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 !

Coronado Island and Lunch

San Diego Metro KOA

Chula Vista, CA

January 25, 2022 

Did you know that Coronado Island is not completely surrounded by water like most islands?  It is referred to as a tied island.  A tied island is connected to the mainland by a tombolo.  So, what is a tombolo you might wonder (I sure didn't know!)...it is a bar of sand joining an island to the mainland.   There are three ways to get to Coronado Island...Silver Strand which is the tombolo that connects Coronado to the mainland, the Coronado Bridge over the San Diego Bay or the ferry.  We took the bridge today.  It is a little intimidating with 2.1 miles of four lane traffic with a a nice curve and short concrete walls on the outsides and down the middle.  Joe never gets to see these views.  

We had plans to meet Jeff and Fran for lunch at the bay.  It was one of those beautiful, perfect San Diego days so we decided to go early and walk.  Orange Avenue offers a nice stretch of sidewalk from the Hotel Del to Bayside with lots of variety and interest along the way.  We also ventured down a few side streets...just because !

I do have a "thing" for gates and doors.

The Christ Episcopal Church built in 1894 was surrounded by camellias.

Camellias remind me of Georgia.  They have always been a favorite.

 

Coronado is a Spanish word that translates to crowned in English.

"The Crown City"  is a nickname often used by locals when referring to the island.  I had not noticed all the crowns.   Pictures of crowns on signs and crowns in store windows were everywhere. 

And speaking of locals, Charlie Chaplin and Dick Van Dyke, are among the rich and famous who have called Coronado Island home.  Today, we learned from Jeff that L. Frank Baum, who spent many winters in a rented home on Coronado, wrote The Wizard of Oz on the island in the winter of 1900. 

Coronado Island has a lot of beautiful green space (parks) and easily accessible sandy beach/ocean space, but almost 30,000 people live on the island and thousands of tourists visit there every year. It is most impressive that even with all the structures and folks that fill up the remaining space, there is no clutter.     

So neat and orderly...

  So vital...

So inviting...

So strong...

So used...

So cool...

So beautiful...

After all our meandering and at the end of Orange Street, we reached our destination...The Landing.  

We had never been to this part of Coronado...it is a beautiful park with benches, green grass, and walks.  It also has some history.  The bronze plaque on the rock in the above photo reads, "Birthplace of Naval Aviation" (designated in 1961).  In 1917, Congress appropriated the island to support the WW I effort and two airfields occupied its sandy flats.  According to google, many milestones originated here including the first sea flight in the United States in 1911.  

Bayside is home to restaurants, shops, and wonderful views.  It is also where the ferry docks when transporting folks to and from the mainland...

thus the name The Landing.  Fran and Jeff rode bikes today and used the ferry to get to the the island.  Our lunch spot, thanks to these two locals we have the pleasure of calling friends, chose Costa Azul Mexican...perfect ! 

The restaurant, the ferry dock, and the San Diego skyline

Good friends, the view from the patio, our server Jerry, the

yummy food and yep, one of those frozen concoctions all made for a most enjoyable meal and fun time.  Thank you again Fran and Jeff !!!!

That makes Monday a wrap.  I had mentioned in the last post Ocean Beach would be the next post.  It is still on hold.  

Until next time,

  

  

HAPPY TRAILS !