It's About Time

First, I apologize for the lack of updates - complete negligence on my part. We are covering more mileage in the next 30 days than we've traveled in the last 3 months. I've been writing and sorting through photographs like a mad woman, but just haven't taken the time to stop and upload anything. (We've snapped over 1000 pictures in the last 2 weeks... we gotta stop the madness!)

Where did we leave off? Oh right - California!

So, we've spent almost a month in San Diego. It's a groovy place, indeed - a place we could see ourselves living, if needed.


With our final medical appointments fast approaching, we decided to ride our spiffy new bikes to the Cabrillo National Monument. Our starting point was the Point Loma Hostel (probably in our top 3 list of hostels we've stayed in so far). We took the least direct route by touring the coast, which brought our total to about 15 miles.

The most memorable - and aching - moment was our trek up the appropriately named Hill Street. I'd equate this road to Baker Hill Road on Bainbridge Island. For those who don't know a thing about Baker Hill - trust me when I say it is steep - probably a 45 degree angle! We pushed and pushed and pushed until about 10 feet from the crest of the hill... both of us had to pull into a driveway. But the work was worth it. The crest of Hill Street presented some amazing views of downtown San Diego - and the further we went, the better the views.


From the Cabrillo Monument visitor's center, we watched a nuclear-powered attack submarine leave the bay. A ranger was explaining to visitors that submariners are out for minimum of 6 months. I thought of you, Tom Lee! I'm sure it is thrilling to be in the middle of the ocean, but I'm not sure how well I would sleep knowing I was sandwiched between two nuclear warheads. The isolation and closed quarters might get to me, too.



This area is full of history - and the monument does an incredible job of sharing this history. We spent hours absorbing information.

Some things that stick out in our minds...

Of course, the park is named for Juan Rodriguez Cabrillo - an explorer who led the first European expedition to the west coast of the U.S. He is believed to have discovered what is now San Diego Bay around 1542. Today, there is a 14-foot tall sandstone statue (1939) commemorating Cabrillo.

There are two 19th century lighthouses in the park:


The first, known as the "Old Point Loma Lighthouse," was lit in 1885 and sits 422 feet above sea level. Unfortunately, this perch ended up being a bad idea because fog and low clouds obstructed the lights beam, but ironically, on a clear day, the beam could be seen as far as 25 miles. In 1941 (WWII), the lighthouse was actually painted olive drab and used as a guide station for boats entering the harbor.


The second lighthouse, known as the "New Point Loma Lighthouse," sits 100 yards away and is built closer to the water and on the point. It stands 70 feet tall, and has been fully automated since 1973. The surrounding buildings currently house Coast Guard personnel.

And we were most impressed with the extensive military history on this point. There is too much information to put in the blog, but please check out the website for Cabrillo National Monument's military history.

The next few days were spent traveling back and forth to the Naval hospital for our final physical exams. Everything went smoothly except for the seashell remnants in my left ear. I know this sounds gross - I was shocked myself! The doc (appropriately named Goodspeed) said "I can tell you are a swimmer." I said "Really? How so?" He said, "You have tiny microscopic pieces of shells in your left ear." I know exactly when, where, and how these little bits of seashells got into my ear. Do you remember when Richie and I went swimming in the 10 foot waves of Waimea Bay on O'ahu? If not, click here to refresh your memory. We were covered - and I mean covered - in sand. We found sand in places you shouldn't find sand. I remember having to use a Q-tip to remove bits of sand from my ears. Looks like I missed a few spots - or ended up pushing the sand further into my ear than I thought. Dr. Goodspeed was quite impressed and commented on how sparkly the bits were in my ear. But it was simple enough to remove by using some peroxide - and now everything is just fine. Whew! I'd hate for our upcoming journey with the Peace Corps to be delayed due to a few microscopic seashells!


We were a bit nervous leaving San Diego on a Friday because we thought we wouldn't be able to get a campsite at the Anza-Borrego State Park - being the start of the weekend and all... So, we called the park ranger and she said "Sweetheart, it's over 100 degrees out here. I don't think you'll have a problem getting a site for the evening." She was right. We arrived at the campground at 6pm - it was about 95 degrees - and we were the only ones out there until about 8:30pm when a couple arrived with their 2 children. It was a quiet night - and a wonderfully clear sky. We saw thousands of stars!


Note: All photos were taken with a Konica Minolta Maxxum 7D.