Jamul, CA

We arrived into the Jamul area, east of San Diego, into our membership park called Pio Pico TTN on March 1.  There are two sides of the park, one being the older side with less hookups and the other side that has the adult and family pools, activity centers as well as full hookups to include 50 amp service.  We were lucky to get a large site with full hookups where we could park the motorhome, trailer and Explorer.  Overall we had great weather for the three weeks, averaged about 68 – 82, with a couple of days of partial rain.  Even though higher winds were predicted, we felt very little wind due to being in a hole with mountains all around us. 

Considering we were out in the hills, with no phone/WiFi service where we were parked, we could at least walk to another part of the park to get text messages and download our email and FB, by being very patient and standing out in the middle of the road.  For all other service, we would drive into Jamul or Chula Vista.

The first couple of outings we took the motorcycle and drove up highway 94 E to Jacumba, CA where we saw the fence bordering Mexico.  On the next day we drove up to Oakzanita Springs, another Thousand Trails park which we had heard was very small, and of course confirmed that this would not be a park for us.  Beautiful area, but seemed like we were a long way from anything. 

We then went into Chula Vista to Otay Lakes Reservoir to check that out for kayaking and to update our phones, but found that the Lake is only open three days a week and since it’s used as a water source, you can not get into the water, even to get into the kayak.  Driving to the park, we went by the Olympic Training area and later found out they give tours – hopefully something we will do next time.

Chula Vista Olympic Training Center

Otay Lake

We took another day and went out to Point Loma to the Cabrillo National Monument.  Juan Rodriguez Cabrillo was the first European to set foot on the west coast.  The monument was established in 1913 to commemorate his life and exploration for Spain.  The lighthouse was completed in 1854 and was used for the next 36 years to guide Sailors into the San Diego harbor.  They later determined that the lighthouse was two high on the hill and fog and low clouds often obscured the light so they closed in lighthouse in 1891 and built another lighthouse at the bottom of the hill.  Point Loma was also used as a Military facility during World War I and II, building searchlight bunkers, fire control stations and gun batteries. 

Cabrillo Monument

Cabrillo Lighthouse

San Diego Harbor

We took another day outing to drive up to Carlsbad Flower Fields and then on our way back we drove down Hwy 101 through the coastal towns down to La Jolla. The fields consist of approx. 50 acres of Ranunculus bulbs in 13 colors.  There are also about that two acres dedicated to other flowers to include Orchids, Armstrong nurseries, artists gardens, Rose garden, Poinsettias and Sweet Peas.  The founders of this flower field, were instrumental in creating the double Ranunculus, winter Gladiolus, and grew new strains of Freesia, Anemone, and Poinsettias. 

                                 

LaJolla Shoreline

On Sunday, we went out wine tasting and chose three wineries that were all within a 15 mile radius of the park.  The first winery was on Hwy 94 in Dulzura, called the Dulzara Vineyard & Winery, located on the historic Clark Ranch.  The second winery was a very low key winery, ran by a couple of Boeing engineers who worked in Everett, WA, called the Deerhorn Valley winery and the third winery was Granite Lion Cellars.  We enjoyed all three and will definitely go back.

On another outing we went over to Coronado. and enjoyed the sights.  We walked along the bay around the Community Center and then walked the grounds of the Hotel del Coronado, built in 1887.

We then went across the island after viewing some of their old historic homes, to Tidelands Park and then drove back to San Diego across the Coronado Bridge.

Coronado Bridge

 

Ferry Crossing Between Coronado & San Diego
with USS Midway in the background

Continuing our day trips, we decided to do both Balboa Park and Old Town San Diego on the same day as we only leave Lexie about 5 hours.  Both locations could take a full day and definitely better walking shoes than I wore - next time!  

We walked around various gardens in Balboa park (this is where the San Diego Zoo is located but since we had already been there, we skipped the zoo on this trip).  Balboa Park is about 1,200 acres that were initially developed for the 1915-16 Panama-California Exposition and again for the 1935-36 California Pacific International Exposition.  It is home to 15 major museums, performing art venues, gardens and the Zoo.  We Walked through the Botanical Building with is a lath structure, 250 feel long, 75 feet wide and over 60 feet tall.  It is one of the largest lath structures in the world.  We also walked through the Desert Garden and the Rose Garden.  

Botanical Lath Building and Pond

El Prado Street in Balboa Park

Naked Coral Tree

The bloom on the Coral Tree

Orange Clivia

We then went down to Historic Old Town San Diego and walked through Fiesta De Reyes.  

We felt like we did a lot during the three weeks, but there is so much to see.  Next visit we would like to visit some of these locations and or spend more time in some.  Old Town Trolley Tours, Historic Old Town, Balboa Park, Seaport Village, Tour the Chula Vista Olympic Center and of course visit a few more Wineries.

On Tuesday, March 22 we headed north to spend three weeks at another membership park near Menifee.