so long, solana beach (for now)

So long, Solana Beach, you know we'll return.  So thankful for having found this little seaside community and to have 'learned' it so well.  It will always feel like a place where we can 'set up camp' and feel totally 'at home.'  Gonna miss those train whistles at all hours of the day and night, for sure!

  

Although it's too expansive too capture in one picture, one of our favorite adages, attributed to Albert Einstein, which is part of the sidewalk artistry in Solana Beach reads....."Life is like a bicycle.  To keep your balance you must keep moving."  Yep.

Once the Coaster arrived in San Diego, we called the Harbor Island Hilton and pretty soon the shuttle showed up and ferried us to our 'home' for the weekend.  As soon as we unpacked a very few things, we hit the walking path along the bay across the street from the hotel and this was our view of the city.

Harbor Island boasts the first vertical wind turbine in the U.S.  I know it's probably much less expensive than those beautiful wind turbines out near Weatherford on I-44, but they sure are part of the iconic look of that drive!

 

Later last night we enjoyed a wonderful moonlight walk just across the street from our hotel, with the Bay lapping up on the rock embankment.  The lights of San Diego were beautiful!



The hero of the day was the kind hotel shuttle driver (a fan of The Rock Church), who, although he couldn't drive us to church, did suggest that he COULD drive us to the airport (which was within his legit route) and that would shave 1 1/2 miles off of the 6 mile round trip which he knew we were going to be walking.  That got us off to great start this morning and we thoroughly enjoyed another morning at The Rock Church.

On the way to church we walked over a bridge and had a bit of a 'kayaking daydream' while looking at this lovely, calm inlet.

On the way by to the hotel after church we saw this very wonderful multi-figure brass scuplture garden celebrating cancer survivors on the Spanish Landing portion of Harbor Island.


We spent some lazy time in the hot tub, enjoying some sun by the pool and resting this afternoon.

 We'd heard about a study done recently that suggested that when people post pics of food and events they actually enjoy them less.  So we even discussed this with our very personable waiter, Jesse, at Level C~Island Prime on Harbor Island, and we all decided it was worth the risk.  We shared baby spinach salad with grilled shrimp and lobster truffle mac'n cheese......and (with all due resepct) we think those people who did that study don't really know what they're talking about.  Beyond yummerlicious!  It was a good thing we had a two mile walk to and from the restaurant....it's gonna that (and a whole lot more to work off these delicious calories!)


The skyline, at sunset, from the end of Harbor Island, of one of our favorite cities.  Even though our time here has come to an end, San Diego, you'll always have a special place in our hearts.............Tulsa and family, here we come!