Balboa Park
Before we left San Diego (this time) we had one final surprise. Since arriving I had seen Balboa Park on the city maps but we hadn’t the time to get to it so for this day we made time. Wow, what a beautiful city park. In 1868 five citizens of San Diego petitioned and dedicated these 1400 acres of Pueblo lands to forever be a public park. There is much more to it than just the section we visited which contains the most magnificent Spanish Colonial Revival style architecture buildings we have seen. The confines of the park contain 17 museums filled with everything from dinosaurs to space travel, science to the study of humankind, photographs to old masters, and automobiles to orchids. It is also a place to enjoy plays, musicals, orchestras, ballet, heritage dancing, song, and the World Famous San Diego Zoo.
Just a Small Walk in a Big Park.
Arriving at this central village you drive through a tunnel to the plaza. We found parking just behind the Spreckels Organ and Pavillion which put us between the Space Museum (last photo) the main centre. Walking from our car we passed the Japanese Peace Garden, Spreckels Organ into the main square. We were pleasantly surprised to find a plaque with a dedication to those who fought on the Poppy Fields of Flanders. The scene surrounding the main square, as you can see, is made up of magnificently detailed buildings in the Spanish Revival Style. The buildings here were constructed around 1915 for the Panama-California Exposition when the park (originally named as “City Park) was renamed Balboa Park after the famous explorer and navigator Vasco De Balboa.
A Little Touch of Home
From the main square we set out past Cas del Prado to enjoy what we could before a lack of time or energy got us. Our first stop was the oddly shaped Botanical Garden house and the ponds that sit in front of it. We were a bit disappointed with the plants on show but in their defence growing tropical plants in a sub-tropical climate like San Diego is not easy. At the end of this avenue however is a pretty fountain and an iconic tree to San Diegans’ which is a native Australian Moreton Bay Fig of ginormous dimensions.
Arty and Crafty
Just off to the side is the Spanish Village Art Centre where colour is king. There are over 200 artisans in this location and you can watch them paint, carve, sculpt and create all you want. This is a nice location to pause for a cold drink and absorb the atmosphere. At this location you are within a stone’s throw of the world famous San Diego Zoo which many of you may have seen on TV in nature doco’s.
Towering Gloriously over us.
Satiated by a simple lunch we returned through the main avenue to the opposite side of the plaza where we came across a replica of Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre where many plays and recitals are held on a nightly basis (the original sits on the banks of the River Thames in London). Just beyond the Globe is the entry tunnel through which we drove in and the most gorgeous tower and dome I have ever seen. This building houses the Museum of Man which covers race,culture and the connections between all the earth’s people. The tower and dome are under renovation at this moment but its’ magnificence is still visible and awe inspiring.
On to Bigger Things Literally.
That wraps up San Diego and after a day or so we packed up and headed north with an aim to see Yosemite National Park, the Giant Sequoias and that fabulous coast drive from Monterey to Ventura. We had just two weeks to do this as we found out that back in San Diego there was the annual air show at Marine Corps Air Station Miramar at the end of the month. Who’d miss an air show at Top Gun School?
Enviro Vandals or Economic Saviours?
A number of posts ago I published some photos of wind generators and solar farms throughout our travels. One of my navy brothers, Ian, commented on my question about which was worse, wind/solar farms or conventional coal mines/oil drills. Well I start this gallery with some pictures from both sides of the argument. The first is a composite of 4 photos of wind generators that covered the entire mountain range in front of us with wind generators. We were to learn later on our return down the same route that the other side of the range was identically covered. Even if you zoom in you can’t see the smaller windmills on the top of the ridges. On the other hand there are two photos here of oil fields on the road to Bakersfield our next port of call. I am not sure which is more visually polluting. The oil fields or the forest of windmills?
A Drive in the Country
As mentioned we stayed at Bakersfield in a very well kept RV Park but sadly the road noise from the adjacent highway meant little sleep. After scoping out the route we did a loop road that would lead us up some windy (that’s wine-dee not win-dee) roads through farming country into the mountainous areas known as the land of the Giant Sequoias. Again the photos seem to de-dramatise the scenery which was breathtaking.
Giant Trees
Eventually we arrived at the heart of the Giant Sequoias National Forest where these massive trees grow. Many of these trees are over 2000 years old (the “twins” photographed have been dated at 1800 years old) and this particular area is at the lower part of their altitudinal range at 5000 feet above sea level. I have to tell you that standing at the bottom of these humungous living things and looking up makes you feel really tiny. They are indeed a magnificent thing.
The Road Back Home
After a chat with the ranger and a couple of sandwiches we continued our loop journey only to find that it was more windy than the road up here. Also the trees are not the only thing of beauty in this forest. Granite outcrops, roadside waterfalls and cavernous valleys make it difficult to keep your eyes on the road when driving. All up we covered around 150 miles through some beautiful country and got home around sunset.
You Can’t Miss The Next Blog Post
That’s it for now but whatever you do keep your eyes open for the next blog. The Acorn Festival is a fantastic native American Indian Pow Wow that you shouldn’t miss.
Cheers for now
Garry & Shane