Spring is the thing this morning

Spring days in Oceanside bring clear Blue sky's more often than not. As I walked this morning I could not help seeing the change from dark nest to the Spring Blue that I have come to know in Oceanside. It comes with a price, it is pretty cool. Sunrise at the beach is worth dressing warm for and getting up early. At 4:00 AM walking along the Strand next to the sand there are no other joggers or walkers. Not until a little before 5:00 AM do those seeking to exercise or comuning with nature arrive, but from then on you will see lots of folks enjoying the beach including surfers . It is quite a show if you consider all the surf spots in Oceanside 3 1/2 miles of beach, a spot for everyone. Now that Spring Break has begun you will see crowds all during the daylight hours.

Of course our sunsets now coming later with daylight savings time in place are just as spectactular as ever. I know that this is just one more small piece that make me the Californian I am.

Beach'n 101 Cruise Returns for 2008

Beach'n 101 Cruise III will mark the third year antique, classic, hot rods, muscle cars and customs will cruise along the beautiful coast line of San Diego. This event was started to bring these incredible vehicles to the coast and show off Historic US Highway 101, the "Mother Road of California." The drive between Oceanside and La Jolla affords looks at the very different communities of Oceanside , Carlsbad , Encinitas , Solana Beach , Del Mar and La Jolla .

The Highway 101 Association the sponsor group is dedicated to preserve and promote the Historic Highway in California and has worked hard to make San Diego North a showpiece of accomplishments of their work. The Association depends upon support by the County of San Diego and the communities where they work as well as individuals.

For those interested in the Cruise go to www.drivethe101 website for information and applications. This years event is September 7, 2008. Hope to see you there to be seen or to be seen.

Visiting San Diego North

It might be overwhelming to visit a new area unless you have the right contacts. I have been to all the places people search out so I can tell you about them. Today we can search for information on the net and do research at our leisure. So I will give you some help finding the right place to go to plan your trip.

If you plan to stay in Oceanside you will find it to be the center of the most popular attractions and going North South and East will be a short drive to these favorite spots.

Every good plan needs to start with a good foundation and the California Welcome Center in Oceanside is that start. You might decide to cruise the Historic 101 from Downtown Oceanside and stop first at the California Surf Museum then you could choose the Quail Botanical Gardens . If you really want a water theme then continue South to the Birch Aquarium . No trip to San Diego would be complete without a stop at SeaWorld , The San Diego Zoo and the Wild Animal Park.

Continuing from Oceanside if you have young children you have to stop at Legoland and depending if your in our area in the summer check out the San Diego County Fair . Maybe you have a need to see our famous Mission San Luis Rey, King of the Missions.

There is no trip to Southern California without a stop at Disneyland about an hour North of Oceanside.

If you need help getting your trip planned then go to San Diego North Convention and Visitor Bureau for help.

Enjoy...............

Old Town San Diego on Historic Highway 101

It may be hard to believe, but Old Town San Diego had a highway through it. The US Highway 101 went right up San Diego Avenue from the beginning until it was replaced by the new location at Pacific Highway.

In this photo you will see the street improvements that we next to the Estudio House in this picture. It was promoted as Ramona's House after the publication of Helen Hunt Jackson's Book Ramona . Of course there were dozens of properties given the title.

It was not until the State purchased the Old Town property that the street was officially closed to traffic.

Sprinter Rail Service Begins

What a great ride! The Sprinter ride was quiet and smooth. It takes less than an hour to get from Downtown Oceanside to Downtown Escondido. A group of us decided to try the first day service and boarded the 11:03 AM train. The train pulled into the station practically full. We all got seats, but we rode the trip backwards. We headed for lunch at the La Tapatia Mexican Restaurant which was built in 1937. Margaritas, Coronas and good food were on tap for our leisurely lunch. The La Tapatia is only three blocks from the Station in Escondido. I can see by this first trip the Sprinter will be a nice vehicle for adventures to our neighboring communities. We met a crowded train station upon our return after lunch. We did have top wait for two trains to board for our trip back to the coast. I would not expect the ride in the future to be crowded because each train will hold 176 people sitting and standing. I can see smooth sailing for the Sprinter service in the future and look forward to more adventures.

California's Mother Road

In 1925 the Federal Government was faced with the dilemma of how to make a national US Highway system easily understood. The trend had been to name Highways after presidents or areas and this muliplied by all the Highways which cross the country would challenge even the best memory. They finally agreed upon a numerical system, which desiginated East-West Highways with even numbers and North-South Highway with odd numbers. This system was adopted, but took years for the signs to appear on most highways. The West Coast US Highway would be designated as US Highway 101. Then as now the large majority of people lived in the coastal area and this new highway would mimic the explosive growth of the Sunshine State.

Torrey Pines is stunning as it hugs the coastal cliffs between La Jolla and Del Mar. It has always been a place of beauty and enchantment. The oldest image shows a car driving up what is now the park road, but once was the coastal route which made up the early US Highway 101 between San Diego and Los Angeles. The color view to the South leaving Del Mar is almost exactly the same as today. No development has taken place to steal away this view. The same view in black and what shows what happens when to many cars clog the route. The last image is an early photo of the grade leaving Del Mar to the North.

The only section of National Register Designated US Highway 101 is in Torrey Pines State Reserve. It is a narrow ribbon of concrete in the Southern part of the Park.