7 Days solo roadtrip in most southern parts of California 2017 (Part 2of4)
Hello San Diego, the weather was cloudy in the morning then rain in the afternoon...Good reason to the shore in the morning then get out to desert in the afternoon.
Day 3
Cabrillo National Park 13min (5.1mi) from the Hostel, I noted on my list that this place is closed at 4.30pm, but did not note that it is opened at 9am. So I see myself sat in a car waiting for the gate to be opened. Luckily it was not be too long and I had a good breakfast at my hostel. There was one car in front of me. Finally, it was opened. $10 fee per vehicle I asked the officer about sea cave which he told me it is closed. I went to Monument. View of the ocean and light house were beautiful. Little museum near the light house was great. Many humming birds on trails. And I could see a tide pools from up top. There is another parking closed to tide pools trail. Normally you could have to walk closed to the ocean a good tide pools area at low tide.
Day I was there, it was high tide, so I could was sitting on the cliff watching seals and people surfing. Impossible to get to sea cave. In fact, if it is prohibit to go the Point Loma Sea Cave, you could go to La Jolla, (read "La-hoy-ah) Sunny Jim Cave
La Jolla 33min (17mi) from Point Loma. La Jolla is a beach town. There is a Sunny Jim Cave likes a tunnel to a sea cave. The access is via the Cave Store $4 10am-5pm the place was unique place, just got down the steps then you see yourself in the sea cave. La Jolla got public beach, shopping stores and restaurants style ocean front. Good time for Starbucks Matcha Frappuccino to flight heat and some butter croissants for lunch later.
Carlsbad Ranch 32min (24mi) from La Jolla $15 9am-6pm Flower fields. You could see this fields from interstate. It is different between flower you have grown and in nature. It looked good for city flower fields, but my trip had seen bigger. I love nature more. Especially, this afternoon I had planed to see a super bloom wildflower in dessert. So, I spend really short time there. If you like shopping this place is next to the outlet. Traffic out San Diego could be another nightmare so considered time to hit the road.
Wildflower and geology in west coast of America are amazing. I have read and see pictures from Instagram, Facebook and Pinterest. I was so excited to get up every days because I know there were so many amazing things waiting for me to see. I had seen them all in my imagination, waiting for my owned experience. After this part, my solo road trip had rule;
- filled in gas tank not let it less than half tank any time I could
- filled gas before dark
- if I had question if it would be any problems do not do it
- keep drinking water and have fresh fruit
- check wifi, search for direction while I could and keep GPS on
- at least let one person know where I am and what I do, keep track of me
- recharge all batteries
- when walked the trails remember what I expected to see.
- open mind and have fun.
Welcome to my impressions part of me, desert, sun and my road trip.
Anza Borrego Desert 1hr 57min (81mi) from Carlsbad, the split mountain 400ft rad walls and news past few weeks before my trip about 2017 super bloom in 20 years. It was almost 5pm when I got there. I was lucky to just had last minute checked in Visitor Center of this park. Bad news, the super bloom here was gone about week ago because on bloomed they got rain and strong wind. Well, I got what it was, deal with nature not garden. This park is beautiful. I learned to know looking for tree and flower in desert look for elevation and geology. Making me to understand why the elevation sign on the road helps a tourist. Even super bloom passed Anza Borrego offered many fantastic scenery and desert plants. Before leaving the park I checked on the next destination found out that I could not make to Salvation mountain on time. I had to hold on to it and headed to the campsite for tonight.
Salton Sea State Recreation Area 1hr 15min (64mi) there are many space for campsite, restroom but no shower. I got there around 5.30pm self registered overnight fee $20 Before I got here, I did not know what to expect. Salton Sea, my first alone campsite was not lonely because area is closed to train track. I could hear the trains all night long. Campsite is available most of the time, so stayed here better than Joshua Tree campsite which always full. Beaches here are grounded up with shells and barnacles. Some people called "ghost town", perfect for my first solo campsite experience. I love this place and would
not think twice to come back.
Day 4
Salvation Mountain 38min (36mi) from campsite. Since yesterday I could not get to this place on time, this morning I had to drive here and back same way. Road between this places mostly Salton sea scenic.
There is border patrol on the way back so proved of your residential is needed. "God is Love" concept is everywhere and I could feel it when I over heard the artist talked to the man who camp at the property. "You could stay here as long as I am here" sounds so generous warm. Colorful mountain art piece clearly speaks out itself of his art.
Joshua Tree National Park 1hr 13min (64mi) from Salvation Mountain I found a place for coffee, ate breakfast and packed my lunch before I got to the National Park. Park fee $25. On the way, you would see many ocotillo plant which it blooms flaming scarlet flower on Spring.
3 miles before get to Cotton Woods Spring was wildflower sprung area. Next stop is a cactus garden, please be caution of cactus. Their thorn are so danger. Wear covered shoe for your safety. I bumped in cactus while talking picture. It was so hurt and cactus got me likes a puncture treatment on my hip. I had to picked those thorns out with my shaking hand one by one...ashhh! crazy.
