Gaylord Pacific

Finally the Gaylord Pacific had a public opening on Friday May 16 … and of course we had to check it out!. We loaded our bikes up and headed to Pepper Park on the National City side of the Sweet Water River. Last tine we were here Phase 1 of the Pepper Park improvements had just begun. Now they are in full demolition mode.

Pepper Park

I do not see anything on their web site that would require that massive concrete pump. Perhaps an adjacent project?

It's a short bike ride to Sweetwater Park in Chula Vista, which opened a couple weeks ago, but this is our first visit.

On the park map the bike path is the black line on the right, and we're riding down the map.

Gunpowder Point and the Wildlife Refuge are to the left.

Some cute signs to protect the new landscaping. Much nicer that the KEEP OUT signs seen in our park areas.

Sweetwater has a fairly decent sized parking lot. A reasonable place to park for a stroll to the Gaylord.

It's just a guess but I say it's about a ¼ mile stroll through the park to catch the bike path at the southern end. Past a few picnic ramadas.

A fun swing set where the play mat is in the colors of the beach

A massive sand box

For sand castle building and climbing

And than KaBoom it's right there!, just off the bike path

A crosswalk leads to the Gaylord property

We worked our way up to the lobby, yup it's on the 2^nd level! But we enjoyed the walk past some of the water features

Wave pool

Lap pool

and into the lobby

The palm trees are legit, the different textures in the marble somehow really work well together. The big screen TV was looping a relaxing water video,

More mis-matched marble flooring outside the PCH (Pacific Coast Highway) Cafe and Gift Shop.

Need a new T-shirt?

Grab-and-Go selections within the PCH

Pretty reasonable prices on their panini sandwiches

The PCH also includes Oregon and Washington … but no huckleberries here!!!

This picture is of yet another floor covering, A rug from the beach dunes, to the dry sand, the tide washed sand, a red tide?, shallow to deeper water. Amazing to see, but had to get a worthy picture .

There's currently 11 dining areas open with another to open soon. This is Growlers, a sports bar.

Too many TVs! But if it's on TV it'll be on a TV here. Ohio State Softball was on! (I didn't tell Fran ;))

Look at all those brews on tap!

But we relaxed with a glass of wine

My red wine was presented in a white wine glass, but the wine in front of me is my new favorite regardless of the presentation. $11 each, not bad.

And with this view from our table …

The lawn is so perfect we thought is was artificial. Nope! How do they control their gophers??? The cars in the foreground are on the property, but the cars and the shade just beyond are in Bayside Park. It's really a very short walk.

The lighting must be really eye catching after dark  ... in the lobby

The structure on the left is a waterfall … in the lobby!

Recessed seating for a private time … in the lobby

A view from the other side. The palm tress are so cool to see … in the lobby

There are 4 acres of water features in the park.  I've already mentioned a few but there's more!, that includes:

A fun speed slide

A high twisty slide

A Jacuzzi

There's also a Lazy River ride, but no pictures …

The use of the water features for non-guests requires a $12.50 day use pass Google search 'Gaylord Pacific day pass' and select Beach Time Reservation. They do not make it easy!

But this very well could become our new lunch stop on when we ride in South Bay.  It would be time for a break and a shot after lunch ride to Pepper Park.

And back on the home front The Gopher Wars continue!

Gas bombs disappears too fast, this one was back on this side of the grass the day after I set it off on the other side of the grass.

Solar noise makers work iffy when there's sunshine

No pictures of my Dry Ice bombs since I had to work fast with heavy gloves. The idea is as Carbon Dioxide is released, which is heavier than air, it will settle in the lowest point in the tunnel. That may have been my most successful. The gopher should scamper from the cold and just fall asleep.

I'm still looking for ideas!

Imperial Beach

We have been picking up our library books at the Pacific Beach location, as our local library is still Covid-closed.  But sometimes I’ll find something at the San Diego County Library that is not available within the San Diego City Library system.

Yesterday the Imperial Beach County Library informed me my hold on “La Leyenda” (The Legend) was available.  [It’s a collection of some of Selena’s best known work].

With the bike loaded up, I drove to Pepper Park in Chula Vista to begin my ride along the Bayshore Bikeway to Imperial Beach

Pepper Park is a quiet setting across the Sweetwater River from the Discovery Center at Gunpowder Point.

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The park has a few pieces of whimsical art.

The Chula Vista Bayfront Project is ongoing, but the results are quite good.

As I enter the bikeway I notice the old RR bridge has begun it’s inevitable fall into the estuary.

Before the Bikeway was completed I rode across those old train tracks into Imperial Beach.  I sure would not do that now!

The Bayshore Bikeway is well marked and at times returns to a designated street.

I took the detour along Marina Parkway and watched these animated arrows following the wind.  A mesmerizing and silent art work.

And the myrtle trees were spectacular against the blue sky, a nice detour.

There is a noticeable wind and the paddle boarders are enjoying the shelter of the harbor.  But they are sitting on their Standup Paddle Boards, too windy to stand.

The tide is out and the sea gulls without much shelter, huddle in the sand and hunker down against the wind.

Fran and I rode this section of the Bikeway when it was first completed.  We mentioned that the Spray Can Artists will love these large gray concrete canvases.  Apparently the city thought the same, and offered local artists a chance to display their work.

it’s not Chicano Park, but it is a welcome addition to the Bikeway.

the bike route goes past the South Bay Salt Works.  They take advantage of the tides to create evaporative ponds to remove the water from the saltwater, leaving pure sea salt.

An evaporative pond slowly releasing its water and leaving its salt.

I picked up my album at the County Library on 8th Street, just 8 blocks from the beach.  I then rode down to Seacoast Drive to check out the birdwatching at the Tijuana Estuary.

At the entrance there is an observation spot with FREE spotting scopes.

At the end of Seacoast Drive the ocean provides a hypnotic rhythm.

It's a great place to sit with your best friend and enjoy the sounds of the surf..

Alas no birds today, but always a nice day just the same.

Imperial Beach bills itself as ~“Classic SoCal, an authentic seaside community and the most southwesterly city in the continental U.S.”

It certainly is a vibrant place to visit, even just for a trip to the library.  😎