Pilgrim’s Progress

Mayflower. Pilgrim. Plymouth.

You probably think we’re talking about Miles Standish, John Alden, Gov. William Bradford and all those other New World adventurers from Delfthaven, Holland.

Not.

We’re talking about Southern California turf--the kind that attracts a different kind of explorer, the road warrior.

According to the Thomas Guide, Los Angeles County boasts four Mayflower avenues (Maywood, Bell, Monrovia and Arcadia) as well as a Mayflower Circle in Gardena, a drive in Granada Hills, a place in Bell, a road in Claremont and two Mayflower ways--one in Monrovia, the other in Whittier. The county also is home to Pilgrim Court and Pilgrim Place, and claims a Plymouth Way, Plymouth Boulevard (north and south), Plymouth Court, three Plymouth roads, four Plymouth streets and a Plymouth Drive in Pasadena.

In Orange County, there are three Mayflower streets (Aliso Viejo, Anaheim and Irvine), one Mayflower Circle in Fountain Valley, a drive in Newport Beach and a lane in Costa Mesa. Huntington Beach is home to Pilgrim Circle. The county also has bragging rights to a Plymouth Street, avenue, lane, place, court and Plymouth Common in Santa Ana.

Ventura County, on the other hand--let’s make that two--has a Mayflower Street and a Plymouth Circle.