August 21-23 - Fun in the Sun in San Diego
What a glorious weekend! I can think of few things that could tear me away from my bike on a road trip. But the time with my precious daughter Eleanor over the last three days in San Diego was priceless. I am so very proud of the beautiful young woman she has become and am so grateful for the time we had together. While she and I swam in the ocean, went whale watching, and ate delicious meals, the San Diego Harley Davidson got my bike ready for the road again.
As a mother of young adults, I appreciate the fact my children are old enough to sometimes take a leadership role with me. It is wonderful to see them maturing and becoming more responsible. So, I was particularly touched when Eleanor took me by the hand at the beach on Saturday and led me out into the deeper waters. I had expressed an interest in swimming in the ocean with her but had not done so in many years. I was taking awhile to work my way out past the breakers and her gentle, guiding touch brought tears of joy to my eyes. It was so freeing and delightful to swim with her, jump over the waves, go under the swells, and take in the beauty of the ocean.
Yesterday’s whale watching trip was more magical than I could have hoped for. Our Legacy Whale Watch naturalist explained that his company had not seen a whale in a month. But during our trip we not only got to see a Minke whale break the surface several times but also got to see two separate large pods of dolphins. It was one treat right after another, with blue skies, mild temperatures, and the sun shining down on us. Eleanor and I particularly liked watching the white-colored newborn dolphins, mother-baby dolphin pairs, dolphins jumping over each other, and dolphins flying high in the sky and smacking the water.
I am also incredibly grateful to have shared several wonderful meals with Eleanor in the La Jolla area. Last night we went to Regents Pizzeria and enjoyed spectacular Chicago-style deep dish pizza, my first time eating such a delicacy in over 30 years. Today we feasted on the prime smoked salmon presentation at Caroline’s Seaside Café which included an everything bagel, cream cheese, tomatoes, onions, and capers. This evening we went to “The Taco Shack” for one of the best burritos I have had in my life – grilled shrimp, melted cheese, cabbage, avocado, tomato, and chipotle sauce all wrapped in a homemade grilled burrito shell. For dessert we enjoyed two flavors each of homemade fresh gelato at Bobboi Gelato. I gave the server an extra tip because after I tasted three samples, she suggested I taste a fourth.
While Eleanor and I have been playing in the sun the San Diego Harley Davidson dealership has been getting my bike ready to go back on the road. They put on a new front tire, replaced the wheel bearings in both the front and back wheels, re-set the steering head bearings, cleaned out my USB port, serviced the bike, and added two new USB ports to my bike, one via an adaptor to the port for my trickle charger and the other via a new wireless charger attached to both my RAM mount and the bike battery. Ryan the mechanic, Xavier the service writer, and Clint the shop foreman, have all gone out of their way to be supportive and helpful. Today (Sunday) I went into the shop for two hours while Clint custom fabricated a piece of metal to attach the on/off switch for my wireless charger to my handlebars. You can tell this dealership is professionally run from the huge concrete on-ramp leading to the open bays of the service department to the presence of a hair salon right in the dealership. It seems you can get just about anything done at this dealership. I am happy to be back on the road tomorrow knowing my bike was in good hands.
Restaurant Recommendation: During my visit here in San Diego I was honored and privileged to share a dinner with Diana and Atwood Lynn, my next-door neighbors from over 15 years ago. Diana and Atwood have been a source of encouragement to me over the years and it was wonderful to see them in person again. The dinner they treated me to at Pizza Nova on the water at Point Loma was outstanding. I especially liked the caprese appetizer with fresh burrata cheese, blistered cherry tomatoes, pesto, and garlic toast with balsamic glaze. My diner of fresh parmesan panko crusted Alaskan Halibut hit the spot as it was both moist and flavorful with a white wine lemon butter sauce and accompanied by sauteed spinach and risotto with tomato, spinach, basil and parmesan. I couldn’t resist also ordering a mini-Goat Cheese pizza with fresh spinach, pancetta, red onions, and goat cheese. Wow!
