Early this morning I headed to Ski Beach Park, on Vacation Isle at the center of Mission Bay. I wanted to take photographs of a dramatic post-storm sunrise, and people out on the silver water rowing to cure breast cancer.
If you want to learn more about Susan G. Komen’s annual Row For the Cure event, and perhaps watch or participate next year, check out their website here.
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I live in downtown San Diego and love to walk around with my camera! You can follow Cool San Diego Sights via Facebook or Twitter!
Old Point Loma Lighthouse at Cabrillo National Monument.
I had some more fun altering photographs to make them appear like oil paintings. I selected a number of images from my computer and applied GIMP’s Oilify filter to convert them into splendid works of art!
I also used GIMP’s Cubism filter once. With a couple easy clicks of the mouse, I created some cool impressionistic “paintings” of streets and buildings in downtown San Diego!
Here are my latest productions. Enjoy!
Fishing from the pier at Embarcadero Marina Park South.Sunset over Point Loma across San Diego Bay.View of the Hyatt Regency Marina near the Mission Bay Sportscenter.People wait to cross Mission Boulevard in Mission Beach.The Geisel Library Building at University of California San Diego.Fresh fish for sale at Tuna Harbor Dockside Market.Seagulls fly above San Diego Bay.Walking across the Harbor Drive pedestrian bridge toward Petco Park and the downtown Central Library.The beautiful Casa del Prado in Balboa Park.Lawn bowling in Balboa Park.A flower and window at the International Cottages in Balboa Park.St. Mary’s Chapel and Tower at The Bishop’s School in La Jolla.Junipero Serra Museum on Presidio Hill.Ballet folklórico dancer at Fiesta de Reyes in Old Town San Diego.The historic former Hotel Del Coronado Boathouse.
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I live in downtown San Diego and love to walk around with my camera! You can follow Cool San Diego Sights via Facebook or Twitter!
Walking along Batiquitos Lagoon Trail one fine morning.
Today I headed up the coast to Carlsbad. I wanted to walk along a trail that I heard was very beautiful.
I often drive along Interstate 5 over Batiquitos Lagoon, just north of the La Costa exit, but I never get more than a brief glimpse of the shining water and green margins. So this morning I ditched the car, tightened the laces of my walking shoes, and walked for a bit along the lagoon’s main trail.
Beautiful, indeed.
The two mile trail along the north edge of the tidal wetland and the Nature Center are both maintained by the Batiquitos Lagoon Foundation.A hiker approaches the Batiquitos Lagoon Nature Center from the Gabbiano Lane trailhead.Curious visitors come and go, keeping friendly volunteers at the Nature Center busy.People can purchase a personalized brick to help support the Batiquitos Lagoon Foundation.The Nature Center might be modest, but it is welcoming and full of interesting exhibits.Before entering I saw the Batiquitos Free Lagoon Lovers Library.The very cool Batiquitos Lagoon Nature Center is like a one room jam-packed museum.I see a snowy egret and a Cooper’s hawk.The many different birds that live at the lagoon can be identified by their distinctive eggs.Visitors can closely examine lagoon insects and other creeping, crawling creatures.Various human artifacts on display include Native American Kumeyaay clay pots and tools.A poster shows Carlsbad’s watershed, including the area where fresh water (including San Marcos Creek and Encinitas Creek) flows into Batiquitos Lagoon.As I left the Nature Center, I lingered for a moment on the shady front porch and gazed out toward the nearby lagoon.Next to some picnic benches by the Nature Center, you’ll find a very strange creature lurking. It’s The Creature From Batiquitos Lagoon, by artist Paul Weber, 2003.To the west, Interstate 5 runs over part of the lagoon’s Pacific Ocean tidal inlet. Many drive past this beautiful place without ever stopping to enjoy it.Now we are heading east along the north edge of smooth, blue Batiquitos Lagoon.Several small concrete seats were decorated with colored stone mosaics. This one features a mallard duck.The bright September sunshine on green.The west part of the Lagoon Trail follows tan sandstone cliffs.The cliffs along this stretch belong to the Scripps Formation. The sandstone was deposited in a shallow ocean about 45 million years ago.Approaching a more wooded area at the border of the lagoon.Several short trails head north from the main trail into nearby Carlsbad neighborhoods.I see a mosaic turtle!Many informative signs can be found along the trail. This one lists salt marsh niches, including floating plants, diving birds, wading birds, bottom fish, mud worms and more. It also talks about caring for the environment and human responsibility.A large mudflat shines like silver in the morning sunlight.This enormous tree stands alone near the edge of the water. It has probably lived there for a very long time.Now I see a wading heron!Walking near the lush edge of the tidal marsh. Along here grows a lot of Coyote Brush, and non-native Yellow Mustard.The trail passes over a tiny bridge and a thin stream of water.Bending over I was able to take a photograph of a wood rat den made of twigs and branches.A nearby sign explains the wood rat’s den. Also called pack rats, they build complex houses with various chambers.The white fluffy heads of some non-native pampas grass seem to shimmer in the breeze.Now we are walking right beside the tidal lagoon.Coastal Goldenbush blooms about to open.More beautiful leaves in sunlight.It appears a tall tree fell and was cleared from the path.Walking along a very beautiful trail in coastal San Diego County.Plaque on one bench by the trail. From the high mountains of Colorado to the shores of Batiquitos Lagoon, serenity and peace can be found.More natural beauty.We are near the end of our two mile walk.More late summer beauty.Now we are approaching the eastern end of Batiquitos Lagoon, beyond which runs El Camino Real. Light shines upon life-giving water.
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I live in downtown San Diego and love to walk around with my camera! You can follow Cool San Diego Sights via Facebook or Twitter!
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This morning I was walking to work through Mission Valley, searching right and left for something interesting to photograph, when I had to suddenly laugh at myself. I was passing hundreds of wonders that grew inches from my feet!
Beautiful flowers bloomed all along the city sidewalk!
These photos were taken as I walked up Mission Center Road north of Friars Road, near Civita.
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I live in downtown San Diego and love to walk around with my camera! You can follow Cool San Diego Sights via Facebook or Twitter!
A lush linear park on Cortez Hill, called Tweet Street, has become more and more beautiful with the help of community volunteers!
People who live in downtown San Diego up on the top of Cortez Hill are lucky. We live next to a wonderful refuge: a garden-like linear park called Tweet Street, which runs along several blocks of Date Street and a couple blocks of Tenth Avenue.
Since my last blog post concerning Tweet Street Park, many improvements have been made. And it’s even more beautiful.
Much of the credit goes to the Friends of Tweet Street Park, a group of community volunteers who work to maintain and improve this neighborhood gem. I often see members of the organization out landscaping, raking, pruning, planting flowers, watering, removing litter, and enjoying San Diego’s sunshine as an added bonus.
Thank you.
If you live on Cortez Hill or simply love San Diego, you might want to check out the Friends of Tweet Street Park page on Facebook by clicking here.
You might also want to visit their brand new Go Fund Me page by clicking here. Your tax deductible donation goes toward buying plants, mulch, decorative bark, gardening tools and other necessary items.
I’d like to share some of that new beauty that I enjoy on many of my walks. Here are a few photos which I took today…
A small section of Tweet Street Park near Eighth Avenue and Date Street which has been improved recently.The hard work of the Friends of Tweet Street Park make this neighborhood garden a more inviting place!A bit of beauty planted with human hands.Here’s another improved area along Tenth Avenue, near Cedar Street. This was finished just this weekend!A generous heart and a little bit of muscle make the world a better place for all.
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I live in downtown San Diego and love to walk around with my camera! You can follow Cool San Diego Sights via Facebook or Twitter!
Sunlight brightens west-facing art glass windows inside the passenger deck of the steam ferry Berkeley.
The days are becoming shorter.
Hoping to enjoy every last drop of daylight, this evening I lingered by San Diego Bay.
As the sun neared the horizon, golden light splashed upon two famous museum ships: the steam ferry Berkeley, and the aircraft carrier USS Midway.
The amazing art glass windows of the Berkeley remind one of glowing stained glass found inside cathedrals.Light streams up along the historic ferryboat’s ceiling.Splashes of golden sunlight reflect from the floor, woodwork and empty benches inside the passenger deck of Berkeley.The sun nears the horizon beyond the USS Midway Museum, reflecting like a band of gold on San Diego Bay.Golden sunlight splashes the immense bow of the USS Midway.
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I live in downtown San Diego and love to walk around with my camera! You can follow Cool San Diego Sights via Facebook or Twitter!
A photo of the mural Our River was the first thing I ever posted to Cool San Diego Sights. I had paused during a walk in Mission Valley, and had felt inspired take a few pictures. That was five years ago.
Today I returned to the same mural.
The beautifully painted artwork, depicting the San Diego River as a blue ribbon, has faded a little. Time is inexorable. But the message of unity and care has touched many.
Perhaps life unspools like a river. Sources along the way expand our being. We deepen and grow. Until we finally become a part of that great ocean.
Yesterday I walked to the end of Oceanside Pier. It’s another one of my favorite places.
I experienced sunshine, the sparkle of the Pacific Ocean, a fresh sea breeze, the smell of wood, the cry of seagulls . . . and happy people all around: strolling, fishing, listening to music, talking, eating ice cream, leaning over the rail gazing down at the colorful beach and surfers in the blue water awaiting the perfect wave…
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I live in downtown San Diego and love to walk around with my camera! You can follow Cool San Diego Sights via Facebook or Twitter!
Cool San Diego Sights! 