Flew down to SMO from SQL IFR. Filed via SJC and then south, got OSI and south over SNS, Priest, Avenal, Fernando 5 arrival. Pretty quiet flight, lots of handoffs as I got into LA airspace. Got vectored to "cut the corner" at DARTS intersection and was cleared direct to the FAF.

Visibility was crap in the LA basin. AvGas was $4.24 at supermarine, but the service was great.

SMO is super busy, and when I left VFR, it was difficult to even get a word in to get cleared for takeoff, but once off, it was no big deal to skirt VNY and head out toward Gorman VOR, being sure to miss the VNY and BUR airspace.