About As Far South As We'll Get This Winter

Being in San Diego has returned us to the sunshine and pleasant temperatures.  We left the City of Temecula and Pechanga RV Resort on Wednesday.  It meant closing up and loading  the motorcycle in damp conditions.

Wet but mild as we loaded up to head to San Diego

As most readers know, California was the recipient of major rain and snow storms.  The mountain ski areas were quick to open their facilities.  Coastal and most other areas were hit with, in many cases, record rainfall.  And the state is in dire need of moisture.  These past several years have resulted in record drought conditions.  The one thing we don't hear around here are residents complaining.  Those who may complain are in dangerous land slide areas and those threats are real, especially in burned out areas.

Our south bound drive on I-15 from Temecula to San Diego.

We had booked three days and four nights in Pachanga RV Resort, Temecula, CA. We were fortunate to be able to ride, and tour the areas we chose, for two of the three days.  So, we consider ourselves fortunate.  Our last day brought non-stop rain and it gave us the opportunity to do other things.  We enjoyed our time exploring and learning about this wonderful area.

The overpass from I-15 to merge onto I-8 east.

Pull through site in Circle RV Park near San Diego.

Our Wednesday destination was the Circle RV Resort in El Cajon, CA - just east from the city of San Diego.  Our research led us to this park because it offered eight long pull through sites.  That was true and we rolled into site 143.  It is an OK park but it seems to cater to more long term RVers than over-nighters or short-timers.  Some RVers have accumulated a fair bit of stuff. It litters their sites.  The RV lots are not quite level but it took us little time to level ourselves out.  For two days and three nights, it meets our needs. It is an older park and it is a bit too close to the I-8 freeway for our liking.  Our next door neighbours are full timers who travel in a beautiful Phaeton Class 'A' with a matching enclosed trailer for their car and other toys.  Nice folks.

This is Jeanette's third visit to San Diego.  Before we were married - 40 years back - she and a nursing girl friend toured this area.  When she retired from nursing, Jeanette and a group of nurses boarded a cruise ship here.  

I motorcycled in and around this area, some ten years back, and was here with our son to visit the San Diego Zoo and Sea World about 18 years ago while Jeanette and our daughter were in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada, for a national figure skating competition.  Our daughter was a competitive figure skater.

Downtown San Diego as seen from Coronado Island.

This is our first visit here, together.  And we spent most of yesterday exploring those areas we wished to spend time at.  We had both visited the main tourist spots, separately in the past, so we instead chose to visit Coronado Island and hang out in the waterfront area of the city.

A sheltered marina near the world famous Coronado Hotel on Coronado Island.

We parked our truck near the marina (photo above) and walked the two blocks to the Coronado Hotel.  The Victorian Hotel, built in 1887, is one of America's largest wooden buildings.  It is worth every effort to visit and to enjoy the architecture and it seaside location.

The threat of rain kept the motorcycle mounted on the swivel wheel.  It will stay there till our arrival in Yuma, AZ.

Jeanette was thrilled to hang out here - at the Coronado Hotel and the beach.

It was a bit breezy and damp but by noon, the sun was out in force and the temperatures rose to above 70 degrees.  It was perfect touring weather.

A small example of the beautiful grounds at the hotel.

And would you believe that you can rent ice skates and skate on a beautiful outdoor ice rink overlooking the Pacific Ocean?  Well, you can....right here at the Coronado Hotel.

Few seaside resort hotels of this significant architectural style remain in America. The hotel has hosted several Presidents, Hollywood actors and numerous tourists from all over the world.

Beach side at the Coronado Hotel

It was breezy and a bit too cool for beach goers.  We walked along the beach side walkways and enjoyed the pounding surf.

The Christmas spirit was alive and well inside the beautiful interior lobby at the hotel.

The marina in downtown San Diego

Early afternoon had us in downtown San Diego city.  Parked near the Seaside harbour front, we enjoyed a couple of hours taking in the sights and sounds of the area; including a nice lunch at a local waterfront eatery.

One of the major tourist attractions is the huge carrier ship USS Midway.

What a treat to let tourists see and learn all about life aboard this huge carrier and its history on the seas.  I toured the USS Midway during a previous stay here.  It was impressive for Jeanette to see but she chose to view it from the shoreline.

Practice boats for the crews training for the mega sailing races held in the world.

Enjoying a long walk on the San Diego waterfront.

San Diego is a beautiful seaside city.  It is clean, organized and offers a multitude of events and activities for tourists. 

What would a seaside city be without the seagulls.

Although we did not stop to visit this time around, we drove through Balboa Park and it is now a 'must do' on our next visit here.

We left San Diego just as the afternoon rush hour was starting and made our way to a food store near our park.  We provisioned before returning to our park to enjoy the balance of the afternoon outdoors in the afternoon sun.

Yuma will be our destination when we leave here on Saturday morning.

Today, our travels will lead us back into San Diego but our focus will take us along the sea side towards La Jolla.   Although I have been in this area before, Jeanette has not.  We'll make a day of it.  And the forecast today?  Sunny and temperatures heading for the low 70's. Very nice indeed!

Thanks for dropping in.