Venice Beach, LA

It's been a day spent doing touristy things, with one of the highlights being a walk to Venice Beach.

It's packed full of people selling art, jewellery... even jokes! It felt like Bristol's Stokes Croft and Gloucester Road to the power of about a hundred - but with a friendlier vibe.

Earlier on, I did a few more photos of the old Route 66 and had breakfast in a typical diner, eating a 'shortstack' of pancakes with maple syrup.

I even touched the Pacific Ocean for the first time in my life - but for a paddle rather than a swim! It was slightly disconcerting how powerful the waves were.

We encountered a little drama at the end of the day when Santa Monica pier and beach were evacuated because of a bomb scare. There were police everywhere, and even a helicopter, which landed on the beach and caused a huge dust storm. Thankfully it all ended without incident.