Wednesday , November 6, 2013
Pacific Beach, San Diego to The Mexican Border
30 plus 6 MAGICAL Miles
Sit down and put everything that comes into your head and you are a writer. But an author is someone who can judge his own stuff’s worth, without pity, and destroy most of it.
SG Colette
Every journey must have an end; my West Coast adventure reached its Finish Line today.
It is yet another gorgeous sunny day in Southern California.
We start along the ocean eventually moving over to Mission Bay Blvd. I am improvising the route as Adventure Cycling chooses some obscure border point near the ocean, dependent on a ferry to Coronado Island, scenic but time dependent. I have also already been on the Silver Strand Bike Trail south of Coronado.
I choose to follow Harbor Ave with a spectacular view of the Downtown San Diego skyline. We quickly reach the working part of the harbor and begin to shadow Interstate 5 going south through Chula Vista and then finally San Ysidro.
I point out the distant hills to Joe, “Mexico”. I then see a massive Mexican flag flying proudly; again I signal to Joe. The search for the border was nonetheless circuitous, to say the least. Ultimately the border was obvious by the scores of people walking, carrying and pulling huge packages to the Other Side. We joined the mass Pilgrimage with our bicycles in tow, our ultimate destination finally in sight after 1,775 hard fought miles.
I smile; I grin from ear to ear; I am beyond elation. I have reached the final goal after 43 days of every type of weather and terrain.
I see the trolley and realize there may be an express route home for $2.50 per person rather than enduring 30 miles of headwinds back to Pacific Beach.
We take the trolley and get off near the University of San Diego; I take a route familiar from two years ago on the Coast2Coast back to Pacific Beach. Life has come full circle.
Paradoxically, I am not ready for the bike ride to end as I ride on Ingraham Road across the gorgeous Mission Bay. I feel as if I could ride forever.
I reach Pacific Beach far too soon.
The ride is over.
I see a sign for pedicures across the street from the cottages. The massage chair and the foot and leg massages are wonderful; I add a manicure along with the accompanying neck and arm massages. I had no idea my muscles in my neck were sore. Yes, I can accustom myself to this life.
I view the spectacular sunset, a gift in itself. Today’s final gift: dinner at Isabel’s Cantina, my favorite restaurant in this area, first discovered with my daughter Rachel six years ago. I use their cookbook faithfully in Mexico; tonight‘s dinner did not disappoint.
Buddha in the corner was an apt closure to this journey.
So long, farewell, Auf wiedersehen, good night,I hate to go and leave this pretty sight.
So long, farewell, Auf wiedersehen, adieu,
Adieu, adieu, to yieu and yieu and yieu.
So long, farewell, Au’voir, auf wiedersehen,
I’d like to stay and taste my first champagne
So long, farewell, Auf wiedersehen, goodbye,
I leave and heave a sigh and say goodbye,Good bye
I’m glad to go,
I cannot tell a lie.
I flit, I float,
I fleetly flee, I fly.
The sun has gone to bed and so mustI
So long, farewell, auf wiedersehen, goodbye,
Goodbye,
Goodbye,
Goodbye!
From “The Sound of Music” (1965). Sung by “the children.”
Addendum:
Surfers and paddle boarders look like little ants on the aquamarine ocean below me. It is a vision I will keep in my mind forever.
See surfers of every age.
Does anyone work here or is it one grand glorious party?
Border to Border 