FOUR DAYS AT THE BEACH

Should the caption be...
Bert:  When I grow up I want to be...     OR
"Now don't get an inferiority complex, Bert!"

Monday we settled into Silver Strand State Beach.  We had an ocean front space with just a small berm between us and the ocean.  The beach was pristine (nice sand but virtually no shells!) and the water COLD. It always amazes me how children under about 10 seem to be oblivious to temperature.  They were all frolicking in the waves while the grownups shivered.  Just north of us was a navy installation and we could hear them firing ordinances occasionally.  That made us all mind the “do not enter signs” with no trouble at all.  Beside us were 2 couples (sisters) from Arizona and New Mexico.  They joined us as Dave inaugurated his “new” fire-pit-made-from-a-washing-machine-tub that we got at the flea market in Quartzsite.  His feet made out of large bolts worked perfectly. 

Tuesday we decided to just “hang out” at the beach.  Dave tinkered with Bert and finally found the loose wiring short in his AC.   The AC now works but does not cut off when the fan goes off, so we have to be careful about that.  The tiny part that would fix it is not available, but Dave thinks he can solder it at some point to reconnect the fan sensor.  The good news is that the AC now works on our command, instead of Bert’s.   Deb broke out her sewing machine and made some things for the girls.  She ran out of material before she got to the pillows to go with their summer “blankies”, but a trip later in the week to Wal-Mart fixed that.

Wednesday we drove into La Jolla and pretended we were rich.  The art galleries were especially rich with one specializing in Picasso and Chagall.  This is where Ted Geisel (Dr. Seuss) lived during much of his writing and one gallery was dedicated to him.  Deb found several things she liked but we resisted.    We drove up to the top of Mt. Soledad and looked for his house, but decided it must be in the gated enclave.  We went into Old Town San Diego for lunch and then walked around the Gas Lamp quarter and Seaside village near the harbor.

Thursday was our 43^rd anniversary.   We fixed a picnic lunch and drove into Balboa Park.  The art galleries in the Spanish Village there were all open (vs. the last time we were there) and we enjoyed the glass, pottery and sculptures.  Deb bought a copper necklace and some red glass balls.  With our segways finally working, (the battery arrived and Dave installed it), we decided to test them out on one of San Diego’s bike paths.  The write up in the tourist magazine said we would be in a neighborhood with “charming Victorians and a view of the harbor”.    While we did have a short ride by the harbor, National City’s bikeway gave us mostly a view of the estuary and routes under the freeways with views of SD’s homeless camps!  We would have done better on the bikeway near our campground.    However National City did have a street named “Mile of Cars Way”.  We pulled into the Nissan dealership to check on a part for Bert and the salesmen acted like Bert was a prized antique truck!! LOL 

FUN WITH THE ELEPHANT TOPIARY AT BALBOA PARK:

Can you find Abbella at the bottom of the ear?

Abbella enjoyed the sculptures... most moved!!

From there it was a quick jaunt back to the harbor, where Dave had made dinner reservations at a seaside seafood restaurant.  While we were ordering our wine, Emily and the girls called and the girls were full of leprechaun stories from St. Patrick’s Day.   The food was great and we enjoyed the bay.  There was a “busker” there who had a 5 gallon bucket full of soap bubbles and a “blower” with 2 poles and yarn so that he was making giant bubbles with the constant sea breeze.  Parents of young children were eagerly tipping him and everyone who walked by just had to smile.  Later when we came out after supper and the young children had gone home, he was still there, but  without so many “poppers” the bubbles were catching the light from the sunset and floating over the huge sculpture and over to the Midway museum. Back at the RV park we joined another “washing-machine-drum fire” with several couples across the way.  There were all local and the women were connected as retired 2^nd grade teachers, so we fit right in.

Playing with parrots before we go to supper

We didn't know when the guy said he'd make the pix for us for a discount because it was our anniversary
that ithe discount meant fuzzy and cut off!! LOL

We finally found the harbor on our segway ride

bubbles at the Midway

As I write this we have headed east, so we are homeward bound!  (of course from the Pacific, that is the just about the only direction!!).  We mapped out our route and we will spend 2 nights in Holbrook near the Petrified Forest.  Otherwise it will be “stop and drops” in order to make it home for Easter.  Tonight will be our last night in California.  We plan to stop again at the RV park on the Colorado River.  My sister and I have joked about the “golden hills” of California.  Frankly to us they look like brown dead grass.  I can truly say that this time we have seen them green, along with blooms in the desert.