Week 11: Shelter Island

So today's beach walk takes us to Shelter Island.  60 years ago, this little spit of land would not have been there for us to walk along except maybe at low tide.  The late 50's early 60's, however were the golden age of civil engineering in this country and many public works were built then that seem less likely in the present time, among them Shelter Island:

A little piece of America's perspective on the South Pacific from the early 1960's.  Havign long believed myself to be more a creature of the late 60's I spent a bit of my life thinking myself to be something different.  It is said that San Diego has neighborhoods for tourists and neighborhoods for locals.  This has always seemed more a destination for tourists of an older generation.  As a result it was new to us and full of surprises.  Our walk along the 1.4 mile length of shoreline was one of our shorter journeys, but most rewarding all the same.

We are clearly entering the land from another time

There has been what passes for rain around here, some momentary sprinkles on and off for ~ 24 hours.   When we left the skies were overcast, but by the time we arrived here ~ 10 minutes later the sun had emerged.  We're in a regime of shorter walks in the morning for now until we reach Coronado.

Looking back at the start point of Thursday's walk

Love the reflection of these apartment buildings in the water

One of many odd and wonderful sculptures on Shelter Island

One of the remarkable and pleasant surprises of Shelter Island is all the sculptures and south pacific themed architecture.  San Diego Boasts a sisterhood with many cities around the world, including Yokohama, Japan and Vladivostok, Russia, both of which are seaside cities in their respective countries.  I was surprised to find out that San Diego was a leader in the sister cities and for a moment reflected on this.

Anita basks in the dawn light

Cool mermaids

The RV Gordon Sproul sets sail for oceanographic research

A little story about the: RV Sproul.  A few months back just before we began our beach walk, Anita and I were in Coronado when we saw the waves begin to biolumenesce.  As we played out in the waves and the biolumenescent water washed over us, We saw a strange looking boat motoring near us.  It seemed quite close to shore and we wondered what they were up to.  Turns out ti was likely the Sproul you see above researching the dinoflagellate bloom.  Kinda awesome,

The Japanese Friendship Bell

Skyline across the water

A view of the Coronado Islands

A monument to all the great fishermen lost at sea

 In contrast to the last few episodes of beach walk the ground visibility was excellent, We could see the skyline growing ever larger as we headed northeast.  The Coronado Islands in Mexico, first visible in Cabrillo were now far clearer.

This boy misbehaved on his family vacation and was turned to bronze.

 Making our way furhter down the footpath we found ourselves keeping pace with two older fellows who were looking through the trash cans.  Eventually some dude in a cowboy hat got all irate with them.  Overhearing their conversation they seemed decent enough and It wasn't like they were making a mess of the place.  I tried to offer a smile in hopes that whatever conflict was brewing would be mellowed by it.  this kindness was repaid by a awkward hello as our paths crossed a 1/4 mile later.

Lots of Bougainvillea covered awnings 

A sandy beach drenched in sunlight

Ships moored in the bay

That's the end of the sand, it didn't last.

I love this shot of the cliffs of Point Loma and the island in the mists

While it may not look like it there were actually a fair number of people out for so early in the morning.  It seems far more common to retread one's steps time and time again than to keep going and see what's on the other side.  Anita was generally moving faster than I was for much of the journey, at least until she got the camera at which point I began walking faster.  It seems having the camera makes one slow down.  We were getting passed by all sorts of people who didn't appear in particularly great health, and yet in the end we will have travelled farther than the fittest of them all.  We are not in a hurry.  Actually we are today, Anita's job starts at 9 am  and is a 45 minute drive away (including a stop back at the house), but even with deadlines and train schedules we cannot be rushed that much.

Some kind of concert venue sporting the south pacific theme

They don't build public sculptures like this anymore.  Wild! 

If you come at the right time the sun will shimmer off the spiral.  

The eye is watching you inside here. 

I await teleportation.

More wavy tilework

Another cool looking light

Lots of palms everywhere

As we approached the bali Hai restaraunt, which marked the endpoint of our journey and where I would pick up the bike and ride back to get the car we found ourselves slowing even more.   I had been here once before 2 an 1/2 years ago for a conference dinner.   I had been suffering from a 2 day long hangover and found myself taking refuge from the overstimulation by climbing a tree.  The tree is still there.  I likely have a higher tolerance now.  I still get overstimulated at conferences and self medicate.  I've been thinking a lot about this lately.  Anita has a different outlook on this sort of lifestyle, one i find refreshing even if I don't adopt it wholeheartedly.  Clearly we have much to show one another in this world still.

More tropical palm trees.

A nice specimen 

The city skyline a mile close now

Bali Hai, at the east end of the Island we have arrived

I stand in front of the city skyline

Looking across America's cup harbor

Skyline reflected in the window makes or interesting colors

The eye of Bali Hai is watching.

I was hit with quite the headwind as I rode back to the car.  The Sky began to darken a little as it the weather had not yet passed completely.  In the end we made it to Anita's work with 5 minutes to spare.  Until the next time . . .