good-times-rollin: free tours near San Diego

Monday, January 16, 2017

Music, Movie, Marina and a Market

San Diego Metro KOA
Chula Vista, CA
January 12, 13, 14, and 15, 2017

After the tide pools on Tuesday, we had two days of down pours, a day of on and off showers then finally Saturday dawned with blue skies.

So what to do on a rainy day? Well, one of those heavy rainy days we did absolutely nothing unless you count napping, cuddling with the pups and old movies ! Thursday, we decided to ride over to El Cajon (about 16 miles) to visit Taylor Guitar. Joe read Guitar Lessons: A Life's Journey Turning Passion into Business by Bob Taylor so a return trip (We visited Taylor Guitar 3 years ago.) for this artistic and free tour was on the to-do list for this year.

The tour starts at 1:00 pm ( Monday - Thursday). We were a few minutes early on purpose so we could browse the gift shop and see the guitar room. All the guitars in the showroom can be played.

In 1974 when the business started, the goal was to build and sell 6 guitars the first year. Back in the day, Bob built those guitars by hand. Today machines and robotics speed up the process, but there is still alot of hands on work to reach the finished instrument. The goal today is 500 a day !

Even if you are not musical like me, the tour is well worth your time (only about 1 1/2 hours) to see first hand how these beautiful acoustic guitars are made from beginning to end.

Something Joe and I do not do on any regular basis is go to the movies. But, with iffy weather, it was an easy decision especially when there is popcorn included ! Matinees are always our choice and Hidden Figures was playing. It was a great movie !

Finally, sunshine on Saturday. There is a bike trail next to the KOA that follows Sweetwater River to the Marina and Pepper Park. Its a nice ride and Saturday the creek was full of birds. I saw Snowy Egrets, Blue Herons, Whimbrels, Coots and an assortment of ducks as we followed the river to San Diego Bay.

First we stopped at the Marina...

then Pepper Park.

When I walked out onto the pier, I was face to face with a pair of Brown Pelicans. I've never been that close to a pelican before.

Today was farmer's market day. Joe researched local markets and decided we would give Hillcrest Farmer's Market a go. It was awesome ! There are two sections... one for fresh produce, flowers and a few crafts and another for food vendors. The colors, the smells, the sounds, the textures, and the free samples definitely overloaded our senses.