In LA three days, bloody nose (Riverside, Pasadena: landscaping, live, pollution)

[fnord]

I'm no stranger to LA pollution...but YUCK. I lived in SoCal in the early 90s and got out pretty quick. Since then, I've visited periodically for short times. I hadn't visited for about 5 years until last weekend, when I spent a long weekend in the Pasadena area. I arrived via Interstate 10 westbound, passing through Palm Springs and Riverside.

I knew I had hit the metro area when the highway went from 2 lanes to 5, and very quickly the smell coming from my car vents was noxious. Again, I'm used to stinky car fumes - but this was unreal. I had to close my car windows and suffer the heat (a whopping 90+ degrees in November) until I could get off the highway. I think the last time I smelled such a stench was passing through Gary, Indiana.

Pasadena was very lovely, actually. I love the horticulture and landscaping. I'm amazed at how it thrives. At ground level, you can't see the thick brown layer of filth covering the valley, so you can just pretend it's not there. Except my first night there my nose started bleeding. And did so my entire weekend there, and even 3 days after I had returned home. No, I'm not a coke addict and don't have any respiratory problems - I was stunned and disgusted. So disgusted, that I didn't even bother trepidating the journey to visit one of the beaches. Forget it.

SoCal is RUINED. Keep on driving.

[ArthursChoice]

Originally Posted by fnord

I'm no stranger to LA pollution...but YUCK. I lived in SoCal in the early 90s and got out pretty quick. Since then, I've visited periodically for short times. I hadn't visited for about 5 years until last weekend, when I spent a long weekend in the Pasadena area. I arrived via Interstate 10 westbound, passing through Palm Springs and Riverside.

I knew I had hit the metro area when the highway went from 2 lanes to 5, and very quickly the smell coming from my car vents was noxious. Again, I'm used to stinky car fumes - but this was unreal. I had to close my car windows and suffer the heat (a whopping 90+ degrees in November) until I could get off the highway. I think the last time I smelled such a stench was passing through Gary, Indiana.

Pasadena was very lovely, actually. I love the horticulture and landscaping. I'm amazed at how it thrives. At ground level, you can't see the thick brown layer of filth covering the valley, so you can just pretend it's not there. Except my first night there my nose started bleeding. And did so my entire weekend there, and even 3 days after I had returned home. No, I'm not a coke addict and don't have any respiratory problems - I was stunned and disgusted. So disgusted, that I didn't even bother trepidating the journey to visit one of the beaches. Forget it.

SoCal is RUINED. Keep on driving.

What a WUSS!
LOL

[KnoxTown]

I love LA

[EscapeCalifornia]

Weren't the fires raging last weekend?

[MIKEETC]

Originally Posted by fnord

...

I knew I had hit the metro area when the highway went from 2 lanes to 5, and very quickly the smell coming from my car vents was noxious. Again, I'm used to stinky car fumes - but this was unreal. I had to close my car windows and suffer the heat (a whopping 90+ degrees in November) until I could get off the highway. I think the last time I smelled such a stench was passing through Gary, Indiana.

...

Why didn't you just turn on your AC?

[bhcompy]

And LA is pretty good after that rain. Nice and clear out

[Chatteress]

Originally Posted by EscapeCalifornia

Weren't the fires raging last weekend?

That could have been the source of the OP discomfort.

[brikag]

Originally Posted by fnord

I'm no stranger to LA pollution...but YUCK. I lived in SoCal in the early 90s and got out pretty quick. Since then, I've visited periodically for short times. I hadn't visited for about 5 years until last weekend, when I spent a long weekend in the Pasadena area. I arrived via Interstate 10 westbound, passing through Palm Springs and Riverside.

I knew I had hit the metro area when the highway went from 2 lanes to 5, and very quickly the smell coming from my car vents was noxious. Again, I'm used to stinky car fumes - but this was unreal. I had to close my car windows and suffer the heat (a whopping 90+ degrees in November) until I could get off the highway. I think the last time I smelled such a stench was passing through Gary, Indiana.

Pasadena was very lovely, actually. I love the horticulture and landscaping. I'm amazed at how it thrives. At ground level, you can't see the thick brown layer of filth covering the valley, so you can just pretend it's not there. Except my first night there my nose started bleeding. And did so my entire weekend there, and even 3 days after I had returned home. No, I'm not a coke addict and don't have any respiratory problems - I was stunned and disgusted. So disgusted, that I didn't even bother trepidating the journey to visit one of the beaches. Forget it.

SoCal is RUINED. Keep on driving.

They should add a smilie doing a "whatever" sign!

That will suffice.....

[Raggy dee Ann]

Originally Posted by msconnie73

That could have been the source of the OP discomfort.

Last fire they had while I was there, had me pulling out dark sooty buggas.

[AzianCalFullertonStudent]

Turn on the AC and close your windows if the smoke gets to you.