Ava's adventures in San Diego

[avalen]

The drive to San Diego was uneventful, not counting the texting back and forth to the "other" car between the two teenage grandsons.
Seems we were ahead most of the way and then we stopped in Yuma to eat and top off the tank cause we knew California gas was higher.
The "other" car I guess got ahead of us and we caught up with them down the road at the last rest area before getting into the metro area.
I did well following my gps (smart phone) to get us through the freeway system to the motel. That done.....first visit of course was to the
dog beach at Oceanbeach. Somewhere alone the line I thought I was in Oceanside but I stand corrected, I was in Oceanbeach, not Oceanside.


Even my son got a butt shot of me


Maggie was such a sissy in the water, wanted me to pick her up


and the fun continues
Dinner one night with Lyn (SoCalGal) at a place called Tio Chino's
The food was good and very filling for me. Lyn had a shrimp salad, looked like a huge taco salad with shrimp, beef chimichanga for me
and I even had a margarita I seriously needed that margarita...more on that later.



Boogie board surfing with the teenage grandsons

a stroll down the cement boardwalk where all the shops were

always the seaguls...

[Ladyhawk]

Sounds and looks like a wonderful time. May it continue!

[rvgrammy1953]

Great photos.....can't wait for "the rest of the story"....

[mitch5252]

..
Great pics, Ava!!
Waiting for the next installment...
..

[BarbaraRose]

Now you can see why I loved SD so much!

I also would get "Ocean Beach" and "Oceanside" mixed up. Also occasionally got "Escondido" and "Encinitas" mixed up.

How did the wedding turn out??

[avalen]

There was the walk out on the pier. Oceanside Pier is the longest cement pier in the world and halfway down there was a cafe and bait shop. We ate lunch at the cafe, was good

the pier was T shaped.
and a view from the end of the pier to the beach

then there was this guy, hanging out on the pier near the cafe. I tried to get closer shots of him but he kept stepping just out of the picture
so one pic had his head cut off, then one had his body cut off, etc.

to the left of the pier was the tide pools and stirs going down to those but we didn't go down there, my feet hurt and I was tired and we still had to drive out to the wedding site to locate it.

to the right of the pier was the surfers only beach. I stood and watched them for awhile, didn't see anyone that really had it figured out.


and the lifegaurd headquarters, their beach vehicles and a statue honoring the lifegaurds



local vegetation, Lyn said its a Norfolk Island Pine but some guy told me another name, turns out when I googled it he gave me the
official plant name. duh,
anyway, it sure was awesome to see such a big one

morning glories, I remember these growing up but of course they don't have these in Arizona and didn't have them in Colorado either. It was
a treat to see them.


few more to come

[avalen]

Jack is one year old now
just a couple pics from his birthday party on Friday

and of course the party included lunch, turkey tacos made by chef grandpa


Jack hated his party hat and would not let anyone put it on his head, it was too funny, he kept feeling his head to make sure it wasn't there.

and of course the cake..

[Liz]

Great trip, great fun, great pictures!

[BirdbyBird]

So nice that you got to attend the wedding and that the wedding was in such a nice location! safe journey on the way back....

[chalet05]

Lovin' the photos, Ava!

[avalen]

wedding photos are on my sons camera, so don't have any of those. But a few I took with my cell phone..
The site of the wedding

daughter getting her hair "put together", the lady was her own hairdresser that she brought from home so to speak. (nice paid vacation for her) Cat did all the ladies hair including mine. There was also a make up artist too that did all the ladies faces but didn't get any pictures of that cause I was busy getting my hair put together when Andrea was in the make up chair.


The view from the patio of the hotel room. It was called Tower 23


even Jack had his little tuxedo, little red kerchief and black tie included. Notice the "Vans" tennis shoes, matched with Daddy. Who'da
thought the groom would wear a tux with tennis shoes, but thats about right for Paul. He's goofy that way.


The reception of course....the bottles say, eat, drink and be married and the cake was to die for....Peanut Butter Chocolate!!


They were nice and didn't smear each other with the cake.
The reception dinner was hosted at a place called Cafe Bella Italia

ok, thats it.

[mtngal]

How fun to read about your 'amazing' adventure and a wedding too! Love Jack's tux; how cute is that?

[cpatinjones]

I enjoyed reading about your trip.

[havingfunnow]

What a lovely time! Sounds like you really had fun!

[linann]

Enjoyed your photos and descriptions. It looks like you had great weather.