Old Town State Historic Park - Lunch stop

Old Town State Historic Park is included as a California State Park and remains closed.  However, the park is home to individual businesses that can open if they meet the state’s Covid-19 safety requirements.  So under the June Gloom we ventured out for lunch.

All the restaurants outside the park boundary were quite crowded.  At Cafe Coyote and Miguel’s the waiting lines have extended into the street.  A few folks are not masked ...

I’m still not comfortable with the crowds and wanted an outdoor patio setting away from the street.

El Antojo (The Craving) may have the best chips in Old Town, although their patio is raised off the street it is also enclosed in plexiglass.

One of my favorites is Casa de Maria.  It has a nice outside seating area and live music, but we eat there often.

Within the park boundary the larger shops like the colorful Casa de Aguirre are open.

But most of the smaller shops and all of the museums remain closed.

The plaza and Fiesta de Reyes are open.  There are signs at the entrances outlining the safety requirements.  With the reminder that “NO evidence of Covid-19 transmitted through food!”

Not surprisingly the dining area is packed.  To accommodate, more tables have been placed in front of the performance stage.

Street tacos are tempting, maybe next time.  There’s not a good place to sit and enjoy them.

We’ve made the rounds and Barra Barra Saloon is a perfect spot with its raised deck where we can people watch while listening to mariachi music.

And they’ve been voted Best Margarita in San Diego.  For $7 I’d agree.

As June give way to July and more things open it will then become our Tourist Season and getting out will not be as safe nor as easy.

Mission Bay Park - It is now OPEN!

Mission Bay Park was released from most Covid-19 restrictions on June 8th.  Mission Bay Park is now open at 100% parking/activity with only the social distance of 6’ restriction!  WaHoo!

We took advantage of ‘Opening Day’ for a bike ride around the bay. 

Mission Mobile Home Park from de Anza Cove

It was great to see families back enjoying the day.  Although nothing near a normal park day attendance we did see more families on the grass, the water and also taking advantage of the boardwalk. 

Families having fun

Fisherman at the Leisure Lagoon, with a fully staffed Life Guard Tower.   

As the summer continues to heat up the park will become more crowded with “zonies and honies” ... the affectionate slang term for those who come from Arizona (zonies) and El Cajon (honies) to escape their heat and enjoy our beaches.

Officially the Mission Bay Boardwalk is open, altho the signs have not yet been collected.

There is literally nobody at Sunset Point, where we once played volleyball.

Nor at Bahia Point where friends Tom and Donna held their wedding.

Across the inlet is Bonita Cove, where this fella misjudged the tides or simply did not connect securely to his buoy.

 

We stopped for a brief visit with Fran's sister and her husband.  Their new puppy Chica is a very friendly companion.

Fran with Chica

To complete the Bay loop we rode along Sail Bay and Crown Point to the Kendall Marsh

Snowy Egret at Kendall Marsh

... and then back to De Anza Cove to complete the loop, before heading back home.

I have a few more home project pictures to bore you, as we continue to stay close to home.

Our Hollywood Apple tree has been very productive this year.  Having already made a couple quarts of applesauce, Fran decided on an apple crisp this time.

Almost as good as a Julian Pie, almost – but a lot healthier!

I power washed the deck and applied a fresh coat of stain.   I also took the time to clean up and varnish some of the deck furniture.

Together we made short work of a picnic puzzle we purchased awhile ago for the grand-girls.  I was a bit challenged by it, but I’m sure they’d have no problem :)  The last of our puzzles!  YAY!!!

Although the city libraries remain closed we can still pick up requests at the Point Loma branch.  The audio books and the Ghost Mountain DVDs are mine, Fran prefers a page turner.  Altho we can pick up we still cannot return items.

There's an advantage to having our pick up point in Point Loma. Near the Point Loma Library is my favorite burger joint, Hodad’s in Ocean Beach.  A small basket with more than enough fries to share.  Why/What is a Hodad? I have that covered in a previous blpog HERE.

The kitchen project has been the biggest of our 'Stay at Home' projects.  But the walls are now prepared and measurements have been taken for the counter tops.  We expect to hear from the fabricators in a couple weeks.

San Diego continues to open various outdoor areas.  This week Balboa Park including the San Diego Zoo will be opening.  Some hotels and casinos are also opening, almost getting to the New Normal.

Suzi has been updating the blog Our Awesome Travels.  In remembrance of George I put peanut butter on a ‘tube steak’ burrito, thanks for the tip George!  Pickles and cheese optional ...

RIP George! while the rest of us ... Stay Safe!