After 3800 miles zigzagging across the USA I finally see the Pacific Coast. The ride from Chula Vista to Encinitas was pretty quick even though I was having to contend with weekday after work afternoon traffic on the Interstate 5.
Chris had seen one of my posts on Facebook and had gotten in contact with me offering me a place to stay in San Diego. Unfortunately in the eleven days it took me to arrive in San Diego another rider had taken up his spare room. Chris, being the nice host immediately got in touch with one of his friend’s and managed to arrange for a room just a couple houses down the road, fortunately for me Laurie welcomed me with open arms to her house too.
As soon as I pulled into his driveway, Chris and his wife Agnes opened their house to me, invited me in and offered me a drink. We sat around the table and immediately got comfortable with each other. Soon Laurie was over and we all clicked pretty fast. Chris and Agnes are fellow adventurers and have traveled extensively across the Americas and Africa having ridden all the way from Ethiopia to Cape Town. I knew I was in good company. Laurie and her husband, who was out in Colorado riding his dirt bike, have also traveled extensively all over the world. After a few drinks Chris told me to go see the beach just a few blocks from his house. The above photo and the one below were taken in Encinitas.
Thanks to the kindness of Chris and Agnes and his friend Laurie, I had a beautiful place to stay and relax for 2 nights with the motorcycle safely parked in the garage. Laurie made breakfast for me and even washed all the dirty clothes I had accumulated. Chris had dinner ready and we all enjoyed it outside on his beautiful patio talking about our adventures. Later, Laurie showed me pictures of their trips around the world, I was in awe looking through all the beautiful photos. Laurie rides on the back of her husband’s motorcycle and both are certified scuba divers as well as photographers, just like me, we had lots to talk about. I cannot say enough good things about Laurie, Chris and his wife Agnes and hope one day they pay me a visit in New Jersey. My house is open to them.
The following day I rode south from Encinitas on the Pacific Coastal Highway 101 trying to see as much as I could. I followed the coast as much as I could following Chris’ advice and trying to get to all the locations he recommended. I even got to see a model taking photos on the rocks.
California has a stunningly beautiful coastline with beautiful beaches and bays. You can be sure to see seals too all along the coast.
One of the places Chris had mentioned not to miss was the Cabrillo National Monument across the bay from San Diego. I was not disappointed. The location commemorates the landing of Juan Rodríguez Cabrillo at San Diego Bay on September 28, 1542. This event marked the first time a European expedition had set foot on what later became the West Coast of the United States. The Portuguese ambassador to the United States presented a bronze plaque, honoring Cabrillo as a “distinguished Portuguese navigator in the service of Spain” who made “the first Alta California landfall”
In between San Diego and the Cabrillo point is the San Diego Naval Supply Center NIA and from above you have a beautiful view of the base. I was lucky and after seeing many navy planes go by I even saw a nuclear submarine returning to base.
These are some of the ships and airplanes I saw. I was thrilled to see so much action, I have always loved airplanes and when I was a kid I wanted to be a fighter pilot.
Next on the recommendation list was the Hotel del Coronado near the naval base. I had to ride through the city which was hosting a Comic-Con convention, traffic was bad but I made it pretty quickly. The Hotel del Coronado (also known as The Del and Hotel Del) is a historic beachfront hotel in the city of Coronado, just across the San Diego Bay. It is one of the few surviving examples of an American architectural genre: the wooden Victorian beach resort. It is the second largest wooden structure in the United States. When it opened in 1888, it was the largest resort hotel in the world. It has hosted presidents, royalty, and celebrities through the years. The hotel has been featured in numerous movies and books. The hotel is stunning and hard to believe it’s all wood.
After the Coronado I returned to Chris’ house as soon as I could, they were already waiting for me when I arrived to have dinner. After dinner I quickly ran out to buy four quarts of oil and then proceeded to change the oil and filter on my bike in Chris’ garage.
And just like that my time in San Diego come to an end, I had crossed the USA in 11 days. Mexico and a whole new experience for me started on Saturday, the 21st of July when I crossed the border into Mexico at the Otay Mesa Port of Entry.
Next the real adventure begins.....
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