Balboa Park

It's been a few weeks since my last update. As mentioned in my last post I picked up some severe congestion in Borrego Springs. Very aggressive, and passed it to Fran. For almost 2 weeks we traded it back and forth …

At least my testing showed it was not Covid!

So mid-Dranuary/January we ventured out. Our destination was some fresh air and a walk in Balboa Park.

It was a chance to saunter in the sunshine to the remodeled Botanical Garden. We parked near our 5^th Ave outside the park and meandered to the Laurel Street Bridge.

At this entrance is the Founder's Plaza. Last time I passed this way George Marston had construction tape wrapped around his neck. I have to admit that I consider him as 'Mr. San Diego' for the dedication, commitment and sacrifice he personally made for the city.

Nice to see the the construction tape has been removed from around his neck and his wishing pond restored.

Marston donated his property for the construction of the Laurel Street Bridge. Sauntering across the bridge I knew to look for the construction inscription.

top center of the arch 
19 0n the left 13 n the right

The Botanical Garden Exhibit was also built for the 1915 Panama Exhibition. A complete total renovation was completed last month.

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The building looks great, but is missing the mature botanical displays. I guess the new plants will continue to thrive and in future visits they will mature.

The flags are at half-staff in honor of President Jimmy Carter, who died the previous week. 

For our own tribute to our 39th president we walked to Jimmy Carter's Mexican Cafe.  Our first time here we walked over from the Marston House with Joe and Gay last January.

Certainly no relation to our 39th president, but it just seemed appropriate. Fran is sticking to her 'Dranuary' (Dry January) resolution and had a soda, but I had a Margarita with my tostada.

I do audio books, a lot of them! But I'll share this one with my readers as we are all RV'rs. “Three Years a Traveler” is just a laugh out loud read! If I made that many impulsive, dumb, and expensive mistakes in 3 years I'd not be writing a book about them!

On the local front:
1.  Amazing how fast our new President has all but closed the San Diego to Tijuana border crossing. With nearly 2000 National Guards sent to the area, my next dentist visit may be delayed.... ARG!

2.  SpaceX had an early morning launch,  It was overcast when my  morning alarm went off.

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My first thought was that I caught the 1st stage separation...
But no, the exhaust burned off the clouds to reveal what appears to be
Arcturus and Denebola

3.  The east side of Mission Bay (my side) is now locally called “Quartzite on the Bay”! Our current Mayor and City Counsel decided not to enforce any parking or occupancy regulations. Meaning any RV, car, or tent camper can select a prime spot on the bay with no ramifications!  and stay until the city changes its mind.

His slide extends into the Bike Path

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A school bus converted on a budget

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At least his slides or only part way out.  Atho parked in front of the Mission Bay RV Park, it looks like he could easily afford a site in the park

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At Mission Bay Golf 

All pictures of the RVs are from De Anza Cove.  There were many many more along East Mission Bay Drive.  Why can't our current leadership deport these?

4.  And best of all, RAIN! Whoot! Whoot! a measurable amount of RAIN! 

Longboards and Grass Skirts - in PB

Longboards:
Saturday was the 30th annual Longboard Surfing Festival.  The event is held annually at Crystal Pier in PB (Pacific Beach, not Peanut Butter).  And hence my bike ride destination that morning.

Crystal Pier is closed past the cottages

Unfortunately, like the OB pier, PB’s Crystal Pier is also closed due to Storm Damage.

Although the City will eventually reopen the Crystal Pier, it has been closed since December 2023 with no plan in place for the repairs. That leaves the IB Pier as the last pier standing.

Here’s a couple telephoto shots of men's longboard division.

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Grass Skirts:

I decided not to stay long at Crystal Pier, and rode over to the Pacific Island Fest (PIFA), being held on Mission Bay’s Ski Beach.  This is a FREE family friendly event that celebrates Pacific Island traditions.  Even a Haole, like me, is welcome.

I was walking past the stage where ‘cute’ was performing.

Ok so the skirts are cellophane now, rather than grass.  They are a lot more colorful.

Hula gals continued to show experience, as the teens came to the stage.

It’s nice to see the grace of the gals, but I like the terror the drums can instill.

Much too late getting here for scrambled eggs and SPAM, but L&L has Musubi.  It’s easier to eat anyway, and my SPAM cravings are good for another year.

After Suzi reported in her blog ‘Home’, that MonaLiza brought fresh home-made lumpia.  (you can find that post HERE), I’m on a mission to have some lumpia to compliment my SPAM.

Lunch procured: Musubi, lumpia and BBQ.

MonaLisa need not worry of her lumpia being replaced.  These are the smallest ever!  I didn’t know they could be rolled that tight!  ARG!  About the size of an unfiltered cigarette.

There are lots of merchants available.

want a Tonga T

or jewelry

Hanna Tattoos, clothes, fabric, candies, etc.  It’s all here.

Catch-up Misc:

Last post I mentioned new tires for my truck.  I again added the BFG KO T/A,  not the newer KO 2/3 just the original 10 ply.  With just about 400,000 on KO tires neither the Jeep nor the truck has ever been stranded nor had a flat.  The reason for the tires was a planned  trip to Tuweep in the Toroweap of the North Rim of the Grand Canyon.

In picking the permit dates for Tuweep  I totally forgot I had a DMV appointment to renew my driver's license.  I'm sure it's easier to request a new permit than it is to request a new appointment.  I passed!

That left me a couple days for a road trip.  The truck was already packed for camping.  The desert awaits!

I chose Ocotillo Wells, as it’s FREE, has shade ramadas and showers.

A SpaceX launch was scheduled for dusk.  I really didn't expect to see much as the rocket plume would be hidden in the twilight, but the wind came up, just in time.

SpaceX plume

The ‘Lithium Valley’ at the Salton Sea is about an hour away, as is the Sonny Bono Wildlife Refuge.

This is a great place for burrowing owls!  There were lots of burrows, but the owls seem to have already called it a night.  This cute little Jackalope hung out for a bit.

I did not see any new-to-me activity near the lithium deposits.  The several geo-thermal power plants have been here,

With temperatures rising I did not try very hard to find the ‘Mud Volcanoes’.  I think they are now on the lithium leased land.

Fran's Jeep tossed an error P0441, Emissions Regen Failure.  I reset the code, but of course …  The membrane in the carbon canister had failed, but there is not an OEM replacement available!  A bit of research revealed a Chevy canister could fit.

It took a bit of a MacGyver to fit it, but seems to work fine.

And there was a nibble out of the harvest moon.

This was a bit long, I’ll try to hold it back a bit next time.  Until then! … Hint MonaLisa also had something else for Suzi … and I have a birthday coming!

Father’s Day- bike rides

I’m writing this on Father’s Day … So First off I hope all the fathers enjoyed a special day!

Our June Gloom broke last Thursday.  It took no time for us to load up the bikes for Pepper Park.

From Pepper Park we’ll ride on the Bayshore Bikeway.

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Pepper Park is on the north side of the Sweetwater River (National City),  Gunpowder Point is on the south side (Chula Vista).  Chula Vista is expanding their waterfront.

The Sun Outdoors RV park has been there a few years now, next to the Living Coast Discovery Center.

And more changes are taking place.

That looks like condos on Gunpowder Point ???, and a new parking lot for the Discovery Center.

the Bikeway is a great multi-use path, for any form of human powered land travel.  That big building ahead of Fran is the soon-to-be Convention Center.

It is HUGE!

Which requires rerouting of the bike path (again)

We continued the ride past the wall with the murals.  It’s interesting that the spray-can artists added their touch without defacing the mural collection.

And the collection is growing

Second only to the local newspaper, what is now the South Bay Salt Works, is the longest operating business in San Diego County.

The buildings are registered on the historical list

Salt being set out to dry

The lease on this property will expire soon. What's next is not yet decided.

Father’s Day:

My choice was a ride around Mission Bay.  The June Gloom was around in the morning as we unloaded our bikes at De Anza Cove.

Quite a few tourist traffic jams!, but we reached Belmont Park with no issues.  There we enjoyed the ‘Cruise to Belmont Park’ car show.  It’s not the ‘Bombs on the Bay’ but quite a few excellent cars/trucks.  With 200+ on display I’ll really have to limit the photos!

The steering linkage is a welded chain

A mid-engine 1931 For delivery truck

That engine is not from 1939!

I’m a sucker for trucks.  Even candy-Apple Red ones

And custom rods

Only 30k to drive it home.

By older brother is a biker.  He would be the one to really enjoy a bit of Throttle Therapy

I thought this car was a beautiful purple, but the picture shows it's more of a root beer.  Still a different and impressive paint job.

What a well done project truck  The body work is complete and sealed.

Always a line at the Pizza Port Brewing truck!

Live classic rock music

This Wrangler caught my eye, it looks a bit like Fran's ... but a bit more custom.  I was thinking it was a TJ, but no it is a ‘95 CJ, beautifully restored.

another great truck

With a Coyote/Roadrunner theme airbrushed under the hood

From Belmont Park we headed to our final stop on the bay – Charli’s Landing for some fish tacos.