Last Chance for Tourists

May 30 - June 3

While waiting for “our ship to come in,” that is the bulk carrier hired by Yachtpath to pick up Gratitude in Ensenada, we had a few more extra days than expected. Admittedly this wait generated a certain amount of frustration, but there’s lots to see in San Diego.

Tropical tree ferns in Balboa Park Botanical Garden
 took me back to New Zealand.

Escargot Begonia in Botanical Garden

Amazing variety of colored koi in Japanese Garden pool

One lovely afternoon I visited the gardens of Balboa Park.

Model of the Star of India in high seas off Cape of Good Hope
gives the feeling of what conditions were like on many roundings.

Sample of stained glass on the Berkeley.

Another day we found ourselves at the Maritime Museum, a fine collection of ships along the waterfront. My favorite was the Berkeley ferry. It was beautifully restored, all the wooden seats, varnished, brass rails polished and stained glass all around the passenger deck. I could picture it unloading survivors from the SF earthquake at the now ruined dock that stretches about half a mile into the bay. Charlie loved the Surprise, formerly the Rose, of Master and Commander fame, and the Star of India, a real cargo vessel, miraculously plucked from the age of sail and rescued by skilled craftsmen. We saw fascinating video of these men, many of them elderly, who rebuilt the decks and the rig, restoring her to sailing condition.

Star of India, on deck next to the spanker.

Finally with an assist from the bus system I took a bike ride the length of Coronado Island, now a peninsula, where the famous example of Victorian excrescence, the Hotel Del (Coronado) is located. Entering via the driveway, I was accosted by an employee who shouted as he ran, “Get off your bike. Bikes aren’t allowed on the property.” Luckily, he was needed elsewhere. I carried my bike up a few stairs, left it unobtrusively in a grassy corner, and took the View Walk through the gardens to an overlook where the pool, beachside restaurant and thousands of beach umbrellas blew next to the surf. Nice view, slightly more delicious for its illicit access.

Hotel Del Coronado

The long peninsula’s inner beach had been fenced off to prevent disturbing least tern nests. The Navy takes credit for that. I got my fill of straight flat windy bike path going down to Imperial Beach and back. 

Ocean beach and restaurants,  popular in spite of dark, windy conditions.