Gypsy General, Pacific Coast Bicycle Route

Pacific Coast Bicycle Route – Day 56 – Cruising to Coronado

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We really did cruise on a passenger ferry! The day dawned gray and dreary as most mornings have here in sunny sometimes southern CAL.

Leaving Encinitas
Leaving Encinitas

Bill captured more “old vehicles” with his camera as we were leaving Encinitas

Another old Woody
Another old Woody

and I wanted to stop at the Swami Beach. When we were staying in Capistrano Beach, the owner of the motel shared with us that Swami Beach was developed in the 1930’s as a place of meditation and reflection, now a very popular surfing spot. From wikipedia -“Swami’s, also known as “Swami’s Reef'” and “Swamis”, is an internationally known surfing spot, a point break located in Encinitas, San Diego County,California. Swami’s was named after SwamiParamahansa Yogananda, because the grounds and hermitage of the Self-Realization Fellowship ashram, built in 1937, overlook this reef point.” I was more intrigued by the gardens of the Swami.

Plaque at Swami Beach
Plaque at Swami Beach
Meditation gardens at Swami Beach
Meditation gardens at Swami Beach
Pedestrian Surfer Crossing
Pedestrian Surfer Crossing
Surfers at Swami Beach
Surfers at Swami Beach
Looks like a seal to me
Looks like a seal to me

As we left the beaches of Cardiff-by-the-Sea, Solana and Del Mar,

Surf statue
Surf statue

we headed inland just a little and climbed a long, gradual hill (417 ft).

Doesn't look like much of a hill in the background but it was!
Doesn’t look like much of a hill in the background but it was!

And I thought we were done with those hills. We cycled past the Torrey Pines State Preserve and on into La Jolla, joining the coast again at the Coast Blvd, where there was an interesting sea cave and a kayak school.

The Cave and kayakers
The Cave
Kayakers near The Cave
Kayakers near The Cave La Jolla

We traversed La Jolla through the seaside neighborhoods (big homes$)

Windsea Park La Jolla
Windsea Park La Jolla

and onto the boardwalk at Pacific Beach. Bill was so engrossed with the views on the beach, we missed our turn to Mission Bay Park and had to cycle back a few blocks or so.

Pacific Beach Boardwalk
Pacific Beach Boardwalk

We took a detour to the Dog Beach at Ocean Beach Park where Bill and his brother and sister-in-law started their Southern Tier trip last fall.

Ocean Beach Park, Dog Beach, San Diego
Ocean Beach Park, Dog Beach, San Diego

As we headed into San Diego on Nimitz Blvd., my gear cable broke. Bill tied it off in a temporary fix as we were 1.7 miles from a great bike shop, Moment Bicycles. Bill replaced the cable and we had a delightful conversation with the owner, who shared with us a great place to eat on Coronado Island.

After the bike repair, we only had about 4 miles left to the ferry landing in San Diego harbor where we boarded the passenger ferry to Coronado. The ferry dock is right next to the old Navy ship, Midway, quite an impressive ship.

Near the ferry dock in San Diego Harbor
Near the ferry dock in San Diego Harbor

Dinner at the Coronado Brew Pub was excellent and now we are ready to finish this trip!

San Diego skyline from Coronado
San Diego skyline from Coronado -red, white, and blue lights on the left are on the Midway.

3 thoughts on “Pacific Coast Bicycle Route – Day 56 – Cruising to Coronado”

    1. Wow Mark, just watched the video – Karen made a rhubarb pie a few days ago and since there are 2 pie crusts in a package, Karen will have to find some more rhubarb, because you know, Bill loves rhubarb pie! or pies. Thanks for the math lesson. Do you use Tau or Pi?

      1. I still use Pi. It would have made more sense to me back then….well it still makes more sense to use Tau.

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