Places Visited:
This was a day of high adventure----at least high adventure for us. We rode the COASTER into San Diego and back to Carlsbad today. This commuter train is "old-hat" to residents of northern San Diego communities dotting the coast up to 40-miles north of down town San Diego. For around $5-each anyone can ride the COASTER from places like Carlsbad and Oceanside to Old Town or San Diego proper down near the harbor. Any time we take one of these commuter trains we have to test our "reading comprehension" and determine if we are "functionally-literate". Sometimes when trying to make all the decisions necessary to obtain a ticket from one of these machines I think that I may need to return to college and get an advanced degree. With help we completed the purchase for one way tickets, in our age group, into downtown San Diego along the waterfront.
With tickets on the COASTER in hand we settled into our seats on the second deck, ocean side so we could take in all the scenery on the hour long ride down the coast to San Diego.
Actually, the COASTER is a good way to see the sprawling communities that line the coast north of San Diego plus get great views of the ocean as the commuter train makes its way along the coast.
This is a glimpse of Mission Bay across taken across I-5 from the COASTER.
After spending an appropriate time walking along the harbor in down town San Diego Joyce had us on one of those narrated sightseeing trolleys that spend several hours meandering around greater San Diego and Coronado where the riders are entertained by vistas as well as non-stop narration of what they are seeing. I have seen and done much of what we saw on the trolley but the new Padre's ball stadium was new to me as was all of the down town area. I had toured the San Diego Zoo but had not seen all of Balboa Park, I still haven't seen all of Balboa Park but I have seen much more of it now that we have taken this tour.
When the trolley got to Coronado we jumped off for lunch and to tour the Hotel Del Coronado one of the landmarks not to be missed when visiting San Diego and Coronado. This famous hotel is not only noteworthy for its architecture and landscaping but the setting which has been utilized in numerous movies and TV shows. Joyce has now seen and done the "Hotel Del" in Coronado.
We did lunch at McP's Irish Pub the hang out for Navy Seals who train just down the road.
Getting to Coronado from San Diego involves a wonderful ride over the Coronado Bridge. Actually one of the "must-do" things in San Diego is this very high sweeping bridge. Joyce took this picture as we were leaving Coronado so you can see San Diego as well as the bridge curving around and dropping into San Diego.
While touring the older downtown area of San Diego our docent pointed out where Wyatt Earp (of Tombstone, Arizona & OK Corral fame) had a gambling saloon in the early days of San Diego. Wyatt moved to Alaska for the big gold rush there before returning to Los Angeles where he advised the early movie makers on "wild-west" matters. Also not far from there we stopped to view the steep hill where Tom Cruise jumped on his motorcycle and sped away. Remember him getting air on that hill while Kelly (forget her last name) chased him in her porche (at least I think it was a porche) in the movie Top Gun. Then the trolley passed by Kansas City BBQ. This is the place made famous by Goose when he attacked the piano banging out his famous rendition of Great Balls of Fire. I think we all remember those scenes. That movie was shot over 20-years ago according to our docent. My how time flies, it seems like yesterday.
We got off the trolley again in Old Town and walked around the old shops, business and Museums that were there in the mid-1800's when California was becoming a state and winning independence from Mexico.
Then we ambled down to the train tracks where we have to locate the loading area for the COASTER train that hopefully will transport us back to Carlsbad. Don't laugh, several tracks run together with several different trains/trolleys running either on the same tracks or adjoining tracks. We asked several of San Diego's finest where the loading area the COASTER was. Mind you we were already at the station we just couldn't locate the exact set of tracks the COASTER ran on. Besides we had to purchase tickets from that machine again. The "officers" in uniform led us in various directions none of which were correct. I suppose I wasn't speaking Spanish or they didn't understand English. In any event we finally located the COASTER loading area and ticket machine. This time, with no help, we were able to negotiate the entire sequence of selections and get our tickets. We even got our tickets validated, an important step when riding the COASTER. Before long we are seated on the COASTER for our hour long journey back to Carlsbad. Once again we got to view the coastal towns that stretch north of San Diego. This is Padre's country and the Padre's are playing in town this week. Padre shirts and hats seem to be the uniform of the day. I guess they are winning this year. The
weather is so nice. Daytime highs hover in the low 70's while overnight lows make
for divine sleeping with the windows cracked. I could get used to this weather,
in fact I already have. We moved the motorhome from our snug spot on the cul-de-sac into an RV-Park about a mile away in Oceanside. The four nights of free boondocking was great on the pocket book but we need to dump and get a good charge of electricity. Besides, this RV-Park has a walking path under the COASTER tracks to the beach. I guess that is why it is called Paradise. Katharine told Joyce where she got her hair done in Carlsbad so Joyce spent several hours entertaining those girls while I strolled around Carlsbad. They have an area set aside for local farmers to have a Wednesday farmer's market.
I enjoyed moseying through each of these stalls. Zucchini squash with the flower still attached seemed to be the hottest items while ripe avocado ran a close second. I wonder if they cook flower and all or if the flower remains intact so that the purchaser knows for sure that the squash is young. Several stalls were selling fresh peaches, others strawberries and still others ears of corn.
Cut flowers were almost as popular as fruit and vegetables. One vendor was selling fresh baked bread of every description but "white-bread".
Ken & Katharine had us over for grilled salmon, fun and fellowship. We are enjoying their company and hospitality immensely. Again today the weather was absolutely perfect, we are getting used to this fast. Thursday, May 5, Paradise RV-Resort Oceanside, California: $39.50. FHU with 50-amps, Paved interior roads and sites plus cable and free WIFI. N33° 10.707' W117° 21.993'. Joyce and I explored the coast from Oceanside to San Diego in our Saturn today. We covered "Tour-5" out of Frommer's California's Best-Loved Driving Tours like a glove then added some side items of our own.
In La Jolla we ventured off La Jolla Boulevard and followed the ocean whenever possible stopping at various view points and pullouts. Sea lions had taken over this protected beach in La Jolla while cormorants and Pelicans have homesteaded this rock where they live in harmony with the frenzied world not far away.
From the same viewpoint where we were able to view the sea lions and cormorants we can see the lavish homes of northern La Jolla.
Somewhere south of La Jolla and Mission Bay we stopped in a pullout and took this picture of Point Loma in the distance. Mission Bay and Mission Beach is somewhere out of sight to the left.
In Mission Bay we parked and walked the boardwalk at Mission Beach but didn't ride the old wooden roller coaster because it wasn't operating. We did visit the park at the very south end of Mission Beach at the jetty protecting the north side of the San Diego river harbor entrance.
Then we headed over to Point Loma and down to Harbor Drive in San Diego where we visited Harbor Island. Harbor Island is a paradise in paradise. The entire place is wonderfully landscaped. Green areas and walking paths abound. Views such as below on the left of Point Loma (the high ground in the center) with NAS (Naval Air Station North Island to the extreme left on the low ground can be seen when looking west. When looking to the southease the beautiful city of San Diego appears across the bay.
To the left is a picture of Point Loma from Harbor Island looking west. The low land to the left is NAS North Island located on the northern tip of Coronado.
.........Below is the city of San Diego taken from Harbor Island looking to the East.
Our next stop was the long range fishing fleet operating out of the harbor on Scott Street where we checked out prices for their long range trips 6 to 15 day trips to exotic spots off the coast of Mexico.
Then it was on to Shelter Island and more marinas. Like Harbor Island Shelter Island is eye-candy. Wonderful Restaurants, a huge marina, landscaping fit for a king, generous parking and green spaces with abundant walking paths. From Shelter Island Joyce was able to take these pictures:
This is NAS (Naval Air Station North Island) with one of the modern Nuclear Air Craft Carriers -the Ronald Reagan I think to the extreme left and the Coronado bridge connecting San Diego to Cronado seen as the blue arch stretching across the picture. From Shelter Island this view is to the south.
This view of the Coronado Bridge again looking south from the Shelter Island Marina complex shows not only the bridge but the extensive naval facilities and ships along the eastern shore of San Diego Bay.
I had seen much of what we covered today while on business trips to San Diego but it was fun visiting the area again with Joyce. We particularly enjoyed the areas around La Jolla where the sea lions were sunning on the rocks and beach when not playing in the water. At one stop, Tourmaline Surfing Park between La Jolla and Pacific Beach we watched around 30-surfers all vying for shot at the nice waves forming down a chute. There were some very accomplished surfers plus a plethora of "board-riders".
One of our favorite drives in La Jolla was Prospect Street. Prospect is one of those streets that reflect the trendy, upscale atmosphere of the expensive residential enclave of San Diego that La Jolla has become. La Jolla is Spanish for "Jewel" and that is exactly what La Jolla is. The area is much like an exclusive Mediterranean resort with a mix of expensive houses, exquisite boutiques, gourmet restaurants and grand hotels. The cliff-lined coast adds to this overall impression. When we were returning home around 7:30 tonight young people were crowded to the streets in front of those trendy restaurants and night clubs. Where on earth do young people get that kind of money? Friday, May 6, Paradise RV-Resort Oceanside, California: $39.50. FHU with 50-amps, Paved interior roads and sites plus cable and free WIFI. N33° 10.707' W117° 21.993'.
We spent the day just messing around in Oceanside. We enjoyed walking around the harbor in Oceanside then found a cozy place to enjoy lunch while watching the fishing boats.
Then as the sun began to sink in the sky we walked to the beach to watch that event.
Saturday, May 7, Paradise RV-Resort Oceanside, California: $39.50. FHU with 50-amps, Paved interior roads and sites plus cable and free WIFI. N33° 10.707' W117° 21.993'. We spent the day in Julian with our friends, Ken and Katharine that live in Carlsbad. Ken & Katharine have a motorhome that they keep in a storage place north of Carlsbad. Ken picked up the motorhome on Friday and drove it to Julian while Katharine was working. Ken spent Friday night in the Motorhome in Julian. We stopped by and picked Katharine up this morning, Saturday and we drove to Julian on CA-78. We started out in Carlsbad at sea level and ended up in Julian at 4,500' elevation. We climbed those 4,500' over 60-miles. Once we got on the east side of I-15 CA-78 became two-lane and the climb began through an agricultural area. At first we encountered nurseries growing palm trees and such then shifted to citrus and avocado groves then vineyards and grazing areas in the meadows. As we gained elevation we started seeing apple orchards.
Not long before we got to Julian Katharine motioned for me to stop at Dudley's bakery in the small community of Santa Ysabel. It is totally unbelievable to see this big, bustling bakery out here. There just does not seem to be a large enough population base to support an operation like Dudley's. The place smelled divine as only a bakery can. I had a yummy pastry with walnuts sprinkled over it. The girls refrained but we did get some bread and a pineapple upside down cake for later.
Ken & Katharine's RV-Park is 6-miles on the other (east) side of Julian so we just breezed through without stopping. The KQ Ranch RV-Park is one of those family oriented campgrounds with a swimming pool, fishing lake, hiking trails club house, tennis courts and myriad other activity related amenities.
This area was decimated by a huge fire in 2003. Evidence of that fire is everywhere. Only a few homes and businesses were saved. However, it seems that the heroic efforts of firefighters saved most of the historic town. The majority of Oak Trees seem to have survived the fire while most conifers did not.
Manzanita bushes are sprouting from rootstock beneath charred branches. Green grass and flowers are thriving in what was once under story or chaparral. The scars of this fire will be visible for ages to come.
After spending time in the RV-Park we jumped in the Saturn and visited the historic old gold mining town of Julian. Julian sprang to life in 1869 when gold was found in a creek. Interestingly enough it was a black cattleman who found the first flecks of gold. Mining continued until the 1930's. Following the initial gold rush settlers and pioneers began to farm the rich land. Julian turned out to be a good place to grow apples. Julian apples took first prizes in competitions at the Chicago World's Fare in 1893 and The San Francisco World's Fare also in 1893. Julian's apples also took top awards at the LA County Fair for 22 years. Apples continue to be cultivated in Julian. Their sweet fresh flavor lures thousands to the mountains to sample not only fresh apples in the Fall but cider, and other delicacies throughout the year. Once in Julian we meandered through a few stores in the pretext of killing time. Our real reason driving to town was---------you guessed it,-------------- fresh apple pie from the Julian Pie Company complete with cinnamon ice cream. OH my gosh! Talk about sinning. This had to be one of the "big-sins"! There was no way we could walk this off. Talk about yummy, this was it. Katharine says the Julian Pie Company has the best apple pies in town. Ken disagrees but Ken did not carry enough weight to dissuade Katharine on where we were going to purchase and enjoy our afternoon delight. After licking our bowls clean we ambled around the myriad curio shops in Julian in a vain attempt to walk off the apple pie and ice cream. When we tired of that game we got in the Saturn and went looking for some of the abandoned gold mines but didn't actually crawl around in any. We did drive out to Lake Cuyamaca not far from their RV-Park. The lake was created by damming a small creek. Fishermen were enjoying the lake. Boats were available for rent and it looked like a fun place to spend time. We enjoyed a steak dinner hosted by the RV-Park before saying good by to Ken and Katharine and heading back to Oceanside and the coast. The drive back was beautiful with the sun sinking in the sky behind the mountains to our west. As we weaved our way down from the mountains we would get spectacular glimpses of the glowing red sky peaking through the occasional openings in the mountains. Life is
good. There is nothing like good friends, good times and apple pie alamode. Until next week just remember how good life is. Mike & Joyce Hendrix
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