And So We Say Goodbye To The Big City…Farewell San Diego, CA

Afternoon stroll on Del Mar beach w/ buddies

Well we’re finally leaving the big city. It’s been a whirlwind of a month here in San Diego and I have to admit I’m ready to get back out in the boonies. I really do love this city, but I find myself picking up in pace here…getting just a tad more busy…a tad more frantic…a tad more stressed. It’s nothing really extreme, just a sense of the city vibe and crazy traffic seeping into my everyday, and after a month of it I’m ready to ease out and back into a slower synch with nature.

My cousin Christina poses by Torrey Pines

Time w/ doggie on the beach…perfection!

But I’ll grant that it’s not all the city’s fault either. We really packed in the activities here starting with meet-ups with RV friends, dentals for the cats (believe it or not we managed to slip away with ZERO extractions this time), an impromptu visit from my Danish cousin, local buddies, Christmas celebrations, New Year party, remodelling our valences, doc visits and so on…I mean phew! Our list of stuff to do was loooong and we managed most of it, but 4 weeks ain’t a long time when you come down to it.

And I can’t deny the fun stuff either. Beach-time on the beautiful coast, bike rides in the bay, kayaking with seals in the water, sightseeing, gorgeous sunsets and playing with tools. On the latter note Paul has actually become quite the January handyman, getting into various small RV projects and even changing the brake-pads on our CRV…all with the help of some friends.

Our last, great San Diego sunset

And that brings me the best part of all. Meeting folks, spending time with other RVers and helping each other along the way. As we ease into our 4th year fulltiming we are starting to create a rather solid circle of RV friends. I really never expected to find such a strong sense of community when we started this journey and it’s been one of the best surprises of our entire experience. RVing is fun, but RVing with friends is even better.

But alas the itch to move is here. So we say goodbye (for now) to our buddies, farewell to the city and we’re off to the boonies. We’ll see ya’all on the other side….

Paul changes our brake pads w/ help from our buddy Tom

Drilling & fiddling w/ help from our RV buddy Dave

Afternoon glow in Torrey Pines

Beach beauty

Two Danes & A Week in S.CA

Recognize this girl? Posing at Torrey Pines in San Diego

It’s hard to believe we’re already 1 week into 2013. The time just seems to fly by (a sign of age, perhaps?) and we’ve been busy as a swarm of S.CA bees in an RV honey hive. You see at the end of Dec we received a rather impulsive visit from my Danish cousin, Christina. If you’ve been following the blog for a while you’ll remember this young lady from adventures on the OR coast this summer, and a memorable tale of sore buttocks in the Rockies of CO from 2010. She’s a travellin’ lover and jumped at the chance to see us in CA this winter. A ticket and 20 hours later she was here and ready to take S.CA by storm.

So what do you get up to in San Diego with two Danish gals on the loose? Well, we had a couple of cool adventures that I can now bring you up to date on:

1/ Day-Trip To Los Angeles

Sunset at Venice Beach

I fully admit I have a love-hate relationship with LA. I love the diversity there, but man-oh-man do I hate that traffic. It almost killed us last time we drove through the city, so it was with some trepidation that I agreed to take a day-trip w/ the toad to see the sights. I mean seeing LA is something every tourist has gotta do, at least once right? So I braced myself for the ride and planned a manageable itinerary with some cool sights.

On the not-exactly-legal trail to the sign

We started with a trip to the famous Hollywood sign where we promptly got lost on our hike (well, because I’m me), ended up on a road with warnings that there was “absolutely no access to the Hollywood sign” (a natural invitation to walk there, of course) followed by other warnings that it was completely illegal to hike this path (an obvious encouragement) followed by various other decisively discouraging signs that naturally led us to a perfect path right to the base of the sign….AWESOME!

Posing with the star-prints on Hollywood Road

After our rebellious trek we dropped back to Hollywood Blvd to see the Hollywood Walk of Fame. We managed to squeeze the CRV into a ridiculously small, but free parking spot (the equivalent of hitting the LA jackpot) and massed our way through the throng of crowds to put our hands in the cement imprints of the stars and gawk at all the various performers dressed in outrageous costumes posing for money. COOL!

Having satisfied our star-lust we decided on a slower pace and made our way over to Venice Beach to end the day with a glass and some people-watching on the promenade. Exactly the kind of eclectic mix of color and roller-skating beach-goers that originally bought me to California. Just before sunset an impromptu drum-jam started up on the sand swelling to a mass of 50 people jiving and grooving with the beats (and a bit of ganga thrown in, by the smells of it). GROOVY!

A pretty neat day, despite 5 hours of frustrating driving…like I said…totally love-hate relationship!

Late PM glow at Venice Beach

2/ Adventures On The Water

And she’s up!!!

Kayaking La Jolla Bay

San Diego is one of the best places to play in the water. With miles of beach, tons of killer surf breaks and protected bays you can splash just about any way you wish. Our first day on the water we took Christina for a surf lesson on the beautiful long-board break by San Elijo State Beach. She finished with jello arms, but managed some good stands on the board and was totally captivated by the sport (I see surfing in Denmark in her future). Our next day out we switched pace and went kayaking in gorgeous La Jolla Bay. We learned our lesson from our last visit and rented from Bike & Kayak insted of taking a tour this time, opting for a liesurely 2-hour paddle around the sea caves and giant kelp at our own pace. While we were floating in the bay we were visited by a family of seals who curiously popped their heads around the kayaks, sniffed the boats and swam underneath to check us out…just fabulous!

3/ Adventures On Land

By Crystal Pier in Pacific Beach

With near-perfect weather the entire week we opted for a few extra adventures on land including a 14-mile bike-ride around Mission Bay, a gorgeous hike in Torrey Pines State Reserve (totally worth it for the wacky sandstone cliffs and the rare pines) and trips to the various beach towns. It’s hard to beat the coastal winter views in San Diego!

4/ Adventures In Urban Parks

In the artists colony at Balboa Park

Christina catches a shot of the giant turtles right before “the action” starts

I gushed poetic about the urban parks in San Diego last year (here and here), so I had to take Christina to see a few of them during her time here. We managed a gorgeous day (with doggie in tow) to Balboa Park followed by another day at the San Diego Zoo. The latter was actually a first time visit for me. I’ve always been partial to the bigger San Diego Safari Park up north (and I still think the Safari Park is an overall cooler experience), but I enjoyed our time at the Zoo in town. Our Zoo experience was also rather enlightening in other ways as we caught a couple of giant turtles “getting jiggy with it” (always wondered how they managed) and sampled Kalhua & Bailey coffee’s (yes, I recommend).

5/ Adventures In RV Socializing

Drinking with “the crew” in Mission Bay RV Resort

No visit to “the beast” would be complete without a bit of RV socializing thrown in. We’ve got several RV buddies in the park (Hans&Lisa, Alex&Ellen, Wendy&James, Sue&Dave) and I decided to bring them all together with the invitation to a special Danish spiced-wine concoction…Glögg. It’s typically a Christmas-season drink so I was a bit late in the making, but figured I could pass it off with the non-initiated locals. Also I happen to have my mother’s super-secret, extra-potent (even by Danish standards) but deceiving smooth recipe which is guaranteed to get any party in a good mood. And indeed no-one noticed the lapse in protocol. In fact after several glasses of the fine fusion, the festive spirit was firmly re-ignited and a jolly good time declared by all.

And that….phew!…is what two Danes get up to in a week in S.CA. We’re winding down our last few days here in San Diego before we pick up and rock back to boondocking in the desert. We’ve got an adventure in Mexico lined up for you (with tips on how to get inexpensive quality dentistry work) and a trip to the largest RV gathering on earth. See you soon….

Stilt-walkers on Venice Beach

Drum-jam on Venice Beach

Enjoying a glass on Venice Beach

It’s Shrek!!

Toes in the sun in La Jolla Bay

Colorful Balboa Park

An alert Mircat at the zoo

Pink Flamingo reflections

Sometimes Words Are Not Enough…

Sometimes there are no words to describe a scene. Or rather the words are so trivial compared to the grand and awe-inspiring splendor before you. This evening was one of those moments and all I can do is share my brief capture of that time. Our sunset tonight took my breath away…and my heart. Here’s hoping your evening was as full of light, color and love as mine

Sitting Pretty In The Big City – San Diego, CA

Our new backyard is not too shabby either

So we’ve gone through a bit of transformation which thankfully, as RVers and nomads, we are very good at doing. Departing our expansive natural digs in Borrego Springs for an asphalt parking lot in San Diego has been….well…an exercise in mental and physical adaptation. We arrived on Wednesday dusty (and no doubt smelly) from the desert and slotted back into civilization and two days of solid rain in San Diego. The hookups were a boon, as were the hot showers (although they may have benefitted our neighbors more than anything else), but the rain and the density of people took a bit of getting used to.

Sunset on Mission Bay

Parked at our fav doggie spot, Fiesta Island

We’re staying for a month in Mission Bay RV Resort which I’ve always described as a so-so park in an awesome location. It’s one of the two parks we prefer (the other being Santee Lakes) when we’re in the area. With winter low-season the park is less than half full and if you add in the decent monthly rates and the location (right by the water) it’s a pretty sweet deal. I totally dig being able to walk out the RV gate to the sound of lapping water and the sweet, salty smell of the bay. Plus there are alot of very good reasons to snowbird in San Diego.

Walking the Hillcrest Farmer’s Market with Alex & Ellen

Alex taste-tests some awesome kimchi

Despite all this it’s always weird being back in a “big city” especially since we’ve spent the majority of the last 9 months in state parks or smaller areas. I mean we started our RVing adventures in San Diego three years ago and I really do love this town, but the more time I spend in the boonies the more my longings take me away from my city-roots and back towards my nature-roots. But don’t think I’m complaining….oh no…it’s just a change is all and I am more than happy to cozy up in the RV for a month in the city. We’re here for the cats (the $8,000 cats, in case you missed the story last year), some rather exciting RV mods (more to come on this…), Christmas socializing (there are no less than 6 RV couples we know in the area) and enjoying all the food, sights, sounds and beaches of San Diego. Oh, and the young surfing dudes add a nice little extra visual bonus to the whole package.

Sunset by the RV Park in Mission Bay

Although we’ve only been here a few days we’re already well into our month of activities. The cats have already had their first vet appointment ($$$ aaargh!), we’ve taken Polly multiple times to romp around on nearby Fiesta Island (my absolute top pick of best beach-spots to take dogs in San Diego), been shopping at the Farmer’s Market (there is one every single day somewhere in this town), done a few excellent bike rides around the extensive trails in Mission Bay and met-up with our RV buddies Alex & Ellen who’ve slotted into the spot behind us.

We’ll be making the most of our month here before we (most likely) head back into the boonies….jello RV plans ya know. And of course I’ll be keeping you up to date on our various socializing dates and RV mods, assuming we don’t mess them up too much. In the meantime I’ll be hoping for sunny days, and sitting pretty in the big city.

Hiking Fiesta Island

Another great afternoon by the bay

An Alternative State Of Mind – Ocean Beach, San Diego, CA

The OB Hostel. It’s a whole other state of mind…

Sometimes a place is a whole other state of mind, and going to Ocean Beach is exactly that. Hang out for a day in OB and you embark on a journey into an alternative psychedelic universe to a place that remains locked in time and spirit. Yeah it’s kinda like a hippy version of Star Trek. This is THE original free spirit hangout of San Diego, THE original dog beach and the only place where that hang-back surfer 60′s vibe is still abundant.

There is no other spot in San Diego that is as unique and fiercely independent, and I ABSOLUTELY LOVE IT!

The fabulous OB pier

Ocean Beach viewed from the pier

I originally became involved with OB back when we lived in San Diego and I was running health classes around town. Before I started running my class there I only had a faint idea of what the place was like, but once I got involved in the local community I realized it was completely different from anywhere else in San Diego. This is the melting pot of melting pots -> a grand ratatouille of hippies, surfers, alternative families, musicians, Deadheads, politic misfits and students that have all bonded to produce a beach community with a totally alternative vibe. To say the locals love OB is an understatement. They are passionate about the place and everything here reflects that unique view!

Ocean Beach was developed in 1887 and remained largely isolated from the rest of San Diego until Hwy 8 was built in the mid-1960′s. The location and isolation was probably part of the reason it developed such a unique personality. The town attracted free spirits from the beginning and retained it’s personality by keeping building development curtailed. Today’s OB has a  has a very cool downtown strip (Newport Ave) packed in with antiques, food and shopping that reflect the original spirit of the town. Here’s just a few of our favorite jaunts:

The interior decor at Hodad’s

Paul chats to the waitress at The 3rd Corner

Downtown seating on Newport Ave

Sooooo OB….surf board and bike

Going for a splash at Ocean Beach Dog Beach

• Hodad’s: Our main food-hunt is the eclectic Hodad’s, a practical institution when it comes to burgers in San Diego. The shop is a hole-in-the-wall packed with surf-boards, licence plates and blasting music that is almost always packed to the rim. We come for the juicy fare, the vibe and the fact that they’ll offer lettuce-wraps (great for gluten-intolerant like ourselves). My favorite is the Blue Jay, but just about any burger on the menu is a home run. If you’re feeling particularly gourmet order one of their milk shakes, a delectable desert all in itself.
• The 3rd Corner: This cozy wine-shop/restaurant is where we go when we want to have a romantic dinner in town. Buy the wine from the fabulous collection in-shop and drink it with your fresh California-cuisine meal for only $5 corkage fee. We love it so much we’ve been here 3 times since we’ve been in San Diego.
• Shopping: OB is definitely a shoppers paradise for the alternative minded. The Black is a famous head shop for all things hippy, but there are also thrift stores, antique shops and record stores on the main strip.
• Ocean Beach Pier: At 1,971 feet OB pier is one of the longest concrete piers in the world. Opened in 1966 it dominates the beach landscape and offers sunset walks, fishing and even a Cafe (what a view!) at the far end.
• Dog Beach: This is THE original off-leash dog beach in San Diego, so much so that’s it’s simply known as “Dog Beach”. It’s 10 acres of brilliant sand that also doubles up as a great surf-spot too. It’s always full of paws, but has lots of space for everyone to run around. For those that need it you can head over to Dog Wash for a rinse after the run.
• Wednesday Farmers Market: If you’re in the area do not miss the Wednesday down-town Farmers Market. This is the most original of the San Diego markets with a focus on crafts and live music. Every Wed from 4-8PM. Feel free to bring doggie too (everyone else does!).

Fishing on the pier in OB

Paul enjoys the view on the pier

We met our RV friends Kathie and Bob on another perfect afternoon for a burger and a walk around town. It started at Hodad’s (of course) after which we meandered down the pier to check out the surfers and enjoy the view. Kathie and I both commented on the fact that we both would have loved to live here in our 20′s. It’s a city-in-one (many OBers never leave the place) and exactly the kind of spot that inspires creative thinking and living. Our spot by Mission Bay is right around the corner making this an easy hop and a skip from the RV park (there’s even a great bike trail all the way around the bay and into the beach). If you’re in the area and looking for something different, definitely make the trip. Like I said, it’s a whole other state of mind!

Interior of the iconic Hodad’s

The “Cow” shop…LPs anyone?

View down the main drag of Newport Ave

An old VW, surf boards and color sums up OB in one pic