Fun in the Sun, Southern California

BIRDS OF PARADISE

With warm temperatures (67F) at 19-20 C blossoms are in full bloom on the trees and the flowers are popping out.


Birds of Paradise are everywhere and flowering rosemary is used in commercial lots as shrubs.

A view of the RV Park on the level below us.  125 full hook-up sites, it has tight sites but is very central - just minutes from downtown Escondido, half hour from S. Diego and seconds from the I-15.   Noise level is not too bad, considering how close we are to the freeway.   About a month ago, a small aircraft landed on the freeway around midnight - we didn't hear a thing.

San Luis Rey Downs Golf Course is a short fifteen minute drive and under $30 with a cart.  The course was designed in 1963 and open to the public.   

Approximately 6,750 yards and challenging with narrow fairways, lined with sycamore trees.

A few deep bunkers   .   .   .   .   

A good day for Marc, 74 off the blues (par 72).  

(Changed his swing!   LOL).

Warmer weather this past while (from the mid 50's, we are now up in the 70's - Marc saw several roadrunners today while golfing).   That usually means ---- snakes.








See some interesting vehicles in the parking lot at the golf course.

San Luis Rey Downs 

San Luis Rey Downs Training Centre is a private facility (en route to the golf course) that rents space to approved horsemen.   The track is open for training every day, enabling trainers to develop a permanent home, with 24 hour security and non unlicensed people are not allowed on the grounds.

Opened in 1969, the one-mile track has housed thousands of horses, including several Kentucky Derby winners and top-quality runners. 

More Pickleball and playing at various communities (both indoor and outdoor).   Each club has a slight twist from the previous and of course, as in every sport, there are dynamics (some who want to socialize, some who are competitive, some who try to bend the rules, some who don't like the rules being enforced).   It's fun and never boring as your partner is every changing and some are ever challenging!

MELBA BISHOP COMMUNITY CENTRE, OCEANSIDE, CA

At Melba Bishop, I always take the dogs and after pickle ball, this is their playground - frisbee time!   It's friendly, quiet and vast so we are never in the way (four baseball diamonds, skateboard park, basketball practise court, eight pickleball courts and gymnasium).

SKATEBOARD PARK

Gas prices in S. California have jumped about 57-59 cents per gallon in one month (10 cents since last week).  Average price is currently $4.39/gallon.   Still, we're talking $1.16 per litre - our unit of measure in B.C.  Currently gas prices in B.C. on Vancouver Island are at $1.25 - $1.29 per litre.

Time is passing us by extremely fast here, with only eight more days before leaving for Hemet.   Now its time to cram in some of those things we have been meaning to get to and not quite done it yet.  Planning on another paddling day in the very near future.

Have spent time in several communities; Carlsbad, Oceanside, Encinitas and Coronado.   Lots to see and somehow, never enough time - just enough that you want to come back & check out more.