And The Rains Came...

San Diego Metro KOA

Chula Vista, CA

January 23, 2024 

To say it was a rainy weekend might be a bit of an understatement as it rained and rained on Saturday and Sunday and then Monday morning at 9:34, we received an emergency notice on our phones.  Neither of us have ever seen it rain so much and so hard in one day.  In fact, folks in San Diego had not ever seen it either.  The news reported that San Diego received more rain in those three days that it has in the past three months combined.  And Monday was reported to be the rainiest day ever in January dating back to 1850.  It was the fourth wettest day on record in the entire history of San Diego weather measurements according to the national Weather Service.  The photo below was taken about 8:00 am when we walked Sally.  Within a couple of hours, the concrete in the road and RV sites were under water.  

Sally was a real trooper...we managed several walks under the umbrella when the rains slowed a bit.

Joe and I filled our time reading, spelling, playing Yahtzee, making loaded baked potato soup and fixing stuff.

 But it was Sally who had the best idea of how to spend her time.  

The sun finally came out on Tuesday.  

We ventured over to Ocean Beach for a late lunch even though we knew the pier was closed from a few weeks ago. 

It was oyster day for me and South Beach Bar and Grill was calling. I enjoyed every morsel of a half dozen oysters on the half shell (the cocktail sauce at South Beach is the best ever) and a fried oyster taco with rice and beans.  We enjoyed a nice view of OB Pier (which just happens to be one of the most visited landmarks in San Diego) during lunch.   

Joe and I are always amazed at how busy San Diego highways are and yet always amazed at how easy it is to get around.  Interstate highways that are 4 and 5 lanes wide stacked up on top of one another sounds intimidating.  We try to pick our times to avoid locals going to or coming from work, but even then, it can be congested.  But in all the years visiting here, we have never had to slow to a crawl or come to a stand still.  I think that is pretty amazing.  And probably pretty lucky.  

Last week when we went with Carol and Ronnie to Switzer Canyon, we drove the long way home and stopped at The Landing on Coronado Island.  

I love driving over the Bay Bridge...

The Landing is so named because that's where the ferry lands when it takes folks to or from the city to the island.  

There is a wonderful green park with lots of little shops and restaurants to peruse or enjoy a meal at The Landing. But the really best part to me is the view of the city.

The pier just behind the palm trees is the pier where the ferry lands.

This is a good stopping spot so I will close for now...until next time,

HAPPY TRAILS !

Point Loma

San Diego Metro KOA

Chula Vista, CA

January 6, 2024 

Rosecrans National Cemetery located on the Fort Rosecrans Military Reservation is also located on this hilly peninsula.   

Our first outing was a visit to Point Loma.  Loma is Spanish for mountain/ridge. It is a favorite destination for two reasons...Cabrillo National Monument (CNM) and Point Loma Seafood.  I have written about this beautiful park many times. We enjoy the history and the natural beauty it has to offer. San Diego Bay was discovered in 1542 by Juan Rodriguez Cabrillo (the first European to visit California)  and today CNM is situated at the tip of Point Loma right about where Cabrillo's ship landed. Bayside Trail was calling.  It's a downhill hike with great views of the harbor and the city of San Diego.  I was a little disappointed that we had to turn around about 2/3s of the way down the trail due to work by the CCC, but their work keeps the trail and area in tip-top condition so we thanked them and headed back up.   

 

California Buckwheat

California holly

The Old Point Loma Lighthouse (built in 1855) is a big draw for visitors.  

After our walk, we spent some time in the small museum reading about local history and the life of the lighthouse keeper. This little lighthouse, was first lit at sunset in November 1855 and burned every night thereafter for 36 years.  During those 36 years the small structure (once the highest light in the United States)  withstood at least one big blow and an earthquake along with numerous ravages of time and weather.  When a new lighthouse was built no one seemed to want this significant piece of history. It was boarded up, whitewashed and abandoned...there was even talk that it might be demolished.  The old light was eventually turned over to the National Park Service in 1933.  The lighthouse was not completely restored until the 1980s and from 2003-04, the surrounding area was also restored to a more authentic look including native plants, a vegetable garden and a water catchment system.  

Looking thru the window at the Kitchen Garden

Known by locals as "The Freshest Thing in Town", Point Loma Seafood is just down the street and around the corner from CNM and is one of our favorite lunch spots.  It all began 60+ years ago as a fresh fish market.  Today this local icon not only sells fresh fish, but also offers fish processing for local sport fishing enthusiasts and a "Fish and Chips" menu. 

If that's not a big enough draw, they bake fresh sourdough bread everyday, and make their own tartar sauce, slaw and chowders.  I have had a hankering for oysters and didn't even hesitate when Joe asked what I wanted for lunch...a fried oyster po' boy sandwich.  

     

Lunch view...

Back at Belle, we have enjoyed walks with Sally.  It rained off and on all day Wednesday, but the rest of our week has been very nice...sunny skies with mid to high 60s.  

We are all settled in and looking forward to our stay in San Diego.  And the best part...is spending time with friends !  The next best thing is the juicy, sweet oranges they pick and bring with them from Orange Grove RV Park in Bakersfield where they overnight before arriving here.  

Until next time...

HAPPY TRAILS !

Wrapping Up San Diego

San Diego Metro KOA

Chula Vista, CA

January 30, 2022

Ocean Beach

Our morning in Ocean Beach didn't turn out exactly as planned.  

OB Municipal Pier was officially christened in 1966 as the San Diego Fishing Pier.

We enjoyed a walk on the OB Pier.  I have read that this pier is one of the most visited landmarks in San Diego.  It extends 1,971 ft into the ocean and is said to be the longest concrete fishing pier on the west coast.  Herring is the most common fish caught from the pier and you can catch as many as you can carry...there is no limit !  The pier is a "T" shape.  The "T" is undergoing construction so our walk ended at the cafe.  The views from the pier seem endless.  This photo captures Mission Beach all the way to La Jolla (I think) and maybe even beyond.    

 We watched a pod of about eight dolphins swimming...

and enjoyed the efforts from the surfers. 

By this time, we had hoped the sun would have warmed the day more and that a low tide would invite a beach walk.    Neither of those happened.  

We did however take a stroll down Newport Avenue.  Newport Ave. is a three-block shopping district lined with the tallest, skinniest palm trees ever.   Coffee shops, vintage shops, ice cream parlors,  microbreweries and restaurants all add to the casual feel and small-town charm in this historic beach community. 

The store fronts, like this coffee shop porch, add lots of colorful and artsy vibe.  

  

Murals are painted everywhere.  The effort began in 1999 as a way to beautify OB and instill a sense of pride.  The artists have captured the essence of a seaside town with themes that range from surfing to cars, and flag-waving Americans.  

A self-guided walking tour of the murals can be downloaded 

Lunch at OB is always a treat.  Hodads - The World's Greatest Burger is right there on Newport Ave and they do smell yummy, but my choice remains South Beach Bar and Grill.  It has been a favorite since we spent a morning with Lisa and Hans back in 2017 and had lunch there.  For me it is all about the oysters.  First, fresh oysters (The quac, salsa and seasoned chips Joe gets are pretty dang good too!)...

followed by fried oyster tacos.

And I ate every morsel of this mouth watering yummy concoction ! 

Chula Vista Marina

I love taking photos at a marina.  It's like a special neighborhood for small boats to huge yachts all docked together just waiting.  So, we jumped at the chance to join Ronnie and Carol for lunch at the Galley at the Marina which overlooks the bay. 

After lunch, we decided to take a stroll to the nearby park. 

I have photographed lots of coots throughout the years, but in all those pictures, I never saw them out of the water.  They are noisy and very comical.  I was so wishing I had my camera and big lens...phone photos don't zoom in so good.  I always assumed these medium-sized water birds were ducks. I was surprised to learn they are not.  On land, they look more chicken like with a plump body and rounded head, a short tiny tail, and large feet.  Those feet sure caught my eye.

Coots walk instead of waddling and are often clumsy, awkward fliers.  Maybe one reason they mostly stay in the water is that they require a long running takeoff to get airborne.

 

It was one of those beautiful changing sky days.  Looking at the photo below, one would not guess it was mid-day.  My phone documented this picture at 2:05 pm...

this photo at 2:15 pm

and this photo at 2:18 pm.

The metal sculpture, titled The Fisherman, was added to the park in 2006 as part of the Port of San Diego Tidelands Collection. 

Gorgeous windswept trees...

and views of the Bay Bridge and Coronado Island sure give this park a captivating charm in addition to being a place to play.  

I have always enjoyed the ocean and beach.  Growing up my family spent many vacations in Florida along the Atlantic coast and Joe and I and our family enjoyed many vacations along the Gulf.  When deciding to travel full-time back in 2012, I knew the Pacific Coast was a "must go there" destination.  There is something mighty and majestic about the ocean that is certainly a draw for this small-town Georgia gal.

San Diego is definitely a fun get away and a nice change of scenery for us.  But, one thing we did learn about ourselves is that we do miss home...the sticks and stucco home that is.  In real time, we left San Diego a few days early (actually to avoid some very windy travel days that were forecast).  We both agree (well, today that is) that really long trips are no longer in our future.  Home is safe, quiet, comfy, and roomy yet cozy .  And there is always something to do...somewhere behind that mountain of huge tumbleweeds is the gate to the front yard and there is another mountain even bigger in the back corner by the fence.

And every backyard needs violas this time of year.  If you leave, you plant them again.    

We still plan to travel in the MH as that is the only way we can enjoy travels with the pups.  But out goals have changed.   Vacations to explore our home state of Arizona are in the works...there really is a lot to see and do and we have only scratched the surface. 

I am excited as I write this post because Ronnie and Carol will be visiting Tucson the first two weeks in February.  I can't wait to share some favorite places and see new to us places with them.  So, stay tuned !  Until then, I'll close with a few photos from SD.

The puppies had their treats and we did too !

I had pineapple and coconut cheesecake.

 

      

HAPPY TRAILS !