itinerary: switch Sep 27 to South Bay

days/2026-09-27.md

@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-# Sep 27 (Sun) — Malibu coast · Water for Elephants
+# Sep 27 (Sun) — Friends · South Bay beaches · Water for Elephants
 
 **Stay:** [Airbnb — DTLA](../bookings/stays/airbnb-la-dtla.md) · already checked in since Sep 26 · 1100 W Temple St
 
@@ -6,39 +6,37 @@
 
 ## Logistics
 
-- Coastal driving day, cut short for the theatre; start early for El Matador parking
+- **8:00 AM** depart for friends; their address and the end time of the visit are TBC
+- Beach plan moves south to the Manhattan Beach–Hermosa Beach–Redondo Beach cluster; Malibu and Santa Monica are dropped
 - 🎭 **[Water for Elephants](../bookings/activities/water-for-elephants-pantages.md)** — Hollywood Pantages, **6:30 PM** (doors 5:30 PM) · 4 seats, MEZZR Row C 6–12 · mobile tickets in VT's Ticketmaster app
-- Leave Santa Monica by **4:00 PM**; Sunday traffic to Hollywood can take about an hour
+- Return to the DTLA Airbnb before the theatre to shower and change; leave the South Bay by **3:00 PM** and leave home for Hollywood by **5:00 PM**
 
 ## Plan
 
 > Menu: [`la_sights.md`](../la_sights.md)
 
-- **8:00 AM** Depart
-- **9:00–10:15 AM** [El Matador State Beach](https://maps.app.goo.gl/E7MMVFwEFx1FxWei7) — blufftop parking is limited; stairs lead to the beach
-- **10:30 AM–12:00 PM** Point Dume; use Zuma Beach as the parking fallback
-- **12:15–1:30 PM** Malibu Pier and lunch
-- **2:15–4:00 PM** Santa Monica Pier and the Route 66 terminus
-- **4:00–5:15 PM** Drive to Hollywood and park near the Pantages
-- **5:15–6:15 PM** Quick bite around Hollywood & Vine; doors open 5:30 PM, allow time for the bag check
+- **8:00 AM** Depart the Airbnb for friends
+- **Morning** Visit friends; exact address and departure time TBC
+- **After the visit** South Bay beaches, in a compact coastal sweep:
+  - Manhattan Beach Pier and the Strand
+  - Hermosa Beach Pier; use this area for lunch
+  - Redondo Beach waterfront only if the friends visit ends early enough
+- **3:00 PM hard cutoff** Leave the South Bay for DTLA. If the visit runs past noon, drop Redondo first; if it runs past 1:00 PM, choose only Manhattan or Hermosa Beach
+- **~4:00–5:00 PM** Back at the Airbnb to shower and change
+- **5:00 PM** Leave for Hollywood, park near the Pantages and have a quick snack if needed
+- **5:30 PM** Theatre doors open; allow time for the bag check
 - **6:30–8:50 PM** 🎭 [Water for Elephants](../bookings/activities/water-for-elephants-pantages.md) at the Hollywood Pantages
-- **After** Back to DTLA (about 20 minutes)
+- **After** Back to DTLA
 
-Venice Canals, Venice Beach and Abbot Kinney no longer fit this day; move them to another LA day if wanted.
-
-## Check shortly before departure
-
-- Point Dume's lower parking lot was inaccessible as of 2026-08-28 because Westward Beach Road was closed; the beach remained open
-- Recheck road, beach, tide and parking conditions
+Malibu, Point Dume, Santa Monica, Venice Canals, Venice Beach and Abbot Kinney no longer fit this day.
 
 ## Addresses
 
 | Place | Address | Map |
 |---|---|---|
 | Airbnb — DTLA | 1100 W Temple St, **Unit 703**, Los Angeles, CA 90012 · gated parking, 2 cars | [34.06325, -118.25149](https://www.google.com/maps/search/?api=1&query=34.06325,-118.25149) |
-| El Matador State Beach | 32215 Pacific Coast Hwy, Malibu · [lot](https://maps.app.goo.gl/E7MMVFwEFx1FxWei7) | [34.03798, -118.87449](https://www.google.com/maps/search/?api=1&query=34.03798,-118.87449) |
-| Point Dume | Westward Beach Rd, Malibu · fallback Zuma Beach lot | [34.00292, -118.80648](https://www.google.com/maps/search/?api=1&query=34.00292,-118.80648) |
-| Malibu Pier | 23000 Pacific Coast Hwy, Malibu | [34.03641, -118.67610](https://www.google.com/maps/search/?api=1&query=34.03641,-118.67610) |
-| Santa Monica Pier | 200 Santa Monica Pier | [34.00890, -118.49740](https://www.google.com/maps/search/?api=1&query=34.00890,-118.49740) |
-| Venice Canals | Dell Ave / Carroll Canal, Venice | [search](https://www.google.com/maps/search/?api=1&query=Venice+Canals+Los+Angeles) |
+| Friends | Address TBC | — |
+| Manhattan Beach Pier | 2 Manhattan Beach Blvd, Manhattan Beach, CA 90266 | [search](https://www.google.com/maps/search/?api=1&query=Manhattan+Beach+Pier) |
+| Hermosa Beach Pier | 1 Pier Ave, Hermosa Beach, CA 90254 | [search](https://www.google.com/maps/search/?api=1&query=Hermosa+Beach+Pier) |
+| Redondo Beach waterfront | 100 Fisherman's Wharf, Redondo Beach, CA 90277 | [search](https://www.google.com/maps/search/?api=1&query=Redondo+Beach+Pier) |
 | Hollywood Pantages | 6233 Hollywood Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90028 | [search](https://www.google.com/maps/search/?api=1&query=Hollywood+Pantages+Theatre) |