22 Mar 2019
Today we visited the Cabrillo National Monument which is located on the Point Loma Peninsula, overlooking the north side of the inlet to San Diego Bay (yellow, below). I am still feeling lousy with a nasty chest cold and back pain, but it is what it is. I think about those in harms way around the other side of the world and it makes my problems pretty small. Hopefully the meds will continue to help.
 |
| Cabrillo National Monument area in yellow here. |
Also located there is the Old Point Loma Lighthouse, pictured here as well as the New Point Loma Lighthouse and the tidepools.
 |
| Looking into the San Diego Bay inlet. Ballast Point extends out into the inlet. |
 |
| Looking across the inlet to Naval Air Station North Island |
 |
| Looking south down the shoreline past Coronado and Imperial Beach |
The drive there was an experience. I thought Iowa-egians we bad about lane changing without signalling. They don't hold a candle to drivers here. With our 10-day stay here and then our 15 day stay at Seal Beach near Los Angeles in a few days, I'm sure "we ain't seen nuttin' yet!" I am not looking forward to dragging our 42 ft long 'condo on wheels' through the Los Angeles area...
But, we made the trip and wound our way through the seaside community of Point Loma, and past Fort Rosecrans National Cemetery. So peaceful and beautiful. Rows upon rows of white crosses identify the graves of brave warriors who gave the ultimate sacrifice. This cemetery is basically closed to new burials with a few exceptions. Most of the graves date back to the 1800's and early 1900's.
We soon found the Cabrillo National Monument Visitor Center where Doreen was able to get her Lighthouse Passport book stamped for both the old and new Point Loma Lighthouses.
The Old Point Loma Lighthouse is only open for visitors four days a year on it's anniversary and today is one of them!!! Score! With that, there were scores of people there and buses of school children, so we expected a long wait.
A quick walk from the visitor center we arrived at the Cabrillo National Monument. Juan Rodriguez Cabrillo was a Spanish explorer who sailed into San Diego harbor in 1542 and became the first Europeans to set foot on what would later become the west coast of the United States.
I the distance we could see our next destination, the Old Point Loma Lighthouse, which was built in 1854 and operated from 1855 until 1891. The New Point Loma Lighthouse was built in 1891 at a lower elevation because low clouds routinely made the Old Point Loma Lighthouse difficult to see.
 |
| Wild flowers in the foreground |
We walked up a pathway and got in line. There were approximately 30 people in front of us and they were letting 11 inside the lighthouse at a time and the turn time was about 20 minutes. I sat this one out, and Doreen make the trek. It was only 23 steps plus a ladder at the top, so not bad. I photographed her from the ground.
 |
| A beautiful lighthouse! |
 |
| Waiting in line |
 |
| One of the park rangers explaining things as we waited. |
 |
| A rain catchment basin where the captured rain water for use back in the day. |
 |
| The assistant keeper's quarters and garden |
 |
| Doreen in the R.E.D. Friday shirt |
 |
| Inside the assistant keeper's quarters are many displays including a third order Fresnel lens display |
 |
| Vegetable garden used by the lightkeeper and assistant keeper's families |
 |
| Beautiful view up the coastline from here. |
From the lighthouse we drove down the peninsula towards the New Point Loma Lighthouse, which is inaccessible to the public. It looks like it is being refurbished and is covered by a shroud, so we could not even see it.
 |
| The new lighthouse, covered by a shroud behind the house. |
 |
A distant view of the new lighthouse behind the palm trees.
This complex is the commanding officer's residence so we cannot visit it. |
Around the corner from the new lighthouse are the tide pools. We parked and walked down the pathway for some great views!
 |
| walking the path down to the tide pools |
 |
| Tide pools forming below as the tide goes out. Tide is in right now, so the actual 'pools' are not visible. |
 |
| Surfer's in a distance. |
 |
| A view of the old lighthouse from down below. |
 |
| Beautiful view of the shoreline looking north. Many visitors here today. |
We really enjoyed the trip to Point Loma. On the way back to the RV Park we decided to visit the other military campground here called Fiddler's Cove, the one that was full when we tried to make reservation. To get there we crossed the Coronado Bridge.
 |
| A view from the bridge. |
Fiddler's Cove RV Park is located right on the water of San Diego bay in Coronado CA.
It is a gorgeous setting with accessible beach and beautiful views of the ocean as well as the bay. Right across the bay is Naval Base San Diego. The shoreline there is lined with ships at port.
 |
| Wow! What a view! |
On the ocean side, you can watch the Navy seamen putting themselves to the test to become Navy SEALS in as 24-week long training called BUDS - Basic Underwater Demolition/SEALS. We did not see them there when we drove by but the area on the shore where they train is across from the campground and down just a bit.
That's it for today (yesterday). Sorry for the delayed post, but I am not hitting on all cylinders. There are surely better days ahead :-)
No comments:
Post a Comment