This book is about a trip made to California by professional speaker Alan Fairweather. The initial intention was to attend a speaking course in Los Angeles to develop his skills as a professional speaker. However, this was a great opportunity to fulfill an ambition to drive from Los Angeles to San Francisco, to visit Yosemite National Park, and spend some time in California.

This is not an in depth travel guide. It is a light-hearted read, written to entertain. The book describes the Alan’s trip in an amusing way, the things he saw, and the people he met.

He tells of the challenges he faced travelling from Scotland to Los Angeles, his initial experiences of hiring a car, and finding his hotel. He describes his journey driving on the East Coast highway, and his adventures along the way.

Eventually, Alan arrives in San Francisco, and the listener experiences that great city through his eyes. His visit to Alcatraz and his observations just wandering around the city.

He travels on to Yosemite National Park, where he is more concerned about being attacked by a bear or a mountain lion than the scenery around him.

And then he drives down through the San Joaquin Valley and returns to Los Angeles to explore the surrounding areas.

Alan checks into the “Hotel California” in Santa Monica, and explores the attractions of Venice Beach and Long Beach. 

It may inspire you to visit California, or even just to travel more to experience and observe what goes on in the world around you.