Winding Down in San Diego

During our last week in Oceanside, we crammed in as many visits with friends as we could.  Every day was filled with good times with good friends.

After our Sprinter Ride, we met Susie Bruun and her daughter (and daugher's husband and son) for dinner at . . . you guessed it . . . Tony's Jacal in Solana Beach.  As we were walking into the restaurant, this big 1960's full-restore Mercury Marquis screeched to a halt right next to us on the street, and a woman rushed out from behind the wheel toward Frank and shouted, "I cannot believe what I am seeing!  I had to stop this car and say hello to Frank.  Where have you been, guy?"  She was one of the support staff at Torrey Pines High School.  I regret not getting a picture of that encounter.

Susie, Linda, and Susie's daughter, Bonnie

The next day, Frank met up with his fast-pitch softball buddies.  Back in the day, their team, The Vista Bombers, enjoyed some national renown as one of the premier fast pitch teams in the nation.  They were ranked up there with the Arizona Turquoise Kings, the Long Beach Nighthawks and the Clearwater Bombers.   Frank spent the day revisiting all those years of competition.

Bernardo, Bernie, Ruben and Frank . . . the Bombers Fearsome Foursome

The following day, Frank and Linda again went down to San Diego so Frank could get together with some other college friends.  Frank and his good friend Bill Leep met at the African-American Museum in the Old Town area of San Diego. 

Frank, Chuck Ambers, Bill Leep in front of the museum

The African-American Museum in Old Town is the work of another Cal Western graduate, Chuck Ambers.  He has a fascinating and unique collection of artifacts, maps and documents on African American history.

The museum is crammed full of interesting artifacts

History, geography, sports . . . everything is covered in here

While the guys were having a good time that afternoon, Linda got in her last shopping and sightseeing in San Diego.

The Star of India on the San Diego Embarcadero

New high rise condos across from the Embarcadero

On the way back to North County, Frank and Linda decided to drive up Interstate 15 to see the now-completed freeway construction.  What a remarkable drive it is now.  In some places the freeway is 18 lanes wide, with a freeway-within-a-freeway bypass system.  

A last stop of the day was at the Camping World store in San Marcos to look at the TV satellite systems for motorhomes.  We were ready to take the plunge to get a satellite system for Pooh, and wanted to check out all the options one more time before plunking down our money.

Another very good day in San Diego.