Salton Sea to the Pacific Blue
Odometer 67,774
Thursday Oct 31
Salton Sea to the Pacific Ocean
San Diego
Our plan for today is to head south on CA Route 111 and catch Interstate 8 west to San Diego. Regular blog readers will note that we normally eschew large cities, and the only thing that could possibly make us head into one- is a family event such as the wedding of our niece Savannah.
I had this misconception that the Rocky Mountains had petered out by the time they reached Mexico, and would be mere bumps. Nothing could be more from the truth. Interstate 8 climbs 4 summits on the way from El Centro to El Cajon. The first summit we encountered took us from below sea level to 3241 ft at Mountain Springs, on to Tecate Pass at 4140 ft , Crestwood Pass at 4,109 ft , lastly to Laguna Pass at 4055 feet. Many of these grades were at or near 6% I guess this is why I like traveling- it straightens out the geography in my head.😏
We arrived at Mission Bay RV Resort at about 4:30 in the afternoon, Friday rush hour was in full ramp-up but luckily we were going the opposite of where everyone else wanted to go.
We chose Mission Bay because it looked to be about the center of where the wedding activities are taking place. The Resort is pretty much a paved lot with holes for mature shade trees and utilities for full hookup- pretty much perfect for what we want.
We are the big blue dot on the map to the left and the hook of land is called DeAnza Point. We have good access to the interstate to go longer distances and Mission Bay Drive along the waterfront for going locally in to Pacific Beach to the north and to Ocean Beach to the south.
After settling in we set out for a walk to stretch the legs and stop the buzz in our heads. We are fenced in here, but there are walk gates at strategic points in the perimeter where one can walk on the promenade around De Anza point and down into Mission Bay Park. We headed out the gate to walk counter-clockwise around the point. The gate opened onto a paved road which followed the edge of the beach. A really nice paved promenade with tall palm trees and lush vegetation on either side.
We suddenly became aware of the fact that none of the homes we were passing were occupied. This mystified us and we became curious as to why people would abandon homes with such a great setting
We had a pleasant walk though this deserted neighborhood, but couldn't help wondering what had happened. When we got back home, we did and internet search and found a very interesting story:
In 1939 and 1945 the State gave this point of land to the City of San Diego "for the use of all the citizens of the State". In 1953 the City leased the land to a developer for a 680 unit "trailer park" giving the City 10% of the gross rent. Every thing was great until 1980 when the State Land Commission reviewed the land deal to ensure that San Diego had upheld its end of the bargain. They decided that the City had not. San Diego was ordered to evict the residents and honor the original agreement. Another State law that had been enacted in the meantime required cities who evict tenants of mobile homes to offer relocation assistance, which San Diego reportedly was reluctant to do. One news report I read was of the opinion that the City intentionally hired a park manager with a bad reputation to make living conditions so untenable the residents would move out on their own. Services were cut, rents hiked, laundry facilities removed, and tenants who complained were intimidated. By October 2016 the City had lost at least two lawsuits with the tenants, but finally prevailed in moving out the last of the residents, ending this epic 36 year battle. The news this year (2019) says that the City has awarded a contract to Campland by the Bay to expand the RV park into the areas formerly occupied by mobile homes, adding about 150 more sites. Nothing is happening pending a review by the California Coastal Commission.
Thursday Oct 31
Salton Sea to the Pacific Ocean
San Diego
Our plan for today is to head south on CA Route 111 and catch Interstate 8 west to San Diego. Regular blog readers will note that we normally eschew large cities, and the only thing that could possibly make us head into one- is a family event such as the wedding of our niece Savannah.
I had this misconception that the Rocky Mountains had petered out by the time they reached Mexico, and would be mere bumps. Nothing could be more from the truth. Interstate 8 climbs 4 summits on the way from El Centro to El Cajon. The first summit we encountered took us from below sea level to 3241 ft at Mountain Springs, on to Tecate Pass at 4140 ft , Crestwood Pass at 4,109 ft , lastly to Laguna Pass at 4055 feet. Many of these grades were at or near 6% I guess this is why I like traveling- it straightens out the geography in my head.😏
We arrived at Mission Bay RV Resort at about 4:30 in the afternoon, Friday rush hour was in full ramp-up but luckily we were going the opposite of where everyone else wanted to go.
 |
| We are tucked in at Mission Bay RV Resort |
We chose Mission Bay because it looked to be about the center of where the wedding activities are taking place. The Resort is pretty much a paved lot with holes for mature shade trees and utilities for full hookup- pretty much perfect for what we want.
 |
| Mission Bay RV our neighbors |
We are the big blue dot on the map to the left and the hook of land is called DeAnza Point. We have good access to the interstate to go longer distances and Mission Bay Drive along the waterfront for going locally in to Pacific Beach to the north and to Ocean Beach to the south.
After settling in we set out for a walk to stretch the legs and stop the buzz in our heads. We are fenced in here, but there are walk gates at strategic points in the perimeter where one can walk on the promenade around De Anza point and down into Mission Bay Park. We headed out the gate to walk counter-clockwise around the point. The gate opened onto a paved road which followed the edge of the beach. A really nice paved promenade with tall palm trees and lush vegetation on either side.
 |
| DeAnza Mobile Home Park on Mission Bay San Diego |
 |
| moved out or demolished ? site where manufactured home used to be |
We had a pleasant walk though this deserted neighborhood, but couldn't help wondering what had happened. When we got back home, we did and internet search and found a very interesting story:
In 1939 and 1945 the State gave this point of land to the City of San Diego "for the use of all the citizens of the State". In 1953 the City leased the land to a developer for a 680 unit "trailer park" giving the City 10% of the gross rent. Every thing was great until 1980 when the State Land Commission reviewed the land deal to ensure that San Diego had upheld its end of the bargain. They decided that the City had not. San Diego was ordered to evict the residents and honor the original agreement. Another State law that had been enacted in the meantime required cities who evict tenants of mobile homes to offer relocation assistance, which San Diego reportedly was reluctant to do. One news report I read was of the opinion that the City intentionally hired a park manager with a bad reputation to make living conditions so untenable the residents would move out on their own. Services were cut, rents hiked, laundry facilities removed, and tenants who complained were intimidated. By October 2016 the City had lost at least two lawsuits with the tenants, but finally prevailed in moving out the last of the residents, ending this epic 36 year battle. The news this year (2019) says that the City has awarded a contract to Campland by the Bay to expand the RV park into the areas formerly occupied by mobile homes, adding about 150 more sites. Nothing is happening pending a review by the California Coastal Commission.
 |
| Joan, Savannah, Manny, Jeff |
I have been asked by my niece Savannah to officiate at her wedding on a cliff above the ocean here in San Diego. Family and friends will be flying in from Dallas today and we are looking forward to the inevitable family gatherings. We spent the afternoon with them at their Air B&B home in Ocean Beach about 15 minutes from our RV Park.
The next day at 5 PM we all met at Osprey Point and held the wedding ceremony as the sunset painted the sky and horizon a warm peachy color. Manny and Savannah, stood with yours truly, as I led them through their vows in front of 30 or more of their family and close friends. What an honor it was for me to be involved in this special way!
 |
| Savannah and Manny Chavez cut the cake at their reception in local restaurant |
Another surprise was meeting Joan's cousin Curtis and his beautiful wife Emerita. Curtis is a pilot for an executive air charter company operating out of Los Angles, CA.
 |
| Curtis and Emerita |
 |
| Dessault 2000 Falcon |
 |
| Falcon Cockpit |
Your Traveling Friends
Jeff and Joan
Comments
Post a Comment