San Diego 2020

The Age of Covid: Tuesday August 4th

Heading to San Diego this morning for a couple nights get away. The summer semester is finished, and it is time to break the routine. I found a decent rate at the Sheraton San Diego Marina-$90 a night. I've been to San Diego a handful of times, mostly with work for conferences, so never had the chance to really experience it. I'll leave late morning and head to Pacific Beach. The plan is to grab some lunch and maybe rent a bike for a couple hours. I can't check in until 4. The hotel rents out paddle boards and bikes. And it has a pool. I am looking forward to exploring, even in this age of Covid. 

This morning at 7, I grabbed some breakfast and went to downtown Hermosa. The morning, like many this summer, was foggy and cool. The weather near the beach has been weird, a prolonged June gloom most mornings. I walked the pier amongst the fisherman and watched the surfers. The tide was low, so i walked the hard sand at the waters edge. I walked to the south end of Hermosa beach. .8 miles each way.

With the exception of Q dying and the absolute disruption of Covid, this summer hasn't been bad. Quiet, but productive yet also relaxing. Quiet because I have little interaction with people. Obviously. Productive: I taught two classes online, and they went better than any other online class I've taught. I'm checking the boxes on a lot of projects. Got the house painted, finished a lot of small projects around the yard. Worked on the van reupholstering the seats, and I'm in the process of installing a roof rack that I'll put deck boards on, mount the solar panels to, and use as storage and even as an elevated deck. My second floor. But the summer has also been relaxing. I've been working out a couple times a week at the Crossfit Beach Box. I take my bike down to the Strand a couple times a week and ride to the end at Torrance Beach and back, a good ten mile jaunt. In the afternoon, I also take a chair and my Kindle a couple times a week and read for an hour and half down at the beach.  When it's hot, I go for a swim. I'm also spending a lot of time in my hammock which I have set up on my deck under the shade. 

I am a bit lost without Q and our routines. I do occasionally still walk. One day last week I ran into three people who I know through Q.  I had to post something at the Post Office, and walked by his groomer, so I stopped in and let him know. He was visibly upset which made me upset as well. And then there were a couple neighbors who I would see walking. I am thinking of getting another. I will reach out to AAA Labs/Wallee Kennels to see what they have. I am a Lab guy. I am thinking a chocolate. Male. But we shall see. 

For now, I am on vacation. I've got some books downloaded on the Kindle. Movies on the Ipad. I am waiting for laundry to finish packing. The truck is gassed. I've got Spotify playing throughout the house, as I type this, drink tea and tackle some minor details.  

Tuesday 8/4

I got a later start than I intended. I had laundry to finish and things to put away. I got a phone call from my associates dean about a student complaint that took almost an hour’s. I tried to multitask as I talked but I was limited. In the end nothing was really resolved. I am confident I did nothing wrong. She had cheated got caught and is now on the defensive attack.

Finally around 10:30 I jumped in the truck and headed south on the 405. Google took me on the toll road which I preferred as there was less traffic. The marine layer was thick gray blanket. A Spotify playlist of California songs. 20 miles outside San Diego I got a text from Rose Ann and Darrell. My truck reads me the texts. They had followed my lead and booked a hotel room near mine. Was I interested in joining them on a list of excursions that was tiring to listen to. I agreed to meet them for dinner. And to join them on a whale watching tour on Wednesday.

I had set my destination for pacific beach. I had found a taco place Harry’s walking to distance to the beach with good reviews. I found free street parking. The tacos were good. Not great. I had a tecate to wash it down.

I walked to the beach towards the pier. I found a store that rented bikes for $10 a day. I had a couple hours to kill before I could check in. I rode the path all the way to the southern end. A slow leisurely pace. The skies were still gray. The beach and strand moderately busy. At the southern end I turned and rode north past the pier. Then turned and headed back. I was looking for a place to have a beer. I noticed these alley ways that I could see led to an inner bay. I followed one and found another path that circled this bay. I had answered some texts along the way but didn’t put my phone to sleep so I got some phone calls from my parents and sister. Funny my sister lived in pacific beach before I moved to California and she told me to check out a bar called Casa street cafe which was associated with the taco place where I had lunch! She had lived close by. Pacific beach was a mixture of hermosa and Venice. Some affluence but a lot of rental units. Some honky tonk bars and a working class vibe. I liked it.

On the walk back to my truck after dropping off the bike I bought a wine opener at a cvs. I brought some wine s me for the room.

I had checked in earlier through the app but I had some questions. Check in was easy. There was a wedding party in the lobby. Small. Once settled in the room and my truck in the self parking lot I hit the pool. It was busy but I managed to find space near the deep end away from most of the families. I tried to get a drink but I had to order food. I got the kids fruit plate and a vodka tonic for $20. The drink was weak.

I read a bit on the balcony. We had dinner reservations for 7 in old town at casa de Reyes. I had some wine then showered and dressed. I took an Uber and arrived before the others put my name down a thirty minute wait. I walked around the little touristy mock Pueblo w stores selling Mexican chotchkies. I ran into Darrell Rose and tony did another lap then our table was ready. The food was ok the margaritas tasty and we stayed and talked for a couple hours. It was nice not to eat alone.

Back at my room, I had a glass of wine and sat on the balcony and watched the planes land behind me. I saw them approach, silently, and because where my hotel was situated I didn't hear them until I couldn't see them. 

There were plenty of military boats and aircraft as well. I also saw a strange disturbing sight. A helicopter, completely blacked out, flew over the bay. I could hear it, but couldn't really see it until it was close to me and blocked out some lights so I could make out its silhouette. 

It as a pleasant way to spend the rest of the evening, far better than watching television. 

Wednesday 8/5/20

I had some really strange dreams the night before. Riding sea monsters kind of weird. 

I woke to cloudy skies. After getting some hot water for tea that I had brought, I inquired about the bikes the property had for guests to use. A kind valet named Carlos helped me out. So after going upstairs, showering, and dressing, I took the bike and rode around Harbor island, a small spit filled with hotels and marinas. It always amazes me the amount of capital tied up in boats that just sit on the water. 

I then went off island, towards downtown. San Diego has invested in it's bike culture and there was a dedicated bike path that runs on the road between the airport and the water. There is also a wide sidewalk/path. Closer to downtown both were busy. I rode past Midway, an aircraft carrier from I assume WWII. There were also sailing vessels and submarines as part of it's nautical museum. 

I rode past that to some touristy area where bikes weren’t permitted, so I figured this was a good place to turn around and headed back to the hotel

I arrived just in time for the pool opening. I was the first one there, and grabbed a seat near the stairs on the adult side of the pool where it was deeper. I read a memoir by Patti Smith about the passing of her friend, Year of the Monkey. I envied her freedom, the ability to travel without plans. According to Google her net worth is 16 million. Money helps, but also there's a mindset at work too. 

I found a taco place, La Perla #3 on Yelp that looked promising. I hadn't eaten anything all morning, so I was hungry. It delivered. I drove toward Offshore Blue Adventures, where we reserved a boat for the afternoon. Liz was our captain and she didn't disappoint. She skippered a 21" Zodiac Rigid Inflatable Boat. As we left the marina, she lectured us on the flora and fauna of the area. She was a big girl, used to being around men and had a loud, smokers cough. She liked being the center of attention. 

Her community of whale watching captains worked together via the radio. One gave us some coordinates and we headed a few miles off the coast of La Jolla. At first we didn't see much, but then a couple of pods of 40 + dolphin each breached around us. It was fun watching them swim at the bow and feed. 

After they disappeared we headed southwest. Another boat had spotted a whale. The seas were choppy and we drove head into them making for a bumpy ride. We got there just as out time was running out, but we got to see a whale spout and breach, albeit from a distance. 

We stopped for a beer at a patio next to the marina and Liz joined us. She was quite the story teller. 

After a brief respite at the hotel, I met Darrel, Rose Ann, and Tony at Rovina, a Italian rotisserie place. They had tables outside on the street. We ate family style and shared a couple bottles of wine. It was a pleasant night. 

Thursday 8/6/20

I had planned to bike towards Point Loma first thing that morning, but my body told me to stay in bed and relax. So I did. I read a bit. Got some tea. Walked around the property until 10. Then brought my Kindle down to the pool and read and swam there for an hour or so. I stretched in the water. I relaxed. It felt good. 

Before noon, I packed up, checked out using my phone, and headed towards San Juan Capistrano. It is an hour north with light traffic. 

I found parking across from the mission, paid my entrance fee, got a self guided tour device and walked the well landscaped grounds. It's a beautiful property, I am sure much different from when it was in use. We are in difficulty times, growing pains, dealing with the sins of our fathers. Although the missions are venerated, they have an ugly past bringing disease and exploitation. Yet they are our history. I knew nothing of these missions prior to coming to California. I have a visited probably a half dozen. Maybe I will try to visit them all. 

I walked the little downtown, looking for  a place to eat. This is the heart of Orange County, pro Trump and anti mask. I settled on an italian joint across from the mission and had a meatball sandwich. It was ok. 

The rest of the drive went quickly, and I tackled laundry and the rest of the duties one does when returning from a trip, albeit a short one. 

It was a good respite. I had accomplished what I had set out to do- explore a new city, relax by the pool, and eat some tacos. It was made better by Rose Ann and Darrell and Tony surprising me.