July 2003: Roadtrip to Oceanside, San Diego and Redlands

July 20,2003 - Drive to Oceanside.  Tom O. came over Sunday morning.  We loaded up and set up for the day's drive to Oceanside to stay in Greg's house for a week.  We purposefully chose a leisurely course to break in my new car at varying speeds.  Across the San Mateo Bridge, we drove West and picked up Skyline Blvd above Crystal Springs Reservoir.  This beautiful drive wound around the tops of the costal mountains, with glimpses of ocean and bay on the right and left, respectively.

We turned onto Highway 9 and headed for Santa Cruz, passing through Boulder Creek, Ben Lommand, Felton and other mountain towns before dropping into Santa Cruz and picking up Highway 1.

It was a beautiful day and the scenery at Monterey, Carmel and further south were breath-taking.  We stopped for lunch at Ventana (never been there before) which was next to Nepenthe in Big Sur.  We sat in the patio overlook the Pacific Ocean.

Spectacular view of the California Shoreline as we drove south along the edge of the steep coastal mountains.  Miles later we arrived at San Simeon (Hearst Castle), Morrow Bay and San Luis Obispo ("Slo Town") where we switched to from Highway 1 to Highway 101.  In Santa Barbara we encountered a traffic jam that lasted for miles and an hour or so, then mysteriously evaporated as we left Ventura and Oxnard.

We stopped at an El Torito off of "the 405" at the John Wayne Aiport at about 8:30 PM and finally made it to Greg's at 11:00 PM.  What a long day of driving!  And what a beautiful place to end the day!!!. 

July 21, 2003 - Exploring Oceanside:  We drove to Carlsbad for lunch at the Armenian cafe ... found out it is closed on Mondays (sigh, sob).  So we went across the street to the Fish Hut and had vegetarian burgers.  Tom O. is not a vegetarian but did not want to have protein twice in the same day.  We then ran some errands.  I wanted to get a replacement soap dish for my broken Grohe shower pole.  I found out there was a Grohe parts place in Oceanside. 

My car is so neat.  You just put the address into the navigation thing and this womans voice tells you where to go!   At the gas station we asked if there was a Costco nearby.  "No, the money-taker said.  Later on we found out there was one very near that gas station.

Before we came home, I said "Let's drive the length of Oceanside.  I found out the reptile store is closed (I guess out of business).  We were also looking for restaurants ... and when we got to the "end" we started to turn back and Tom O. said "Why don't we look a little further" and we found the Oceanside Marina/Yacht Harbor!  What a pleasant surprise.  Lots of seafood restaurants.  We ended up eating at the Monterey Cannery Restaurant.  Tom had Albacore and I had pasta.  The fish was a little overcooked (dry) and the pasta was a little over cooked (mushy), but we enjoyed it anyway.  We're busy calculating Weight Watcher points so we won't eat too much.

...  Having a ball.  Today is overcast.  There may be thundershowers inland.  And we are going to the Redlands Bowl tonight!  Memo to self:  Take an umbrella.  It's in the high 80's.
 

July 22, 2003 - Redlands This morning we drove to  to visit Randy and Bob.  It took about 1.5 hours.  Before we got to their house, we stopped at Clarke's Nutritional Center so I could buy more vegetarian goods.  I especially like the dry chunks (think food for a large dog) of "Beef" and "Chicken".

Randy was working for home so we made ourselves at home ... fixed lunch, napped, surfed and before we knew it, Bob was home from work.  We drove to a Mayan restaurant for dinner ... meeting Renato and Ruben there.  Good food.

Afterwards we drove to the Redlands Bowl and saw act I of Guys and Dolls.  A nice, colorful, musical sensation.  The acting was good too.

July 23, 2003 - Back to Oceanside Returned to Greg's ... stopping at Fry's on the way.  What a trip that place is:  huge architectural elements that remind you of Indiana Jones ... glass obelisks and huge marble balls.  I bought a web-cam for my laptop. 

Later that evening we drove over to Carlsbad to the Weight Watchers there.  Tom O. had his little book so he could weigh in. 

For supper we went to the Armenia Cafe.  We had some dips and I had the falafel dinner.

July 24, 2003 - Carl Arrives: Drove to the San Diego Airport to pick up Carl.  He will join us for the rest of the weekend and ride home on Sunday.  We went over to the San Diego Zoo and spent the rest of the day there.  It was sunny and we enjoyed the long walks around the different loops ... seeing the animals that were foolish enough to be outside!

This evening we went to

July 25, 2003 - Laguna Beach: Stopped at the Ritz Carlton (just to see the public areas) and later on a place called the Montage Resort and Spa in or near South Laguna.  It's huge.  What was there before?!?!?  Interesting cottage/craftsman architecture from the turn of last century and very grand.  They have Greg's big window/doors off o the lobby to the terrace overlooking the ocean and pool and grounds.