"ART" in Imperial Beach

ART. Many of us like to think we are artists; those of us that attempt to be artists are rarely commercially successful; and almost all of us that actually get our hands dirty doing it reap rewards that stick with us the rest of our lives. Our refrigerators are covered with the art of our children and grandchildren. Our scrapbooks are filled with these treasured gifts that inspire us, make us smile and bring back to mind irreplaceable memories in our hearts and minds that we would not trade for all the gold in Fort Knox. The spontaneous joy, laughter and tears we enjoy just knowing how profoundly we have touched other peoples lives, I find, difficult to describe. ART.

Looking West

To be among the few that actually get to share art publicly, for the world to see and enjoy, is something of a bucket list item for me. I have made my attempts over the years to be an artist but nothing has really stuck. When I stumbled on this "ART" monument in Imperial Beach California, just south of San Diego, it intrigued me. An art monument celebrating "ART." Cleaver, mesmerizing, quiet and loud. I would love to know how many people walk past this monument without ever realizing it exists. I'm sure that many people look at these squiggly poles and wonder what they are all about. They are about you; they are about ART.  Enjoy!

Looking NorthEast

Looking North

Looking Southwest

Quince Street Footbridge

Do you enjoy walking bridges as much as I do? Then you will want to add the Quince Street Footbridge, aka Maple Canyon Bridge, to your list of walks in San Diego. Located just two long blocks South of Spruce Street, you can quite easily add the Quince Street Footbridge to your walk the same day you visit the Spruce Street Suspension Bridge. Walk South on 1st Avenue two blocks, turn East and in about two blocks you will see this historic trestle. Once crossing the bridge, continue past the far end until you reach Balboa Park.

The Quince Street Footbridge is located on Quince Street between 3rd and 4th Avenues and crosses over Maple Canyon. According to the California Historical Resources Inventory Database this wood trestle bridge engineered by George A. d’Heuecourt and built by Addison M. Young in 1905 is 206 feet long, 6 feet wide and is 60 feet above the canyon floor at it’s highest point. Designated an Historic Landmark October 28th, 1987 this rare, beautifully preserved trestle reminds us of the days when walking was an important, no, necessary part of daily life in San Diego. You can almost hear the conversations of people as they walk the bridge in the morning on their way to work. How thankful they must have been once the bridge was completed, saving each pedestrian several walking miles each week as they walked back and forth to work and home.

                                                                                                                                                                             

Little Italy to the Embarcadero

I intensely dislike paying to park my car; but I love Little Italy, the Embarcadero and other places in downtown San Diego. So the way I deal with it is to park near where I want to go downtown and walk. This way I get some exercise and pay nothing to park my car.

There is a parking lot near the Little Italy Farmers Market where you can park free for two hours. If you are just going to the Farmers Market, that is enough time to get the job done; however, if you intend to do a little exploring before or after visiting the market, two hours won’t be enough time. The solution is easy: park in the Bankers Hill area just above Little Italy. Most the time you can easily find a place to park, for free on the street and walk down the hill to the Farmers Market. Today I’m continuing on past The Market to the Embarcadero.

The City of San Diego installed a fabulous park a couple years ago. You can’t have a park without grassy lawns, restrooms and play equipment for the little ones.  Done!

But San Diego didn’t stop there. They installed spray water fountains which are fun to watch and satisfying to run through on hot days to keep yourself cool. Today, the fountain was getting some regular maintenance and it wasn’t that warm out so I’m sure no one missed getting wet. In another month or two it will be a different story. 

                       

To the West, across North Harbor Drive, is the Maritime Museum of San Diego. It is fascinating not just to tour but to explore all the old ships, submarines, a ferry and the magnificent Star of India. I have been on the Star many times and I never tire of exploring her decks, reading about her travels and imagining what it must have been like to crew this 212 foot ship. She was launched just 5 days before Abraham Lincoln's Gettysburg Address at the Ramsey Shipyard, Isle of Man, in November 1863. A can hardly resist sharing all the facts and trivia about the Star but alas, I don’t want to bore you. That said, if you find the maritime life interesting, visit the Star and the other eleven vessels maintained by the museum when you are in San Diego. If you truly are an “Old Salt” at heart you might even want to volunteer to keep The Star ship shape. I have seen mariners up on the masts hoisting sails and climbing to the crows nest. It’s a bit high for my taste but what a grand experience.

I could spend a day, a week or perhaps more exploring this area of the Embarcadero but I must continue on with my day and get a few chores checked off my list. Next weekend I’m continuing down the Embarcadero to USS Midway Museum. See you then. Aaron

Spruce Street Suspension Bridge

The Spruce Street Suspension Bridge is a popular walking destination for San Diegans and tourists alike. Of course, you have to find it first. It is located in the Bankers Hill, Park West, area of San Diego very near Balboa Park. In fact, if you park on the Northwest side of the park the intersection of Spruce Street and Balboa Park is only about 2 blocks South from the most Northwest corner of Balboa Park; walk six short block West and you are at the bridge. It provides a pedestrian connection between Brant Street and Front Street. The Spruce Street Suspension Bridge was built in 1912 and designated an Historical Landmark by San Diego Historical Resources January 7th, 1977.  

Okay, so there is all the technical stuff about the Bridge that I could dig up. If you know anything else, please don’t hesitate to share in a comment. What I find unique about this bridge is the location. Walk out on the bridge and you are instantly transported back to 1912. You quite literally feel like you are in the middle of a pristine Southern California Coastal Forest. You can spot a house or two but work with me here. Look both North and South, up and down Spruce Canyon. You have to search to find evidence of civilization. People I’ve talked with love this bridge. It gently sways when you walk out to the middle and instantly the noise from the City disappears.

The day I walked the bridge I shared it with a young couple taking engagement announcement pictures near the center of the bridge. I didn’t know they did that anymore, but this couple was, and is, and they were excited to be able to enjoy and share this beautiful location in announcing their engagement to the world.

After a few deep breaths of sunshine fresh coastal air and I’m off, back along Spruce Street to the park and the rest of my day. Oh, by the way, when you plan your walk to the Spruce Street Suspension Bridge, stop for breakfast, lunch or dinner at Jimmy Carter’s Mexican Cafe’. You will walk past it on you way back to your car. The food is great and the atmosphere is bright and cheery. When you RetireInSanDiego, this adventure is not to miss.

 

Explore San Diego. 

Dare to be an adventurer. 

It takes so little effort here in San Diego. 

There are a plethora of things to be discovered just outside your door. The rich history, Landmarks and people are all there waiting for you, when you RetireInSanDiego.

Mt. Woodson, San Diego County

Mt. Woodson is located just East of Poway Lake, North San Diego County. One thing that you need to know before starting is that Mt. Woodson is not an easy hike. The trail gains 2,000' in about 3.3 miles, which is a considerable amount of elevation for such a short distance. The trail has a few flat reprieves, but they are brief and tortuous even for their brevity.

Yes, that is the Pacific Ocean out there. You can even see Catalina Island from Mt. Woodson on clear day.

A couple years ago, in preparation for a hike into the Grand Canyon, AZ, I hiked to the top of Mt. Woodson and back to the parking lot at Poway Lake twice in one day, a couple of times. That is approximately 8,000 feet of elevation gain and loss over 13.2 miles. The hike down South Kaibab trail to Phantom Ranch and back up Bright Angel is pretty close to the same distance and elevation gain and loss. So, it is a great training hike. In fact, I past up a pair of climbers that were training for an ascent of Mt. Denali. These two had fully loaded packs on, the works. In other words, it’s a great workout.

You can also get to Mt. Woodson from the Ramona site. It is shorter and steeper, I’m told. I’ve never been up that side.

The best part of this hike is Potato Chip Rock. This rock is one of the reasons why Mt. Woodson is such a popular hike. I’m sure if a study was done on “most popular places to get your picture taken” Potato Chip Rock would be up there with the best of them. One of the days when I was at the top taking a break I watched a stream of people taking turns getting their picture taken “out in space” on Potato Chip. It really is worth the hike. 

Happy Saturday from San Diego, CA

A false Spring

When spring came, even the false spring, there were no problems except where to be happiest. The only thing that could spoil a day was people and if you could keep from making engagements, each day had no limits. People were always the limiters of happiness except for the very few that were as good as spring itself.

Earnest Hemingway - The Moveable Feast - 1964. A false Spring, pp. 49-1.

Shelter Island - one more quick look

Happy Wednesday from San Diego and don't forget that Day Light Savings Time is this Sunday.

Many years ago I discovered the trail around the West side of the bay that separates Point Loma from Shelter Island. On one of my first walks on this little trail I noticed this sail boat in the bay. I wanted to be them. Aren't sail boats the essence of freedom? Look at all those masts in the air. All but this one are snuggled into a slip; but not this one. The people on this boat are free, sailing the West coast up to Alaska, through the Panama Canal, up the East coast into Hudson Bay, over to New Newfoundland and on and on.

Yet, here they are in San Diego. My Home. Are you a sailor? Will this be you someday or will you RetireInSanDiego? Once here will you stay here or will San Diego be just another port of call? Time will tell. Keep tuning in and we'll explore this magnificent city together. Good night and pleasant dreams from San Diego.

What do you like best about retirement, or the Idea of Retirement?

After reading his post, please send me your thoughts. The comment box is at the bottom of this post. I am sincerely interested in your thoughts about retirement.

What do you like best about retirement, or the Idea of Retirement? Reading, writing, spending time with family, playing with the grandchildren, gardening, walking, hiking, running, kayaking, sailing, fishing, golfing, exploring new places, going on road trips, living the RV lifestyle, finding new restaurants, learning to play guitar or piano or the bagpipes or a new language, volunteering at the theater, getting involved with the local theatre group and trying your “hand” at acting, or volunteering at the local park or homeless shelter or just sitting on the couch channel surfing and eating Bon-Bons?

By the way, I’m not recommending channel surfing and eating Bon-Bons; however, I am intensely interested in you. Since you are reading this blog it says one, if not several things, about you. Either you are retired or you are thinking about retirement. No? Okay, but retirement is probably somewhere in the equation.  You may also be thinking of retiring in San Diego, although not necessarily.

If you live in the United States are your interests in retirement different than someone who lives in, Germany, for example? If you live in Mexico, do you look forward to doing something different in retirement than our neighbors in Canada, the Ukraine, Poland, France, Israel, South Korea or the Netherlands? Please share your thoughts with me and I will share your thoughts, not using names of course, with all of my readers.

I’m excited to read about your thoughts and ideas. The comment box is just below. Thank you!

Presidio Park

Junipero Serra Museum 

This trellis covered walk overlooks
an expansive groomed lawn in the park

Presidio Park is a historic park in San Diego. It is the site where San Diego was founded in 1769. In 1773 the mission (see San Diego Mission blog posted 2/17/16) moved a few miles upriver while the fort remained on Presidio Hill. The Junípero Serra Museum, built in Presidio Park in 1925, is one of the most familiar landmarks in San Diego. The grounds of the park are sweeping with beautiful vistas of rolling hills and palm trees. There is plenty of space for picnics and there are many groomed trails ready to help you explore the park. Historic markers, statues and ruins are everywhere prepared to share with you the stories of San Diego’s infancy. I have never had a problem finding parking in Presidio Park and Old Town is a short half mile walk South if you prefer to grab a bite to eat there. When you RetireInSanDiego Presidio Park is a must see.

This is a typical vista in Presidio Park

May Grey (or "Gray" if you prefer)

May Grey. Actually, May Grey and June Gloom go hand-in-hand. If you are a San Diegan you know what I’m talking about. If you aren’t a San Diegan and you think you just might RetireInSanDiego, please read on. Both terms refer to a phenomenon that occurs every year here in San Diego. A marine layer, fog, develops off the coast and migrates inland a short distance - every day!  This phenomenon occurs in the months of May and June. I live four miles from the ocean and I watch this marine layer drift inland in the morning and slowly burn off (with any luck at all) as the day progresses.

One would think that since this phenomenon is called “May Grey” and “June Gloom” the marine layer would cooperate and beginning May 1st our beautiful clear blue sky would disappear, being replaced with the ominous marine layer and then about June 30th bid us San Diegans farewell and we’d have clear blue sky’s again. It’s not quite that simple. For example, this year May Grey started in January. Yes. No kidding. In years past June Gloom has stayed around through much of July and sometimes even into the month of August.

Fortunately, the marine layer is typically just fog and clouds yielding only a little drizzle. It rarely rains as a result of this marine layer. Also, if you are in San Diego for the mild climate, not necessarily to see the ocean every day or live near the ocean, May Grey and June Gloom may not be an issue at all for you. As I mentioned, I live about four miles from the ocean and that’s about where the marine layer ends it’s migration much of the time.

If you are a San Diegan, do you have anything to add? If you aren’t a San Diegan, do you have any questions regarding May Grey or June Gloom? If you think that this might be a deal breaker for you it’s worth doing a little research yourself. I would be happy to help. Leave a comment or send me an email. I will respond.