L. A. Take Two

Thursday October 20
On Thursday we sailed around to the south side of L. A. passing the longest, most complex series of breakwaters ever. San Pedro Bay, a.k.a. Los Angeles harbor makes all the other U. S. harbors look like one zip code towns. There are so many different loading docks spread out so far that it's impossible to distinguish them all, but at one time I counted at least 130 cranes. Threading our way past the three entry channels and noting next to the third the handsome Cunard ocean liner Queen Mary, we tied up at the Rainbow Harbor Marina. Perhaps it was named for the tacky cement constructions in fading tropical colors on the island bordering one side. There was an aqua blue paneled tower and several mango and papaya walls we couldn't figure out. At night, hearing water rushing, we looked out and saw it transformed into a lighted panorama with two waterfalls, all created for our entertainment? Upon inquiry we found that the oil wells on the island had been camouflaged by civic demand.