Lots of music was being played during today’s Mormon Battalion Commemoration event in Old Town San Diego.
I love history. So I was thrilled to stumble upon a special event today in Old Town San Diego!
The Mormon Battalion Commemoration is an annual celebration that recalls a part of San Diego’s diverse, often surprising history. The battalion was formed in 1846. Composed of members of the Latter Day Saints and led by regular U.S. Army officers, over 500 men and several dozen women and children set out from Council Bluffs, Iowa and endured an almost 2,000 mile march to San Diego. Their presence in San Diego and several other locations in Southern California helped to support the eventual cession of much of the American Southwest from Mexico to the United States. Many members of the Mormon Battalion went on to play leading roles in the settlement of the West.
Of course, history–like life itself–is a complex thing that can be told and interpreted from many differing viewpoints. Happy reenactments don’t tell the entire story. But among so many costumes and demonstrations, one can start to imagine what life appeared like in San Diego over a century and a half ago.
I ambled around Old Town’s central plaza, spoke to some very friendly folks and took a few photos.
When I saw this rider on horseback as I entered Old Town this afternoon, I knew something special was going on!The public was welcome to this celebration of the Mormon Battalion. It included a parade, which I unfortunately missed.I saw kids in covered wagons, folks on horseback, and just a big whirl of activity all around Old Town today!We are commemorating the end of one of the longest military marches in U.S. Military History. Five hundred soldiers known as the Mormon Battalion marched from Council Bluffs, Iowa to San Diego, CA. In addition…there were 35 women and 45 children.Various exhibits recreated aspects of camp life, and life in San Diego during the mid-19th century.Treats on a stick. Lots of families were present for the very popular history-based event.One tent explained the hardships of women settling the West, and what life was like as a laundress.Lots of folks were about Old Town San Diego State Historic Park in period costume. Many people participating in the event were themselves Mormons.More unique and colorful costumes worn to help reenact a fascinating period of local history.Traditional folklorico dancing on a stage in Old Town. A strong Mexican heritage is a vibrant part of San Diego history.During the festivities, a large crowd enjoyed music, dance, food and all sorts of interesting sights.Contestants in a Dutch Oven Bake Off prepare their tasty concoctions for the judges.Young people were shown how clay bricks were made in the early days of San Diego.I was told this fabric would be used in the making of dolls.These ladies on horseback and in a fancy miniature donkey-driven cart were being photographed right and left. Wearing elegant frilly dresses and holding parasols, they delighted everybody!One booth in Old Town’s central plaza had a quilt-making demonstration, where kids could learn about the craft.Of course, there were many historical exhibits that told the Mormon Battalion’s story and described their contributions to San Diego’s early life and culture.The Liberty Stand explained how Mormons believe in the vision of America’s founding fathers, and their belief in values delineated by the U.S. Constitution.Another demonstration had folks grinding nuts and seeds, a skill adapted from Native American Kumeyaay who lived in this region long before Europeans.A guitar and a banjo create upbeat frontier-style music.This nice lady at an information stand gave the thumbs up for my camera!I wandered behind Seeley Stable because I noticed their famous blacksmith demonstration was open today!This lady was hammering glowing red hot iron while kids watched.A miniature donkey pulls an elegant cart!
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Car deep in the water. The flooded lower level of a Fashion Valley mall parking garage in San Diego’s Mission Valley.
Occasionally I post not-so-cool photos on my blog. Here are some that are noteworthy. I took these this morning while walking through a section of Mission Valley on my way to work. Because it lies right next to the San Diego River, the area is notorious for catastrophic flooding.
Yesterday we had a storm that brought intense rain to our region. It was the second winter storm of this El Nino year. Today we’re having our third storm, and it looks to be fairly rainy for many days to come.
Of course, after California’s long drought, we need the water. Unfortunately, the rain that falls in Mission Valley and many other parts of San Diego isn’t captured–it simply runs off into the ocean. I hope there isn’t too much damage caused this winter by El Nino. To my blog’s followers who are affected, take care!
The morning after an early winter storm during an El Nino year. The sun is out as people cross the San Diego River near the Fashion Valley Transit Center.Areas along the San Diego River are notorious for flooding. Yesterday a long deluge raised the water to an unusually high level.A couple dozen cars were spotted flooded at the Fashion Valley shopping mall. This one was stranded not far from Macy’s, which also suffered some flooding inside the store.More cars abandoned in the flood. Many storms are in line to strike San Diego in the coming days during this El Nino year.The bike and pedestrian pathway beneath Highway 163 flooded and was impassable. The nearby river was swollen with the recent rain.A beautiful morning photo of the San Diego River taken from Mission Center Road. This spot floods during severe storms and traffic must be diverted.A barrier stands ready for the next storm. It looks to be a long, watery winter!
Decks don’t last forever. Our Star’s decks have reached the end of their lifetime and now Star of India is in need of YOUR help.
The Star of India is one of the most famous and important historic ships afloat. Built in 1863, she’s the oldest active sailing vessel in the world and the oldest iron-hulled merchant ship still on the water. She has sailed twenty-one times around the world, surviving the tempests of Cape Horn. She has been caught in a devastating cyclone, trapped in Alaskan ice, and even went aground in Hawaii. She still plies the Pacific Ocean with a volunteer crew. And her hull, cabins and equipment are almost completely original.
So it isn’t surprising the deck needs a bit of help.
“…Our museum is working as part of an international effort to see Star of India inscribed, along with other great historic ships, by UNESCO as a multi-national world heritage site. Like the Parthenon, the Pyramids, and the Great Wall of China, such a distinction would…see that she lives forever.”
Wow!
Right now, the main deck and poop deck need replacing. The wooden decks have come to the end of their lifetime. The Star of India “was recently awarded a $192,000 National Parks Service Maritime Heritage Grant, one of very few such awards and a testimony to both her historical significance and to the viability of the project for extending her life. However, these funds are available to Star of India only if they are matched by an equal amount contributed by those who love her and want to see her sail for generations to come.”
With YOUR contribution, you can become part of an eternal legacy and help to preserve an important part of world (and San Diego) history. That’s big, very important stuff!
Looking along the length of the main deck of Star of India. Deck replacement is needed and so is the generous help of the public.Parts of the wooden deck are in pretty bad shape. Feet, salt, sun and rain have taken their toll.The Star of India is a National Historic Landmark. The oldest active sailing ship in the world, it’s a treasured part of San Diego and world history.Visitors descend from the poop deck. Beautiful woodwork is found all about the ship. But the elements can be harsh.A very old photo of Star of India’s launching day in 1863. Originally it was named Euterpe.Photo of Euterpe, later renamed Star of India, docked at Port Chalmers, Otago, New Zealand in 1883.Exquisite section of the stained glass skylight in the teak and oak paneled saloon of the Star of India.Peeking into Star of India’s forward house, which contains ropes, tools and instruments which were necessary to maintain and operate the tall ship.I believe that long timber supported by the forward house and forecastle is the top section of the foremast, which is being refurbished. But I might be mistaken.The Star of India’s steering wheel and binnacle on the poop deck.The Star of India needs YOUR help! Donate today to help replace the deck, and to preserve this amazing ship for generations to come.
In the newsletter, they are calling for donations to the Friends of Balboa Park Endowment Fund. One generous donor has offered to match gifts made to the endowment during 2015, up to $500,000. That means every dollar you give before the end of this year will likely be doubled.
If you’ve ever been to Balboa Park, you know how special it is. Please consider giving a donation. To do so, click here.
Over the past hundred years, countless millions of people from around the world have enjoyed visiting the park. They have experienced so much joy. Let’s make sure the next hundred years are just as wonderful.
Plaque at east end of Cabrillo Bridge. To commemorate the foresight and civic wisdom of the founders of Balboa Park this tablet is erected by the people of San Diego.View of the Natural History Museum from a point near the Reuben H. Fleet Science Center.History comes alive in one small section of the Casa del Prado’s fantastic facade.People enjoy the grass near the Botanical Building.Exploring life and beauty in Balboa Park’s reflecting pool.More natural beauty along Sixth Avenue, the west edge of immense Balboa Park.A view of the Alcazar Garden from above.An artistic face in a fountain by the Old Globe Theatre.The House of Charm and California Tower in silhouette as day ends.It’s the holiday season. Make a donation to the Friends of Balboa Park, and it will be an enduring gift to the entire world.
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Photo of guy surfing near the pilings of the awesome Ocean Beach Municipal Pier.
The Ocean Beach pier is one of my favorite, favorite places in all of San Diego. Why? Check out these photos!
The beach near the foot of the OB pier is a favorite place in San Diego for tourists and locals alike.Climbing up to the high pier from the beach boardwalk below. This is almost like a stairway to heaven!Guy at top of the steps looks down to greet surfer on the sand below!Loads of surfers are out on the Pacific Ocean on this perfect late summer day. The water is warm and the waves have nice form.Looking down the Ocean Beach Municipal Pier, my own favorite pier in San Diego. It’s long and always jammed with cool sights!Kids gaze over the rail at surfers directly below. The action is amazing today!Two surfers wait for a good wave.This guy caught one, and is riding it in toward the shore, just south of the pier. That low wall you see on the right belonged to the long-defunct saltwater Plunge.Pick a wave any wave! The OB vibe is laid-back and life-loving!Photo of someone on the foaming crest of a curler.Two surfers share a wave side-by-side. They went completely under the pier and came out the other side!This surf dude caught himself a sweet liquid ride!While surfers catch cool waves, people farther down the OB pier try to catch some big fish!These fishermen at the t-shaped end of the pier are trying to catch bass, bonito, mackerel, or just about anything that bites!When you stand at the very end of the Ocean Beach pier, you feel like you’re far out on the ocean. I love it!Someone’s got something big on their line! A kid leans way over the rail to see!He’s got a nicely sized bonito! Everyone likes catching this active fish closely related to the tuna. It puts up a good fight!And these guys caught a really big Calico bass! The fish are definitely biting today!
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The Ocean Beach Municipal Pier was the place to eat an awesome pancake breakfast this morning!
This morning a very cool local event took place. The annual Ocean Beach Pier Pancake Breakfast was held near the end of the long OB pier!
Proceeds from the breakfast are used to fund the OB Food and Toy Drive, which benefits many families in the beach community who could use a helping hand. This tasty event is put on each year by the Ocean Beach Town Council!
Enjoy a few photos!
The Annual Ocean Beach Pier Pancake Breakfast raised funds for the Ocean Beach Christmas Food and Toy Drive.The Ocean Beach Town Council puts on the cool event. Some people bought tickets at the foot of the pier from Team Pancake members!Here comes the OB Pier Pancake Breakfast Shuttle!A long line of hungry folks waits near the much-beloved Ocean Beach pier cafe, which has been a cool place to go for many years.Various tables in front of the WOW Cafe had sumptuous, mouth-watering goodies ready to eat.A few people were lucky to enjoy breakfast right at the edge of the pier. This might be one of the most scenic dining spots in San Diego!These hungry guys have their hands full of super yummy pancakes, eggs and sausage!There was even live music just outside the pier’s unique cafe high over the Pacific Ocean.Tables were arranged near the end of the pier for the special, super popular annual event.I tried not to stare drooling at the food as I walked nonchalantly by.Speaker of the California State Assembly Toni Atkins is a powerful politician, but she’s addressing a Queen! Toni said she’s happy to be back in San Diego, where it’s cooler than Sacramento.Unfortunately, I had already eaten breakfast. Looks delicious!
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Camera aims toward surfing action from the Oceanside Pier during 2015 Supergirl Pro World Surf League (WSL) competition.
Here’s my second blog post about yesterday’s huge Supergirl Pro event near the Oceanside Pier. If you haven’t already, check out these super cool photos of the surfing action which I posted last night!
The 2015 Supergirl Pro was a three day event with a record 108 female surfing contestants. It’s the largest professional women’s surfing competition in the world. But it’s also a big fun festival celebrating women who participate in extreme sports. Amazing young women were skateboarding on a halfpipe, and visitors could learn about snowboarding. There was also a beauty contest, and the crowd along Oceanside Beach had plenty of cool sights, sounds, delicious food and fun.
Enjoy some photos…
Spectators filled the beach, boardwalk and Oceanside Pier as people enjoyed many cool things to see at Supergirl Pro.The annual female sports festival included high flying girls skateboarding a big halfpipe.Three day surf competition schedule on a sign near the pier. I viewed the Quarterfinals on Sunday.People watch an athlete defy gravity on the halfpipe at 2015 Supergirl Pro!Unlike surfers in the ocean, should a skateboarder fall off their board, there’s no soft landing!Young girl watches female skating athlete complete a trick at Supergirl Pro. Perhaps what she sees will provide her with inspiration.Just walking along the huge event venue, checking out interesting sponsors, vendors, food, and fun surf-related stuff.The Surf Diva has a big pink canopy on the sand!A couple of lifeguards watch the huge crowd from their tower on Oceanside’s always popular beach.Some surf graphics on a banner hung beneath the Oceanside Pier.Youth and a surfboard just north of the pier. It’s another perfect sunny weekend in Southern California.Someone walks past the Supergirl Pro staging tent, where contestants assemble and get ready to compete.Colorful umbrellas and waders in the water can be seen for miles south along the coast, all the way through Carlsbad.Folks in the shade of beach umbrellas look toward the surf, where dueling Supergirls are performing astonishing feats during 25 minute heats.And hundreds are watching from up on the pier, as well.Amazing action like this took place for three straight days. The event is all about female strength and empowerment.Walking farther out on Oceanside Pier to get closer to the powerful Pacific Ocean breakers.Guys on the other side of the pier seem more interested in fishing.Now this person had the best view of all. A paraglider soars quietly above!Eyes are fixed on the water below.This year’s 2015 Supergirl Pro winner, Tatiana Weston-Webb of Hawaii, rides a wave during the Quarterfinals.When the competitors return to shore, a crowd forms around them for a post-heat interview, photos and autographs.I see a pink Supergirl cape on one superheroic surfing celebrity! The event is in part sponsored by DC Comics, where the fictional character was born.Just kicking back and taking in all the cool World Surf League action.As I walk back down the pier, ready to go home, I hear something’s going on at the outdoor Junior Seau Pier Amphitheatre.It’s an announcement of this year’s winner of the beautiful woman contest. Supergirl Pro’s main sponsor is Paul Mitchell, maker of beauty products.Blogging about an awesome surf event requires a photo of someone walking along with a surfboard on their head!
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Professional World Surf League (WSL) Supergirl Pro Women’s Qualifying Series surfer rides the foam in Oceanside, California.
Today I headed up the coast from San Diego to watch the 2015 Supergirl Pro surfing competition, which is held every year just south of the pier in Oceanside, California. Wow! The event is bigger than ever and simply incredible!
Supergirl Pro is the only World Surf League 6-Star Female Surfing Competition in the United States. It’s the largest women’s surfing event of its kind in the entire world. And this year there were a record 108 contestants! The ones I saw today, during the Quarterfinals, were almost superhuman. Surfing must be their superpower!
I got so many photos, I’ll break things up into two blog posts. This first post is my modest camera’s photos of the cool surfing action. I had to sharpen and alter the contrast on most images, but I’m surprised how decently many came out. I kept notes on the names of the surfers competing in each heat, but once I looked at my photos I wasn’t too sure who was who. So please excuse the fact that I don’t include the names of contestants in most captions.
Each pairing of surfers is given 25 minutes. Whoever achieves the highest score moves on in the competition, avoiding elimination.Amazing athlete in Sunday’s competition at the 2015 Supergirl Pro, the largest female surfing event of its kind in the world.Cool photo of superhuman surfing action at 2015 Supergirl Pro. This year a record 108 contestants entered the huge three day competitive event.Riding a wave, hoping for glory. Supergirl Pro is the only WSL 6-Star Female Surfing Competition in the U.S.Tatiana Weston-Webb, professional WSL surfer from the island of Kaua’i, competes at 2015 Supergirl Pro event in Oceanside, California. She eventually went on to win the final!Tatiana plunges down the face of a Pacific Ocean breaker like Supergirl!Cool photo of today’s surfing champion shredding the crest of a wave.Tatiana has classic form on a relatively smooth curler in choppy conditions.Two competitors duel, trying their best to advance in the 2015 Supergirl Pro in the surfing-friendly Southern California city of Oceanside.Supergirl is flying on a surfboard! (The Silver Surfer doesn’t get to have all the fun!)2015 Supergirl Pro is a super cool event where every competitor is an absolutely amazing world-class athlete.
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Cool skateboard bench by the 36th Annual Ocean Beach Street Fair and Chili Cook-Off Festival on Newport Avenue.
Late this morning I spent a little time at one of the coolest summer events in Southern California!
The 36th Annual Ocean Beach Street Fair & Chili Cook-Off Festival was being held along Newport Avenue, drawing a huge crowd from all around San Diego. Many consider OB their favorite beach community. Once you see these photos, you might understand why!
A masked street performer shakes hands with a kid on a scooter. The Ocean Beach Municipal Pier stretches in the background.San Diegans and Obetians check out a street vendor selling colorful t-shirts.Fun, unusual art all over the place. Lots to see at this legendary summer street festival in a laid-back, funky Southern California beach community.Creative people had cool stuff on display and for sale in the Artists’ Alley.Kids were invited to express themselves with pottery, painting and chalk art.Young artists use their imaginations as they work behind a utility box decorated with parrots in Ocean Beach.Public art mural on one wall depicts the annual Ocean Beach Street Fair and Chili Cook-Off.Just a typical scene from this awesome street festival.Someone checks out large works of colorful art in OB.One booth had all sorts of awesome, unique decorative surfboards!And, of course, food was everywhere!Ocean Beach is the scene of many different happy lifestyles and diverse, life-affirming interests.It wasn’t even lunchtime and some folks were ready to chow down.If these cookies don’t make you drool, nothing will!All sorts of cool surf shops line Newport Avenue, where the festival was held.Rock and Roll San Diego was teaching kids how to play drums, electric guitar and more!A young man is training to be a rock superstar!Street musicians in OB next to a storefront on a summer day.Young and old were practicing maintaining balance on a board that simulates surfing.Yeah, another photo of food getting ready…Ocean Beach is jam-packed with amazing urban art, almost anywhere you walk!People were just getting started with the community mural project!Anyone could participate in painting a small square in this large mural!Another street mural on a wall above a station where people could park their bikes.Surfboards on top, cool decals plastered around. Let’s walk past the Hodadmobile and check out something amazing…Burgers are famous at Hodad’s, and so is the skateboarding demonstration beside their restaurant.Skater catches huge air as he performs trick from a ramp, wowing everybody watching!Lots of skilled skateboarders were taking turns on this small half-pipe.Oh, man–lots of very cool action!Legendary Hodad’s had a burger-eating competition!Some guys walking along near porta-potties by the beer garden.Guy chills with a Starbucks by funky sculptures on Newport Avenue near the beach. He’s listening to a really great concert.The local band Markland performs on the Main Stage at the 2015 Ocean Beach Street Fair.Justin Markland peers at me over drums while Randy Jones entertains the Ocean Beach crowd with irrepressible vocal and physical energy.Just a pic to provide some flavor of what I saw this morning.Surfers come up across the beach while a guy relaxes on the sea wall.People walk behind the Main Stage along the beach, toward the Ocean Beach lifeguard station. An overcast day with a few sprinkles, but it didn’t matter!People buy tickets to sample special concoctions at the famous chili contest!This tent featured one of the chili cook-off contestant teams.Stirring and scooping from one big pot of hot chili!Unfortunately, this poor dog can’t participate without a ticket. And it seems like he knows it.Perhaps this chili was the winner. Looks tasty, if you don’t mind that it’s served from a toilet!
Sea lions sun on a large rock in the Pacific Ocean off Point La Jolla.
This blog post resumes my walk from the prior post. Here I head south down a truly amazing stretch of coastline, from Point La Jolla at the edge of La Jolla Cove to Cuvier Park. A good argument can be made that this is the absolutely most beautiful spot in all of San Diego. I’ll let you decide…
The 6,000 acre San Diego-La Jolla Underwater Park off the coast includes an Ecological Reserve and the Marine Life Refuge.Numerous seals and sea lions live on the rocks and beaches of La Jolla.People love to walk across this water-sculpted landscape right up to the sea cliffs to watch the surf.Over the years many have carved names and messages in the soft sandstone.Sea lions enjoy La Jolla just as much as human visitors!Some of those curious humans are grouped around a small tide pool in the rock looking for sea life.An unexpected wave crashes in. Run! Scatter!Looking south along the narrow beach from Point La Jolla. One of many lookout structures is visible up on the cliff.This lifeguard box features many barnacle-like beach-related words. The box is titled the David C. Freeman Memorial, by artist Paul Sibel. It marks the location of Boomer Beach.These simple, open gazebo-like structures along the walking path are fine places to gaze out at the broad ocean.Or you can just relax on an outdoor seat provided by nature.A major attraction along Coast Boulevard is spacious, grassy Scripps Park.Gnarled old trees dot the picturesque park, which contains many picnic areas and places to recreate on the grass.Ellen Browning Scripps Park is reported to be the most photographed spot in San Diego.More trees growing slantwise, blown by the prevailing sea breeze over the course of many years.Scripps Park contains the Abraham Lincoln Centennial Memorial plaque dedicated in 1909.Continuing south, more views looking back north of a truly spectacular coastline.Guy takes a nap on bench beneath a lifeguard tower.Shell Beach is one of many tiny sandy nooks that can be found among the rocky cliffs.A lady lies on a flat rock reading a book, as waves crash nearby.A beautiful walkway runs down from the Cave Store along Coast Boulevard for about a mile along the ocean.An artist paints a beautiful scene from a view point not far from Children’s Pool.I peer over the low wall and am greeted by a funny squirrel!One of these cormorants on a rock has its sun-drying wings spread dramatically.Getting very close to Children’s Pool, where many seals lie side by side on its wide, sunny beach.A quick turn back northward shows waves breaking against a vertical sandstone face!Legal disputes have entangled Children’s Pool over the years. The facility was created in 1931 by benefactor Ellen Browning Scripps as a safe spot for children to swim.People head down to see the colony of seals on the warm sand.At Children’s Pool Beach, a rope now keeps people from disturbing the protected marine mammals.Fisherman on the far sea wall have cast their lines into the blue Pacific Ocean.Continuing to walk south along more amazing coastline in La Jolla.Some surfers on a beach and in the foaming water below.Unusual sculpture at the rear of La Jolla’s Museum of Contemporary Art San Diego called Pleasure Point, by artist Nancy Rubins. It’s made of rowboats, canoes, jet skies, kayaks, surfboards…A stretch of green grass at Cuvier Park is the perfect place to sit or lie on a glorious Southern California day.Tide pools become visible at low tide along this easily accessible stretch of La Jolla.A dog takes a happy rest by some flowers as the surf rolls in.
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