San Diego, California 2013 - Day 2

Watching the waves at Sunset Cliffs

Waking up to the smell of the ocean, the sound of the waves, and a warm breezy morning, is not as annoying as one might think.  Steffi and Alex left to join a group on the cliffs for their Sunday Kettlebell workout, and Chad and I walked down to Point Loma Café for some coffee, then we sat on a bench and watched the last part of the workout, wondering what “working out” must feel like.  It looks real hard.

Back at the house, Steffi made us oatmeal and toast, and we ate while the goats relaxed on their dog beds on the floor next to us, chewing their cud.  Every once and a while, Lola would jump up on Steffi’s lap and try to eat the toast off her plate, and Steffi would squirt her with a water bottle.  Seriously – I am getting a goat.

Just after 12:00, we took a bike ride down sunset cliffs and watched the surfers for a bit.  Cars loaded with surfboards packed both sides of the streets, and apparently it was an excellent day for surfing.  We turned around and headed north and rode to Ocean Beach.  At Dog Beach, we took the bike path, went behind Sea World, over Mission Bay Bridge to Mission Beach.  And we continued on to Pacific Beach.  The boardwalk was crowded with people, but Steffi kept honking the squeaky blue whale bell on her bike, and we weaved in and out them as we kept riding.  Once we stopped, I took out my phone and read a message from my friend Grace.  Having no idea that we would be visiting Pacific Beach, she wrote, “If you find yourself in Pacific Beach and you guys are craving something healthy, quick, and delish... there's a place called CBW (Crazy Bowls and Wraps). So good! I think it's on Grand.”  So, I read it out loud to everyone, we looked up, and there was Grand!  Since we WERE craving something healthy, quick and delish, and the timing of that message was too weird, we rode a block to CBW.  We all got our lunch, sat at a table on the rooftop, and refueled.   

Steffi and us at Mission Beach

Riding over Mission Bay Bridge

The OB Bike Path with Sea World way up ahead

Just as we were throwing away our garbage, it hit me: “Wait a minute,” I said to myself, (quietly though, so the rest of them wouldn’t know I’m a wimp), “isn’t there some sort of bus or trolley that picks us up?  Where the driver tells us ‘congratulations!’ loads our bikes on the bus, serves us treats and juice, and then drops us off at home?”  In case you’re wondering: No.  No such bus exists.  So we got on our bikes, and rode home.  The bike ride was 14 miles roundtrip, and we were gone for 4 hours.  You know how I said I wondered what “working out” feels like?  Yeah, well, I didn’t REALLY wonder what it feels like.  But I do want to say this: that was the most scenic bike ride I have ever been on, and I’m so glad we went. But I may be singing a different tune tomorrow.

Michael and Nugget

Back at the house we said hello to the goats, met Steffi’s chickens, Nugget, Michael, and Blanket (yes, the last two are named after MJ and his son), and checked out Steffi’s shop.  We came back inside just in time for the Super Bowl Half-Time Show.  We snacked on popcorn, dates, peanuts and oranges and drank tea while we watched Beyonce gyrate furiously all over the stage for 15 minutes in spikey heels.  Big whoop - I wonder if SHE could do a 14 mile (mostly flat) bike ride.  Whatever.

Alex’s sister and her family dropped by to say hello.  They’re visiting from Argentina, and here’s why I now believe all kids in America should be raised in Argentina:  When Alex’s sister walked in the door, she came straight to Chad and me, hugged us, kissed our cheeks and said, “hello.”  Her husband and their 18 year old daughter came next, and did the exact same thing.  Then the 14 year old son came to us, shook our hands, and looked us in the eyes when he greeted us.  And they barely even speak English!  I haven’t seen kids have such manners in our culture ever.  It’s time to start making my kids greet people like Argentinians do.  Me likey.

Braised short ribs flat bread
with smashed potatoes & chives

We had plans to meet an old friend, Brandon Boysen and his girlfriend in OB for dinner.  Because of the Super Bowl lighting hullaballoo, our dinner plans got pushed back to 8:30.  Chad and I usually eat at 6:00 because we are much more like an elderly couple on the verge of retirement home-living, then like these hip youngsters around us.  We ate at Beau Bo and everything we tasted was scrumptious – and I do not use that word lightly.  In fact, I do not use that word.  So it MUST be good.  For an appetizer, we shared brussel sprouts with dried cranberries, goat cheese, toasted hazelnuts & apple cider.  We also had brussel sprouts with pancetta, parmesan, balsamic.  We all got various types of flatbreads for dinner and by 10:30 I was so full I wanted to fall asleep right there in my seat.  And I can guarantee you, that is EXACTLY what people in retirement homes do. 

Now here we are in bed, the stars are so bright outside, we’re relaxing, listening to the waves, and I’m hoping that a tsunami doesn’t come and kill us all in our sleep.  Because unfortunately, that’s how my mind works.

Good night.  And have a pleasant tomorrow,

Chad and Rachel