of the stars. Fame
and fortune proves elusive, however, and she decides
to explore the seedier East Side in the company of a
couple of LAPD officers.
One of the great attractions of Los Angeles is the
spectacular Pacific coastline. Year round good weather
means that Santa Monica sees up to
3 million Angelinos annually, just enjoying the sun,
working out, or showing off their bodies. Here Justine
meets a skating champion and in-line teacher to the
stars. |
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Leaving LA behind, Justine heads up the coast to Hearst
Castle. In the 1920’s William Randolf
Hearst built this sumptuous castle that is part art
gallery, part historic home and part national monument.
It’s claimed that Orson Wells based his film ‘Citizen
Kane’ on Hearst’s extraordinary life. From
here, Justine journeys to Big Sur,
an area that has inspired artists, writers and poets,
like Jack Kerouac and Henry Miller and is still an attraction
for those who seek to find themselves. Artists have
called this place of outstanding natural beauty ‘the
greatest meeting of land and water in the world.’
Leaving the coast, Justine makes her way to the town
of Gilroy, the self proclaimed garlic
capital of the world. Every August, thousands of garlic
lovers flock to Gilroy from all round the world for
the annual garlic festival. A stroll
through the famous Gourmet Alley is a real assault on
the senses, and visitors can sample a whole range of
garlic flavoured fare, from pasta to popcorn, and even
garlic ice-cream!
Having had her fill, Justine takes a bus through Yosemite,
to see the Sierra Nevada Mountains
and the highest waterfall in North America. She visits
the Mono Lake, the oldest body of water
in North America but one which has been at the heart
of an environmental conflict between North & South
California for 60 years. She also visits the ghost-town
of Bodie, build in 1859 on the profits of the gold-rush.
In 20 years Bodie became the third largest city in the
state of California, but when the gold ran out the town
suffered a major economic crisis.
On the final leg of her journey, Justine flies north
to Humboldt County, home to the highest
concentration of Giant Redwoods in
California and the hippy chill-out town of Garberville.
The Redwoods can grow to nearly 400 feet and can live
to over 2000 years, so some of these trees have been
around since the time of Jesus. In 1918, the ‘Save
the Giant Redwoods League’ was founded to preserve
the last 10% of the forests from destruction lumber
companies. Justine meets an eco-warrior named Nate,
who has been living in a tree for the last 2 years to
prevent its destruction. The forests are also reputed
to be the home of a mythical, legendary, elusive creature
called Big Foot, or the Sasquatch.
Justine joins a night-time expedition in search of the
beast.
Justine ends her journey in Garberville, at the fabulous
Reggae on the River music festival.
Famed for its hippies and for its marijuana, the Garberville
area has earned the nickname ‘the emerald triangle’. |
