005 After the Storm and Over the River

 It's cool and clear today, after yesterday's wind and rain storm. My wife had an appointment, and I was wondering if I should stick around the house or go for a walk. The cat said "Beat it!"

I fired up the old car and headed out, wearing my new watch which happily matches my titanium ring.




I went to a narrow spit of land at the junction of the San Diego River, Mission Bay Channel, and Pacific Ocean. Shown on the map as Quivira Way or Hospitality Point Park. The high tide is just beginning to ease out.





I leave the marina behind and move toward the more "residential" part of Mission Bay Park. Of course there are marine users of this area.

As well as those who live here -- it's a little early for people-lunch, but I suspect squirrels eat whenever they can.

There's actually a thriving, competitive community of birds, squirrels, cats and homeless humans on this spit of land. All jockeying for space and poaching each others' spots when they can.

The animals are motivated by the daylight/night and tide changes; the people have to move between 10 and 4 am or get ticketed. So they take a risk or move around from spot to spot.

There are dogs running wild too, but only across the river to the south, thankfully, in the dog park.

The light and angles were great for dog watching -- curiously they all seem to be standing on one leg!

Walk down the spit of land with me, starting at the end of the main parking lot and the grass. Those vehicles are precariously parked on a wide spot. I'd hate to turn a motor home around here, or back it all the way out.



Now we have walked past the vehicles. Fresh or brackish river water on the left, salt water on the right. Sandy beach on the left, dredged channel on the right.



We go another couple hundred yards now, and we can see where the jetty is fenced off. Dog Park on the left, frustrated cyclists and fishermen ahead, Marines overhead, Entrance Channel on the right.



It seems the cyclists are also bird watchers. They have spotted the osprey ahead on the jetty light.



My turn at the fence thanks to the COVID courtesy view rotation; nobody wearing masks out here in the chilly salt wind.



I give my zoom lens free rein, to see how close we can get to the osprey and cormorant.



Pretty close! Enough so he notices.

I take a few pictures of the people on the south side of the river, at the beach.

Suddenly it seems my turn is over, there's a smooching couple who want to stand at the fence, so I walk back.



They walk down, take a look, have a couple hugs and kisses, then get bumped by the next guy.

A brave boat (the only one in sight) heads for the ocean. 

I checked the fisherman's bucket. Empty, as usual.

 

As I reach the wide spot in the path, I politely pretend to take some photos of the cats so the lovebirds can pass me without getting within 6 feet.

and as I come to the marina, I think "Boy, you would have to try awfully hard for any hobby to equal the cost of yachting on this scale!" 

These boats are more my speed and my budget...



Ah well, I like cars better anyway. So the Car and I head home to see the Cat.



Along the way we pass this dredger, ready to install some more rocks along the jetty.



Another beautiful day in San Diego.

Cazalea