[EricH]

Even at the Sports Arena, L.A. isn't too far away from the beaches--more like 15-20 miles than 5 miles, but that's still only about half an hour, traffic permitting. And there is a freeway route there...

And Clemens, as I recall, did see the ocean, as he traveled over it on some occasions. He left from the eastern seaboard (after living in CT, as I recall).