If there has been an anthem to this trip, it definitely would be Follow the Sun by Javier Lopez. Every lyric of that song resonates with me. I love the sun, water, and fresh air. I especially love sunsets and the spiritual vibe they generate. I think they're God's way of reminding us of the inherent value in slowing down, embracing tranquility, and connecting with the world around us. To be honest, I would probably like sunrises just as much if I could get up in time to see them. But an early riser I am not. I usually don’t get going until mid- morning on most days.
I've chased many sunsets across the country but, I have yet to see one that matches a California sunset. Whether it is the beach, desert, mountain or canyon, there is something so magical about that panorama. It has a serene peaceful ambience that just intoxicates me.
Here are some sunsets I captured during the past few weeks.
Day 3 of the bike trail ride to Ocean Beach, Mission Beach, Pacific Beach, La Jolla and Torrey Pines (32.7 miles)
The third leg of the bike trail was definitely the most difficult by far. The ride included Ocean Beach, Mission Beach, Pacific Beach, La Jolla and Torrey Pines State Park. The wind was kicking ass and the inclines were a killer on my legs. I took every opportunity to stop for water , pictures or rest especially between Pacific Beach and Torrey Pines State Park. The massive payoff was the beautiful landscape though. The La Jolla area definitely has some of the best views in SoCal.
Pacific Beach La Jolla Cove
The picture doesn't give those Mission Beach Scripps Beach- La Jolla
inclines justice.
The Final Leg of the Bike Trail
The fourth and final leg of the bike trail was Del Mar, Solana Beach, Encinitas, Carlsbad and Oceanside. The highlight of the trip was seeing Camp Pendleton soldiers on a military exercise on the beach. (23 miles)
** The song Surfin' U.S.A. by The Beach Boys references many surfing spots along the Pacific Coast Bike Trial. I passed four of them along the way: Swami's, Trestles, La Jolla and San Onofre.
Del Mar Beach Encinitas Taco Stand Duke the dog in Carlsbad Voted #1 Street Tacos
Surfing at Swami's Beach
The next few days took me to the southern quarter of California, where the lower Colorado and Mojave Deserts meet at Joshua Tree National Park. From there I ventured to the Salton Sea, Slab City, Salvation Mountain, before making my way back to San Diego. Aside from Joshua Tree National Park, the other places are rather obscure and definitely not widely popular tourist destinations. Those are what I call hidden gems. Because I am an avid watcher of documentaries on YouTube and the Discovery channel, I stumbled upon these particular novelties and was fascinated by them. As far back as I can remember, I have always had an acute interest in the idiosyncrasies of people and places. I guess it is the social worker side of me. So, after many hours of researching, I was determined to set out to see them my own eyes.
Salvation Mountain
Located just east of California State Route 111, the entrance to Slab City is easily recognized by the colorful Salvation Mountain, which is a small hill approximately three stories tall and entirely covered in latex paint, concrete and adobe, and festooned with Bible verses. It was a project built over two decades by Slab City resident Leonard Knight. The work is a 50 ft-tall piece of religious folk art. In 2002, Salvation Mountain was named a Congressional National Folk-Art Treasure.
Slab City
Slab City, also called The Slabs, is an unincorporated, off-the-grid alternative lifestyle community in the Salton Trough area of the Sonoran Desert, Slab City is known for attracting people who want to live outside mainstream society. It has a free lending library and an outdoor music venue called The Range. The settlement also has an internet cafe, a hostel, and a skatepark built inside what remains of the military base swimming pool.
Bombay Beach was once a popular getaway for beachgoers until the 1980s, when the draining and increasing salinity of the Salton Sea destroyed the lake's ecosystem and drove businesses and private landowners out of the area, rendering Bombay Beach a ghost town. Despite this, by 2018, a number of people had moved into the area, and the town's many abandoned structures and features from its past have drawn visitors back in. Bombay Beach is now enjoying a rebirth of sorts with an influx of artists, intellectuals and hipsters who have turned it into a bohemian playground." The Bombay Beach Biennale, an annual art festival, is held here.
Salton Sea Bombay Beach
Art on Bombay Beach
Interesting Fact:
*The lithium in the Salton Sea could produce batteries for more than 375 million electric vehicles.
Joshua Tree National Park
A place where two distinct desert ecosystems, the Mojave and the Colorado, come together in Joshua Tree National Park. A fascinating variety of plants and animals make their homes in a land sculpted by strong winds and occasional torrents of rain. Dark night skies, a rich cultural history, and surreal geologic features add to the wonder of this vast wilderness in southern California.
Cholla Cactus Gardens
Key's View Skull Rock
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