Tag Archives: National City

Piedras Pintadas and National City’s Fillippi’s

4
Posted by on in Family, Hiking and Nature, Slow Food, Social

November 28, 2015, Chula Vista- My latest day in the sun featured over 125 birthday greetings, and muchas gracias to one and all, for remembering what was, for me, a most auspicious day.

There were no intervening, pre-planned events in the apartment, as it happened.  Holiday spirit, and fatigue, intervened to postpone those gatherings.  So, it was on with a visit to Piedras Pintadas, picked from the rich list of hiking opportunities in San Diego, owing to its relative brevity, it being 1:30 PM before we learned of the day’s cancellations.

The trail is part of the San Dieguito River Trail system, and revolves around the ubiquitous glacial boulders of southwest California, and Lake Hodges.  Here are some of the scenes we found.

The first two (clockwise, left to right) show the lake, with Bernardo Mountain looming in the background.  The third shows Piedras Pintadas themselves.  In times of precipitation, there is a small waterfall, up in the high rocks.  The lower left features SoCal’s signature boulders, and son rounds out the montage.

Lake Hodges, San Dieguito
Lake Hodges, San Dieguito
Piedras Pintadas, San Dieguito
Piedras Pintadas, San Dieguito
Aram, near Lake Hodges, San Dieguito

We finished the trail in about forty-five minutes, and with other items on the agenda, headed back to Chula.  Next up was dinner, at the National City branch of Fillippi’s, one of my two favourite Little Italy eateries.  Like its parent establishment, the NC Fillippi’s was jam-packed, on this lovely Saturday evening.  We were seated, and had soup, garlic bread and beverages in front of us, in less than thirty minutes, though.  A young boy who shares my birthday was getting his due, of song and a birthday treat.  I passed on even announcing my day.  There was enough hoopla, here online.  Had we been in a larger party, perhaps, but two men?- NAH.

The meal was excellent, and we headed out the door in time to catch the 7:05 showing of “Spectre”, Daniel Craig’s purported James Bond swansong.  It lived up to the basic Bond formula, though a bit long at 3 hours.

So six-five is now in full swing, and I will be back tomorrow, with a new framework, for the second half of my seventh decade.

 

 

The Road to 65, Mile 233: Back to California, Day 3

6
Posted by on in Hiking and Nature, Social, Travel

July 19, 2015, Chula Vista- This was a rain-check, for much of the day.  That suits my heart just fine.  Nowhere is rain more needed than in the Golden State.  I was able to finish reading “Death and White Diamonds”, by Jeff Markowitz, and thus have my suspicions verified,as to the end.  Since Jeff is one of Word Press’s, and Xanga’s, own. several of you will surely wish to read this novel for yourselves.  Here are Laverne and Shirley, and the Rizzo family:  Izzy, Lizzy, Cissy and Missy, but not Ratso.  It also answers the question, “Why take the stairs, when you can just use the elevator?”, but that’s all I can say right now.

Aram and I had a tentative plan to visit the Japanese Garden, in Balboa Park, but the greater good intervened, and the rain was heavier today, than it was yesterday.  So, chill out indoors, we did.  I caught the most recent episode of “Wayward Pines”, on my laptop,  as well as read the aforementioned whodunit.

After Aram’s second straight successful dinner offering, I took advantage of a brief lull in the rain, to check out his new neighbourhood.  A YMCA Teen Center occupies an old and interesting building.

SAMSUNG CAMERA PICTURES

Rice Canyon, seen from above, offers a four-mile walking, jogging and biking path, between Chula Vista and National City, to the north.

SAMSUNG CAMERA PICTURES

SAMSUNG CAMERA PICTURES

I was content with keeping to the sidewalk overlook, especially as it was near twilight.  Still, it’s quite gratifying to have spotted what some call the South County’s best kept secret.  It’s been a restful and very gratifying weekend.

SAMSUNG CAMERA PICTURES