Summer

 

Tijuana National Estuary

 The Tijuana Estuary is the largest coastal wetland in Southern California and it is located on the international border between the U.S. and Mexico. Border Field State Park is located within its boundaries. The estuary is primarily a shallow water habitat, however it is considered an "intermittent estuary," as drought can leave areas dry during some times and the same areas can be flooded during other times of the year.   

The Tijuana River Estuary is one of the few salt marshes remaining in Southern California, where over 90% of wetland habitat has been lost to development. Over 370  species of birds visit the estuary, which is considered a stopover on the pacific Flyway.  

When I visited it was relatively dry, and unfortunately the visitor center was closed.

Tijuana River National Esturine Research Reserve

Tijuana Estuary - CA State Parks

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Brave the Unknown

 

Design by Nicholas......to replace the one he loved to death!!!!  He even got to help quilt using the long arm for a few minutes!! 

Mission Basilica San Diego de Alcalá

            

Mission Basilica San Diego de Alcalá was the first of the California Missions.  The area was named by Captain Sebastian Viscaino in 1602 for Didacus Of Alcala who was born in 1400 near Seville.  It was established in 1769 but moved just a few years later in 1774 to it's present site which was closer to water, good farmland and the villages of the Kumeyaay.  Just a year later it was destroyed and Padre Luis Jayme was killed when the mission was attacked.  The mission was rebuilt and a outer defense wall was built to protect it from future attacks.  

By 1791 the missions holdings had grown to 55,000 acres and total converts numbered 1405.   With Mexican independence and the secularization of the Missions in 1821 the mission was given to Santiago. Arguello.  It again changed hands after the signing of the Treaty of Hidalgo in 1848 and was used by the US Calvary from 1850-1857.  President Abraham Lincoln restored the lands to the church in 1976.

Today the Mission church is a minor basilica. It is considered the beginning of the El Camino Real, which ends at Mission San Francisco Solano in Sonoma.

Mission Basilica San Diego de Alcala

Mission Basilica San Diego de Alcalá

wikipedia Mission Basilica San Diego de Alcalá

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CALIFORNIA HISTORICAL LANDMARK #242     #70000144 

                                                                 

Be a Rainbow

 

Cabrillo National Monument

In 1913 President Woodrow Wilson proclaimed a portion of Point Loma as Cabrillo National Monument.  At 1/2 acre it was the smallest unit when it was transferred to the National Park Service by President Roosevelt in 1933.  

The Cabrillo statue was brought to the park in 1949 and the visitor center built in 1965.  The displays in the visitor center included information about Cabrillo, ships and the natives from the area.  There were some maritime instruments that I hadn't seen before such as the Traverse Board which was used to calculate the number, direction and distance of the ship's zigs and zags.

Cabrillo National Monument

Today the park encompasses 160 acres and is one of the most heavily visited in the National Park System.  It includes the Point Loma Lighthouses and is next door to Fort Rosencranz National Cemetery.  There are spectacular views of the surrounding area.

Cabrillo National Monument - San Diego.org

Cabrillo National Monument - Wikipedia

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Flowers

 

Mission San Luis Rey de Francia

San Luis Rey de Francia was founded in 1798 and is the largest of all the Missions. Located in Oceanside it is still home to a community of Franciscan Friars. In it's prime it covered about 950,000 acres.  The Luiseño tribe of Mission Indians took their name from the Mission.

The Lavandaria, which is still being excavated was where inhabitants bathed and washed their clothing. There are also ruins of old soldiers quarters that once housed the Mormon Battalion

Visit Oceanside Mission San Luis Rey de Francia

Wikipedia Mission San Luis Rey de Francia

Mission San Luis Rey de Francia

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CALIFORNIA REGISTRER HISTORICAL LANDMARK #239  #  70000142

Fort Rosencrans National Cemetery

Located adjacent to Cabrillo National Monument, Fort Rozencrans was created between WWI and WWII.  With water on both side of the cemetery, there are some spectacular views.

Fort Rosencrans National Cemetery

Fort Rosencrans National Cemetery- Wikipedia

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View from Cabrillo National Monument

Bunnies and Carrots

 I incorporated a whole lot of old Easter hangings with some new and even parts of worn Easter towels into one Easter Quilt

SB - Torrey Pines State Natural Reserve and Beach

 

 

Torrey Pines State Beach and the Natural Reserve that lies above it was my favorite of the San Diego Beaches I visited. There were some spectacular views both from the beach and from the area of the visitor's center, which was actually a working lodge until 1959.  It is well worth a visit.

Torrey Pines State Natural Reserve

Torrey Pines State Beach

Guide to Torrey Pines State Beach SD.org

Example of Torrey Pines - the rarest type in the US

North Torrey Pine Beach

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