For the first time in two years, we ventured out into the world with the sole purpose of seeing the sights. We’d wanted to go to Cabrillo National Monument on San Diego Bay for several months, but the stars never quite lined up. Then, a couple of weeks ago, it felt like those stars had finally gotten their act together. (Or maybe it was just sheer boredom.) With lots of anticipation at being out in the world again, we charged up our Nissan LEAF and hit the road shortly after lunch.
The view goes on forever
From our house, the trip is about thirty-five miles. Our LEAF zoomed down the I-5 at a speed I dare not even print. Let’s just say, go the speed limit around here and you’ll get run off the road. Once we arrived, the atmosphere changed from manic to serene. Well, except for the wind, which welcomed us with great gusto! But we’d come prepared. We donned our sweatshirts and headed to the visitor center.
One of the first sights was a tall ship returning to port. Wow! What a beauty! The ship slowly made its way toward port. I’m sure the crowd on deck was sad to see their voyage end, especially because they’d had one heck of a perfect day for their tour. Standing at the visitor center, it really did feel as if we could see forever. Of course, it was really only a few miles. But that amazing view? It was good enough to make any proud San Diegan slip their thumbs in their belt and say to a visitor, “Yeah, we like it.” (Don’t worry, we get a lot of nice days, but most of them aren’t this good.)
Taking in Cabrillo Monument and San Diego Bay
Looking across the bay, the island is Naval Air Station, North Island. The town on the island is Coronado. The skyscrapers are in downtown San Diego, and you can also see the bridge connecting Coronado with San Diego. In the background are the mountains surrounding San Diego and even the US-Mexico border.
After we ogled the bay view, it was time to turn our attention back to the ocean and the statue of Juan Rodriguez Cabrillo. Cabrillo is the Spanish explorer credited with ‘discovering’ San Diego Bay. He, of course, wasn’t the first to check out San Diego—there had been Native Americans living here for centuries. The visitor center does an excellent job of chronicling San Diego’s early days, so it’s definitely worth spending time inside.
The one thing we didn’t do while we were at the park was visit the tidepools. For that, the stars were, once again, acting out. The tide was too high, and time too short. What the heck? Now we have an excuse to go back!
Next week, I’ll have more photos from the trip, including the historic lighthouse. If you’re not already subscribed to receive my posts, why not sign up now? Use this link to subscribe.
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The bridge connecting San Diego to Coronado was the brainstorm of my uncle, Brian Franks. From1949 to 1962 when he only had drive four blocks from his house on Alimeda Blvd. to the entrance of the naval base, he thought that the ferry that my aunt took six days a week to get across the bay for drive to El Cajon was a novelty. After retiring from the Navy he took a job at Ryan Aircraft and he, too, had to take the ferry daily. The novelty became a nuisance.
He laid a plan for a bridge connecting isolated Coronado to the mainland. Then he went to Sacramento and sold Governor Pat Brown on the idea. The bridge would connect just journalized I-5 to North Island. (Coronado had once been two islands, but the Navy filled in the gap separating them during the war. Further, a strand was put in connecting South Island to the mainland at National City, so one could drive around that way and not take the ferry, but it added nearly 28 miles to trip to downtown.)
Many of the residents of Coronado were unhappy at the potential loss of their exclusivity. They called my uncle a communist and even said he was building a target for the Russian ICBMs. His neighbors quit talking to him. And, he was no longer welcomed on the ferry and had to start taking the strand himself to get to work. My aunt was welcomed on the ferry and they would let him ride with her if she were driving her car. When the final placement for the Coronado end of the bridge was set, it landed on land on which my uncle had a rental house. To avoid the appearance of a conflict of interest, my aunt and uncle gave the property to the state. My uncle died in1970 and never got to see the finished bridge nor the demise of the ferry.
Frank—thank you so much for the history of the bridge and your uncle’s role in it’s development. That’s a fascinating story (one that a mystery writer can certainly appreciate!)
beach
I love San Diego! Beautiful pictures!
I have not been to too many places… my favorite place to visit was the Caribbean beaches… the water is so clear… beautiful.
I live in San Diego so I’m familiar with the area you’re talking about. The view is really beautiful from up there. The place I also like visiting is Balboa Park.