5th August 2016

We had booked tickets for Universal Studios for today, and printed them whilst we were in Ventura. When looking at the opening times, we noted that we were eligible for an early entrance of 7am. We decided that we would be best to set our alarms (again) and aim to get to the park for 7. The traffic in Hollywood is so bad, that we could have taken hours to get there.

So up at 6.15am and excited (if a little bleary-eyed) for the day ahead, we loaded the car up with the ever increasing bags, and set off. We got to the car park at 7am, and then ran (or in Andrew's case, strode) to the gates. We headed straight for the new rides in Harry Potter World. As you know, I am a total coward when it comes to rides of any kind. I don't even like the teacups at the fair, but I did my best to do research on the rides, and I figured I could muster up the courage to go on a few.

The newest ride is 'Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey', which is a simulator. We had heard that the queues for this ride peak at two hours. If you told me that I'd be in a theme park, in a queue for a ride I was terrified of, at 7.15am in the morning, I'd tell you that you were mad, but there I was! Then minutes later, we were at the front of the queue and walking through Hogwarts. The scenery and effects were amazing. Then onto the ride. A simulator - so why were we strapped in by a rigid harness that kept me pinned to the back of the seat? Off we went, we had special 3D glasses on, and we were surrounded by a screen where Harry and his friends took us on a journey riding on their broomsticks. We were immersed in the ride, it seemed so real. Our chairs were thrown back, forward, to the side. I was terrified. I think if you looked at the rider from the outside, it would just be a chair that tilts and jerks, but with the simulation I felt like I was flying and falling. The eyes are very good at tricking the brain. So I closed my eyes for the falling bits, but I did it!

With a new found bravery we then went on a family roller-coaster called 'Flight of the Hippogriff'. Again, something I'd not usually step anywhere near, but I was determined to overcome this fear today, so I was on. I screamed my way round it, and the queues were so short, we managed to walk around and ride again straight away.

We then went on the Studio tour. Andrew and I had already done this tour at the studios in Hollywood with Mel and Ben (my stepkids, for those reading that don't know them) around 20 years ago, so we thought we knew what to expect. That's why we sat Oli on the outside of the trolley car. It takes in the working studios of Universal, and you see the backlots, and they take you through set areas that are really well known (such as Psycho and Jaws) . It has changed so much - still the same Jaws shark jumping out of the water, and the earthquake simulation that makes you feel like the trolley is going to tip over. What has changed is the addition of new technology that they use in films now. It was a really thrilling ride - dinosaurs attacking the trolley, a high speed car chase and King Kong. Really fun.

We went on a few other rides, The Simpsons roller coaster simulator, and a great ride called Minion Mayhem (another simulator). I was quite proud of myself that I was actually joining in.

By midday, the park was getting busy, so we attempted one last ride - 'Jurassic Park'. This one had a 50 minute queue, but it was under a shade, so we went for it. I have honestly never been so scared in my life (apart from having a c-section). It was a water ride - a large boat that we were strapped into. Andrew had assured me it would be fine. It started well, but I knew it was building up to something. Up, up, up we went in this boat. I've got Oli saying 'mummy, it's fine, you'll be fine'. What goes up must come down, and we plunged down an 84 foot waterfall. I am not sure how my heart didn't stop. Or indeed how Andrew has any eardrums left after me screaming. The last thing Oli said to me was 'Any last words?'. Cheeky monkey.

We were soaked, but hey, I didn't die, and I did it. I felt the fear and did it anyway.

We left there at 2.30pm, and it was mobbed. Most rides having over an hour wait. So whilst it was a little painful getting up, it was such the best plan.

Next scheduled stop was Santa Monica. Famous for its pier, and for it being the final point on Route 66. The traffic!! (I'm starting to sound like yesterday's tour guide). We couldn't even stop at Santa Monica, or Venice Beach as they were both so clogged with traffic. We decided, due to being so tired and sick of traffic, that we would simply head to our next motel in Costa Mesa.

What should have been a 50 minute journey, with a few stops, turned into a 3.5 hour journey through the most awful traffic. Poor Andrew was getting so cross, and I was getting fed up. Tempers were a little frayed. Bless Oliver, after exhausting all play lists on the iPod, and listening to religious US radio, he said 'Shall we listen to Desert Island Discs?'. So we listened to Warwick Davis and to the US Ambassador in the UK, Matthew Barzun. Both interesting, and we all calmed down.

We are finally at the motel. A Motel 6 (like a Travelodge), which is all newly redone, and has a pool.

Exhausted, and slightly sad that the journey here put a dampener on the fantastic first half of the day. Sleep will cure it all, and we will be ready to hit the beach tomorrow.

PS - Quote of the day from Oliver - 'Daddy, you've sworn a lot today'. That's LA traffic rage right there.

(Pictures used with kind permission of Mr B and his iPhone)