A three-ish hour tour

With apologies to the original:

Just sit right back and you'll hear a tale,

A tale of a tasty trip

That started from a parking lot

Aboard this very nice bus.

The guide was a mighty chatty man

The skipper kind and sure

We passengers set off that day

For an LA doughnut tour, an LA dough-nut tour*

The first stop was at Twin Castles, aye!

We were suitably impressed

For many of this discerning crew

Their doughnuts were the best, their doughnuts were the best**

The bus went round the 405 to the world famous Stan's

With Maple Logs

And fritters, too***

Banana filled with cream

Buttermilk bars

Peanut butter and chocolate too!****

Inhaled 'fore we'd gone a mile

Tres hip was the place that we went next

With goodies baked not fried

They serve Earl Gray spiced blueberry*****

(fonuts) will make a foodie cry

From there we walked our butts to Bob's

Inside a market filled with lore

Their classic glazed was delectable

More ice cold milk was poured

Downtown, big line, no wait for us

The Nickel Diner crew came through,

With maple bacon doughnut holes

And tales wild and true

The group was full, the prizes done

Every face had a big grin

The bus of sugar-filled people begged,

"When can we go again?!"

For a blow-by-blow account, watch the slideshow:

To eat yourself silly, follow the map:

View The Doughnut Tour! in a larger map

* Thank you to my friend Andrea for introducing me to John and Laura, who put together a truly amazing morning.  We were treated like doughnut royalty everywhere, with personal greetings from the owners, special tastings, and one delicious treat after another.  There were trivia contests (I won a pound of coffee for correctly guessing that there are 820 independent doughnut shops in Los Angeles County), historical tidbits, cold milk and great company provided.  They are putting together a Taco Tour at the end of March. Yowza! 
** Could have been the coffee that was included, and the fact that Laura made sure we each were served our very favorite kind of doughnut here.
*** Best apple fritter I've ever had - especially the crispy outside bits with the tender apples and flaky sugar glaze.  But one or two bites is all you need. Otherwise you'll fall into a sugar coma.
**** Now named for its biggest fan, Huell Howser.
***** And salted caramel, rosemary olive oil, chorizo cheese, fresh strawberry buttermilk...my God, this menu!!