FTJ, Entry 89: Beau, Can We Live Here?

Okay, there may be one minor reason to not like San Diego -- what they call the "June Gloom" weather (heavy clouds in the morning) -- but other than that, this town rocks!

It is a gorgeous city on the bay with tons of things to do and see. The people are super-friendly, the downtown is clean and easy to navigate, and there are a wealth of historic areas full of beauty and charm.

Sand Dunes and Mountains and Border Patrols, Oh My!

But first, the trip from Yuma to Chula Vista. Yowza. In the beginning, we saw nothing but sand dunes and miles and miles of border fence. Then we had to stop and let the Agriculture Department board our rig to check for citrus and avocados, etc. The agent just opened our fridge, took a cursory look, asked a few questions, and that was it. (Of course, our basements could have been filled with avocados....)

Sand and more sand.

The black line is the fence along the Mexican border. Arriba!

The inspector checks out our fridge. (BTW, the sign we have up was made by our
dear friend Barbara Karp and signed by the Karps and our other dear friends --
the Condlins and D'Arianos -- from Stamford as a bon voyage gift.)

So where was I? Oh yes, -- then came the mountains. So many mountains to cross, my friends. After a while I just concentrated on my Kindle Scrabble game to distract me and calm my nerves. As a result, I missed taking photos of the worst of the descents and ascents.

We went from sea level to more than 4,000 feet in what seemed like just a few miles.

Amazingly, the Border Patrol just waved us through. As with the agriculture inspection,
our RV could have been carrying scores of illegals!

Some shots of mountain roads. HUGE boulders often lined the highway. To me they looked as if they were threatening to tumble down on us at any moment.

Loved the wind turbines.

Beau did really well with all the driving, including the heavy urban traffic once we got into the San Diego area, with four lanes of whizzing California drivers weaving in and out around us. What a pro he is!

Finally, San Diego!

Our RV resort, the Chula Vista RV Park and Marina, is a lovely place right on the water about 20 minutes from San Diego. When we arrived, it was packed due to some group rallies, but we found our site to be plenty roomy. And we were soon greeted by the resident family of ducks. 

The marina at our RV resort.

Buddy promptly ignored the resort rules.

The ducks went from the site across the way...

...to ours. You are not supposed to feed them, but obviously, someone does. The mother and ducklings are fearless, and they just beeline for any people sitting outside. Beau was at the table when they attacked.

Our first full day we decided to take a boat tour of the harbor. Beau loved seeing all the Navy ships, including the USS Midway (now a floating museum).  I enjoyed the seals and seeing all the sailboats training for the Olympics.  It was a great tour.

First, some photos of the harbor area.

Waterfront shots. Lower right, the USS Midway.

The Star of India is the oldest iron-hulled merchant sailing ship afloat, according to the sign posted in front.

Our tourboat

Photos from the boat tour...

Views of the USS Midway and other ships we saw during the boat tour.

During the trip, two F/A-18 Hornets come zooming overhead, quite low and very loud. Thrilling!

The views of the city from the water are beautiful.

These sailboats were training for the Olympics.

Coronado Bridge, built while Ronald Reagan was governor.

The world's largest floating hospital.

I just have to mention the beautiful jacaranda trees, which are in bloom everywhere throughout the city. They are so incredible.

(May have overdone it with the photos in this blog -- but we took SO many.)

War Memorials and Old Town

We have done a ton of stuff already, but I will try to just provide some highlights. On Saturday we took the Trolley tour through the city and visited Fisherman's Village. And on Sunday we went to Old Town San Diego. A happening place. Everything has a Mexican flavor there, especially the restaurants. It was great to see the Historic Old Town Park, which combines original and replica buildings from the San Diego of the1800s.

Just a few photos from those excursions and then I will sign off:

Above, San Diego's walk dedicated to honoring WWII veterans. The middle photo, left, is a tribute to the USS San Diego, which never lost a man to enemy combat.  At the bottom, you can't read what Beau is pointing to, but it commemorates the USS Gambier Bay, which was sunk on October 25, 1944, by "enemy surface vessels." A guy who worked for Beau years back was on her when she sank and often told him stories of surviving shark attacks while in the water for three and a half days waiting for rescue.

Top left, the convention center, designed to resemble waves against a ship hull; top right, the USS Grant hotel, built by his son; bottom left, the legendary Hotel Coronado; and right, Coronado Beach.

Just a few photos of the incredible museums in Balboa Park, taken from the trolley ride. We may go back there!

View from the trolley as we crossed Coronado Bridge.

Fisherman's Village

Th Old Town section is so lively and colorful. It makes you feel like you are in Mexico, actually.

  

Dancers entertain onlookers in a part of the historic town square.

We lunched at the Coyote Cantina. Looks like I am giving the singers the "loser" sign -- but I wasn't.
And I only had one Margarita!

 

OK -- have bored you enough. (This is too much like having to suffer through the neighbors' slide show of their summer vacation!)

 

But, alas, we continue to have no mercy on you. Next up, the San Diego Zoo. I will try and keep that blog a bit shorter, but for those who know what an animal freak I am, you'll understand that it could be a tad difficult.

Tanks, Panky