Didn’t see any swallows!

Chula Vista, CA

I had driven right past San Juan Capistrano on my way down to San Diego, wanting to get my “house” settled and then backtrack for a trip all along the coast at my leisure. Given today’s forecast was for “summer-like” temperatures, I decided to make today the day I did that. The temperature got up to about 26-28 degrees just after noon.

So I headed north on the freeway to San Juan Capistrano and the Mission there as my frist stop. This is my favourite of the Missions I’ve seen so far. It has been more romanticized because of “the return of the swallows” but it is one of the Missions most associated with now-Saint Junipero Serra, as well. (the swallows come back in March, BTW) So it’s got lots of history. And the grounds are by far the nicest, despite the fact that there was a special event going on there this evening and the events team were there setting up. I ran around and took as many pictures as I could before they put their tables and light standards, etc up in the way.

This mission was founded in 1776, the 7th of the 9 missions established by then Father Serra and is one of the most historically significant. The Serra Chapel, still standing, and dating back to the 1780’s is California’s only chapel still standing where Saint Serra celebrated Mass.

After leaving San Juan Capistrano, I headed back down I-5 to the point where Historic Highway 101, the original coast road splits off and then I spent the rest of the day meandering down the highway. I stopped at a crazy diner in Oceanside called Cafe 101 which was originally opened along Highway 101 in 1928 and they still serve a mean burger.

There are beaches all the way down the coast, some rustic with just access, and no facilities to some that had parking lots, food stands, showers, washrooms, etc. My two favourites were Carlsbad and La Jolla Cove with the later winning out because of the beautiful hills dotted with mansions surrounding the cove.

I’m sitting at a Starbucks in La Jolla in the dark, having not even gotten back to San Diego. It’s getting cool out so I will head for home and carry on the beach journey tomorrow.