Standing at the Sea – Point Loma, California

“For whatever we lose (like a you or a me)
it’s always ourselves we find in the sea.”
– e.e. cummings

Day 2 – part 1 1/2

Just down the road from the National Cemetery is the Old Point Loma Lighthouse overlooking the cliff tide pools.

These pictures don’t do it justice. There is so much more than the view.

It’s the mood of a harsh land beaten by the Pacific.

Flock of Seagulls (ha)

It’s the sounds of sea life as they call from overhead.

It’s the crashing punch when a swelling wave meets the rocky shore.

Then, above it all is the Old Point Loma Lighthouse.

Old Point Loma Lighthouse

Built in 1855, it was placed 422 ft above the sea, between the Gulf of San Diego and the great Pacific Ocean. At the time, placing it high seemed a good idea. A beacon for all the sailors. It was quickly discovered a place so high had issues with fog obscuring the light (whoops!).

Old Point Loma Lighthouse

Unfortunately, it was only a working lighthouse for 30 years because of that little blunder. It has been restored it to its original 1800’s condition, inside and out. Jason and I both have a love for lighthouses and this was the first I have ever toured.

Old Point Loma Lighthouse

I was not disappointed.

Old Point Loma Lighthouse

The house is small; four rooms and the light is not tall. There is a spiral staircase to the top.

Old Point Loma Lighthouse

At the top of Old Point Loma Lighthouse

And the view?

Lighthouse Walkway

Incredible!

Sailboat in San Diego Harbor

Of course, in the 1800’s, it wasn’t the same as now. No busy harbor, and no downtown San Diego.

Downtown San Diego

And certainly, no Coastguard helicopters.

Coastguard Helicopter

Just the little lighthouse…..

Old Point Loma Lighthouse

And the many ocean views….

View from the Old Lighthouse

So, I still want to live in a lighthouse, even an 1800’s one, preferably on the Pacific Ocean, but I am not picky.

Old Point Loma Lighthouse

One of the new lighthouse’s is pretty spiffy too, and they even used the grounds for the movie, Top Gun.

New Point Loma Lighthouse

So what do you think? Do you want to live in a lighthouse? Have you been to Point Loma?

Wordful Wednesday

Sorry for the lack of posting and blog visiting. Seems the spring cleaning bug bit me while on my trip. This is good! I have a lot to get done before I start work again and I need all the help I can get (aka motivation). I plan on catching up next week. I will be training out-of-town and won’t have the distractions: hungry teen, laundry, dishes, plants, mowing, dogs to potty/clean up after, commuting. It almost sounds like another vacation, yes?

Please send Jason some good vibes. Not only will he be dealing with his “normal” crazy life, but he will be stepping into the role of teen parent – helping me out while I’m away – seven years sooner than he should be. Pray. Ha!
🙂

Our trip was amazing. The wildflowers are blooming, especially between San Antonio and Corpus. Purple, pink, blue, yellow, and red stretch like flowing waves as if God dipped his paintbrush and painted a canvas of color. Pictures would not have done it justice and had we stopped for each beauty mark we would have never made it here and back (at least for many, many, many days).

We had a great time. Residence Inn had plenty of space for all three of us. The beach was just as sweet and calming as I had imagined. I never wanted to leave. Ever.

Trip pics

We didn’t forget the sunscreen, in fact, SPF 100 works very well. Yes, 100! I had no idea they even MADE that. Wow.

I love the seagulls. I don’t love feeding them, because they turn ugly real quick, but this one in the air is what I love most. The swift glide they have, and their soft float landings.


Just like a rock star, I really do wish I had her sense of fashion. It truly is inherit and not environment, or environment not inherit, whichever – her aunt is very stylish.


Sand art, courtesy of Jason, believe it or not, someone actually came by and took a picture (besides me that is). Heh!

Bug eyes and I Sydney and I took a nice two-mile trek along the beach. This was before, you don’t want to see the after. Walking on sand? Not easy (for me anyway), but I love it just the same. The exercise and the sights. We got to see a bride in her wedding dress being photographed. Awesome.


Bird? Plane? Size of shark? Don’t you love playing charades in the ocean? Surely she wasn’t jumping over that teeny wave? Hmm.


Perfect ending to a perfect trip. The eight-hour drive back wasn’t even that bad…. considering that SYDNEY drove a big part of it…YIKES. Luckily I had the sea breeze to meditate on – that doesn’t work when parking at Starbucks REAL close to another car if you’d like to know – but the sounds of children playing, seagulls calling, the smells of the salty air, and the gorgeous palm trees flapping in the gust. Ah. Those. Those work wonders while driving with a teenager.

Now, I’m off to mow the yard, then lunch with my matron of honor. Yay! Happy hump day!