Fish Tacos - Split decision

For my birthday I wanted to do a bike ride to the Walking on Water Cafe (the ‘WOW’ Cafe) on the Ocean Beach Pier.

But using a different route.  I drove to the Presidio Ball Fields on the south side of I-8 and the west end of Mission Valley.  This is the entrance to the Mission Valley Preserve.

Although officially a maintained bike route, it contained way more than its share of trash and homeless encampments.

The bike path passes under Morena Blvd, the Green and Blue Line Trolley tracks, Pacific Highway and clover leaf intersection of I-8 and I-5.  It is this section that has the most encampments.

However, once west of I-5 there a long sections of the ride that offer nice views of the San Diego River.

Although the West Mission Bay Drive bridge has been open to traffic for some time, construction continues.

Bicyclists are asked to dismount and walk the construction zone.

We left the bike path at Rob Field Skate Park, where there is a nice picnic area.

I wanted to take a few photos for Phil in Phoenix (a former long time resident) of the winner of the San Diego Union’s Onion Award.  Phil saw the article and asked if I take a picture or two.

Too Many Signs

Too Many Fences

Too Confusing

We followed the road to Dog Beach where another traffic circle is scheduled.

Another is slated for Cable Street! AGH!!

The OB Fishing Pier is the longest concrete pier on the west coast.

We walked out to the WOW Cafe, which is just beyond the halfway point.  This pelican has frequently welcomed visitors to the pier.

I always order just a single grilled fish taco.  Then Fran will order the taco plate – a single grilled fish taco with a choice of 2 sides: Fries; Onion Rings; Clam Chowder; or Cole Slaw.

We share the sides as neither of us could finish the whole thing.

Take a close look at the taco:

The taco is wrapped in 2 corn tortillas and loaded with toppings.  The fork is indeed needed!  The fries are good too, the slaw just above average.

The Verdict:
Fran had to knock off a few points as she felt it was a bit drier than the last few times. That’s a lack of consistency and gives the Royal Rooster her top spot by a slight margin.

I argue the Royal Rooster has also been inconsistent, and for a few months they did not offer a grilled fish taco.  It’s still not on their menu, but they will grill one, on request, for a $2 surcharge … it’s worth it, request your fish taco grilled.

My vote still goes to the WOW Cafe.

Next time you are in town decide for yourself where the best fish taco can be had.  And don’t forget to try the Rubio’s chain, not bad for the chain that brought the fish taco to San Diego from San Felipe.

Borrego Days - The Good, Bad and Ugly

It was a bit of a quick decision to head over to Borrego Springs for the 56 Annual Borrego Days.

The Orionids Meteor Shower was peaking, on a moonless night and the Borrego Days Festival.  A reasonable fun trifecta.

The BAD

Pegleg Smith now requires a fee.  That’s right it is no longer a free boondocking opportunity.

There is no Iron Ranger, but a sign with a QR Code.  To use the QR Code the Yodel App is required.

I do not have the Yodel App for my iphone and really do not wish to add another option as a payment device on my old phone.  If you have the Yodel App I’d like to know your experiences with it.  If you can read the following QR code I’d like to know what it needs.

I did ask a ranger what’s up?  And he had no specific information, just saying that Sacramento is demanding the park bring in more revenue.  He did mention that more areas in the park will have a fee.  “Blair Valley?” “I can’t say.”

Day use should be $10, that's the same for other state parks, but what of over night parking? and does that include the ‘Toad’?  ARG! the ranger was no help.

It was warm enough that we chose to stay in town at an old favorite Borrego Holiday Home.

Looks like in the future we will boondock at the American Legion.

Original Gen. Patton Scout Car

The Orion Meteor Shower was a bust.  No fault of the heavens, but SDG&E!  Our site at Borrego Holiday Home had an excellent view of the eastern sky, but 

sunrise

the SDG&E solar array, which is maintained nightly under massive flood lights.  My view of the sky… washed out by SDG&E

after sunset

But I did see a couple :)

The GOOD:

THURSDAY:

The drive out to Dudley’s in Santa Ysabel was on Thursday with little traffic.

Yikes Dudley’s has applied for a liquor license!  I hope they plan an creating rum cakes and not drunk drivers!

We shared the Baja Chicken.

And since my birthday was coming up, a Julian Apple Mountain Berry pie and some cinnamon piecrust cookies.

Not sure if the pie will last until my actual birthday.

FRIDAY:
I’ve been told that there are 134 sculptures on the Goleta Meadows property.  We always stop to see a few favorites.

All of the popular sites along the roads are now no longer ADA accessible.  Parking must be alongside the road and walk to the sculpture.

The Scorpion at sunrise from the viewpoint of his ant nemesis

The tortoise family.

All the sculptures have/had identification numbers.  The weather has removed some.

The dragon is a crowd favorite,

But I’ve always liked the Borrego Sheep.

Perhaps another visit and with sufficient time I’ll see how many I can actually find.

A first stop for many is to visit the Welcome Center.  We’ve been coming here long before the building!  This is our first time at the WC.

There is a nice tribute to Dennis Avery out front.  The heir to the Avery Label fortune and responsible for bringing the sculptures Ricardo Breceda to Borrego valley.  “Blessings are meant to be shared” ~D.Avery

Juan de Anza on his horse marks the front of the building but the main entrance and parking are at the rear, where a couple of T-Rex dinosaurs stand guard.

Both have skeletons in there lantern cages, for Halloween of course!

Rain has finally come to the valley.  The brown ocotillo from our last visit our now sprouting lush green leaves.

ocotillo leafing out

SATURDAY: Borrego Days

What’s not to like about the celebration of the desert coming to life?

It's Post Covid the celebration has been smaller.  There are fewer volunteers to make it happen and few participants to bring in the visitors.

The festivities began with a short parade and then a flyover.

A few more food options than last year.  I opted for a gyro, which was not so good.

Fran opted for a veggie bowl.  A better choice.

I'm sure I would have enjoyed the Birria (stewed) beef options better.

Pumpkin painting looked fun.

but it was for the kids.

A new, and undesired exhibit, was a water cleanup truck when a restroom flooded.

There is a Spinosaurus looking for a home!

I think it will be welcomed into the community garden/art park and not become another addition to the Goleta collection.

The wind picked up Saturday evening as the hypnotist took the stage.

We took shelter in the beer garden, behind the chain-link fence.  Alas we may not have been all that safe as the gal next to us fell under the spell.

.

We watched the Padres give up a 4-0 lead as they fell to the Philly’s at Carlee’s.

SUNDAY:
One of our favorite Borrego Days event is the Folkloria dancers.

We did not stay for the adult dance nor the music/singers.  The next ‘UGLY’ section will explain.

The UGLY
We chose to ride the bikes to watch Friday’s Padre game at the Big Horn Bar and Grill.  Although a short ride I lost control turning onto the sandy driveway and went down hard.

We were quickly back to the RV, and with some gauze and stretch tape, we were off to the Borrego Medical Clinic.  We arrived at 4:45, but the only doctor in Borrego Springs had already left to watch the game!

So be aware the only clinic in Borrego Springs is open for patients Monday – Friday from 8:00 am to 5:00 pm (unless the Padre game interferes) and is closed on the weekends.  Interesting that a restroom can be pumped on a weekend, but the nearest medical services are 30 miles away in Brawley.

We left Sunday just as the kid’s dance routines were starting.  Once home Fran had to unpack the RV as I drove myself to Urgent Care.

The doc wanted to know how I treated the wound … hand sanitizer (ouch!), past dated Neosporin, gauze and stretch wrap.

He used 8 stitches to close the wound and MY (past dated) Neosporin as he dressed it with gauze and stretch wrap!

The takeaway here is I’m fine!  But if you need medical attention in Borrego Springs, make sure it’s a weekday between 8am-5pm.  Always carry a fresh tube of Neosporin (it does have a expiration date), sealed gauze and stretch wrap.

My birthday is soon, the pie is gone!  So for lunch Fran will take me for a fish taco on the OB pier!  It’s another bike ride and I’m looking forward to it!

Next up I'll let you know if OB still has the best fish taco IMHO.