Yesterday, after I posted to the blog, I scootered Donna to her exercise class. While she was working out, I treated myself to a big breakfast. I went to The Broken Yolk Cafe on Midway Drive. They’re open for breakfast and lunch only. Their breakfast menu is extensive.

Their specialty is huevos rancheros, which is based on a traditional Mexican farmer’s meal. A lightly fried corn tortilla is topped with refried beans, salsa, avocado and two eggs. There are many variations of this theme.

I opted for eggs benedict. It’s always been a favorite and I can’t remember the last time I had it. It was served with hash brown potatoes. The service was speedy. I took my time eating and savored the meal. After I ate every morsel, I realized I haven’t been eating meals this large. The size and richness of the breakfast was a little too much.

By the time I finished breakfast, it was time to pick up Donna from her hour-long class. We returned home and I prepared for a bicycle ride. I planned to do a few laps of Fiesta Island.

Most of Mission Bay and the surrounding municipal park are man-made, including Fiesta Island. Mission Bay is the largest man-made aquatic park in the country. The total area is 4,235 acres (46% land, 54% water).

Originally, Mission Bay was a tidal marsh. Juan Rodriguez Cabrillo named it False Bay in 1542. Development of area began in the 1800s.  In the 1940s, dredging began and an ambitious plan to create a recreational area took shape. Work continued over the next few decades.

Twenty-five million cubic yards of sand were dredged to create land forms and clear the bay. Mission Bay Park is owned and operated by the City of San Diego. Regulations were put into place restricting the amount of land and shoreline that could be used for commercial leaseholds. No more than 25% of the land and 6.5% of the water area can be used for private purposes. This ensures public access for recreational use.

Fiesta Island is really an isthmus. The entrance to Fiesta Island is a narrow spit on the southeast end not much wider than the road. The main road follows the perimeter, except for a small area on the east side. This area is an aquatic center.This is the only area of real development. There are no facilities on the rest of Fiesta Island.

Click to enlarge map

The road around the perimeter is about four miles long. There is a shortcut road that’s about two and a half miles around. All traffic is one way, counterclockwise around the island.

I rode my bike to Fiesta Island and did the long loop. I did another lap on the short loop. It was a little boring to continue lapping around so I left the island and took the bike path toward Sea World.

Our location at De Anza viewed from the north side of Fiesta Island

San Diego is criss-crossed with biking and walking paths. I rode along a series of bike paths past Dana Landing to Mission Beach. I made a loop, going north on the boardwalk. Then I crossed Mission Boulevard at the Catamaran Hotel and took the bike path along the bay through Crown Point.

Near the RV resort, I entered the Rose Creek Bike Trail. I wanted to see where it went. It’s a narrow path with fencing on the sides in some parts. It wasn’t a favorite of mine. It abruptly ends at the intersection of Damon Avenue and East Mission Bay Drive. I returned home on the busy East Mission Bay Drive.

My total mileage was just over 23 miles. One week ago, on Saturday, I got on the bike for the first time in a long, long time, and rode seven miles. It’s amazing to me how quickly our bodies can adapt.

In the afternoon, while Donna was working on her book, I went to the beach. I walked the beach at La Jolla Shores to the Scripps Pier. I’ll have to describe that area in another post.

Last night, another old friend came by. John Swingle and I went to school together. I’ve known him since I was in eighth grade. He and his wife, Bonnie, took us to dinner at King’s Fish House in Mission Valley. We’ve been out of contact with each other for many years. It was great to enjoy a meal and conversation. We caught up a little on each other’s lives. We’ll have to get together again. There’s so much catching up to do.

Today, my daughter, Shauna, will pick me up. We’ll take her car to Sun City and visit my step-dad, Ken Keller. I think I’ll take it easy today and not wear myself out on the bike. Donna just got back from a long ride and she’ll spend the day trying to meet her Monday book deadline.