San Diego 59-mile Drive

We left Port Hueneme on the 26 February and drove through Los Angeles for our next stop in San Diego.  We spent 4 nights at Admiral Baker RV Park.  It is managed by San Diego Naval Station.  It is a small park and spaces are a little tight but it is a great location.  Weather was beautiful and we were able to play tourist.  We decided to take San Diego's 59-mile scenic drive and see some of the city's most outstanding attractions. It says you can do it in about 3 hours, but that is if you don't make any stops.  I guess we made too many stops...we didn't finish the drive.  The 59-mile drive started at the Embarcadero, the area along the San Diego harbor. The Embarcadero is home to the San Diego cruise ship terminal, the USS Midway, the Star of India and other historic vessels belonging to the San Diego Maritime Museum.

 The Star of India, built in 1863 is an iron hulled square rigged sailing vessel that has circled the globe 27 times.  It is sea worthy.

B-59 diesel-electric submarine of the Soviet Navy 

The ferryboat Berkeley, built in 1898, was used for 60 years in San Francisco Bay

We drove along the harbor to Harbor Island, a man made island.  There are several hotels and restaurants on the island and beautiful views of the city.

We left Harbor Island and continued to Shelter Island.  This island, also man made, was once a submerged shoal. Most of San Diego's sportfishing fleet is docked here. On the tip of the island you will find the "YOKOHAMA FRIENDSHIP BELL".  Yokohama is San Diego's sister city in Japan. THE TUNA MAN'S MEMORIAL was dedicated in 1986 to honor the tuna fishermen who helped build San Diego's large tuna industry.

We continued driving to the CABRILLO NATIONAL MONUMENT. Sailing under the flag of Imperial Spain, Juan Rodriguez Cabrillo set out to search for the Strait of Anian, believed to be the passage linking the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans. On September 28, 1542, with two ships, the San Salvador and the La Victoria, he sailed into San Diego bay naming it San Miguel after the Archangel Saint Michael. Sixty years later, on the feast day of the Franciscan Saint Didacus, or Saint de Alcala de Henares, Sebastian Vizcaino renamed the port San Diego de Alcala.

 

The Old Point Loma Light House began operating in 1855. Standing 462 feet above sea level, the light house was built with lights but, without a foghorn. It has been restored to its former residential style and is open to the public on special occasions. Because the original lighthouse was often obscured by fog and therefore unable to guide ships into the bay, another lighthouse was built at sea level in 1891, and is still in use today.

We left the monument and drove down to Sunset Cliff a popular surfing spot.  Not many surfers out, but a nice place to stop.

We next headed up to Soledad Mountain and a stop at Mt Soledad Park.  At this lookout point you can see San Diego County for miles in every direction.  The Mt Soledad cross, 43 feet high, was dedicated in 1954 to honor the nation's war dead.

Our last drive was to Coronado Island and a drive past Hotel Del Coronado. The Hotel was completed in February 1888. It was one of the world's largest wooden buildings and is an example of elegant Victorian architecture. In the late 1800's Thomas A. Edison supervised the installation of electricity. Guest rooms displayed small signs stating: "This room is equipped with the Edison Electric Light. Do not attempt to light with a match. Simply turn key on the wall by the door. The use of electricity for lighting is in no way harmful to health, nor does it affect soundness of sleep".