Yesterday, Donna rode the scooter to her exercise class while I  posted to the blog. I walked over to the Snack Shack and bought a breakfast burrito. When Donna returned, I felt like I needed to burn some calories, so I went for a bike ride.

Yours truly with my carbon fiber frame Orbea Onix road bike

As I rode south on East Mission Bay Drive, I was thinking about trying a new route. I crossed Sea World Drive and followed Pacific Highway. The bike lane disappears at the overpass above I-5. There’s a sign indicating that bikes share the lane. We all know how well motorists obey signs. I had a car blow by me at ~50mph, less than a foot away from my elbow.

I rode past the California Highway Patrol station. About a quarter of a mile down the road from  there, I saw a motorhome parked on the street with the shade drawn across the windshield. It looked to me like someone was sleeping in there. There were numerous signs prohibiting this, but this person was doing it right by the CHP station!

I continued through Old Town, then made the climb up to Presidio Park. This is a very steep grade. Before I reached the top, I was in my lowest gear, standing on the pedals. I could’ve walked at the speed I was going. A few minutes of this had me huffing and puffing.

A fort at the top of Presidio Hill was built in 1769 by Spanish explorers. It was the first permanent European settlement on the Pacific coast of what is now the USA. It was also the first mission and the base of Spanish colonization of California. The fort no longer exists here. Eventually the settlers moved off the hill into what is now called Old Town.

View from Presidio Hill (click to enlarge)

The first padre at Presidio was Junipero Serra. He established the Mission de Alcala there. There is a Junipero Serra museum at the park. I learned that Presidio Hill was purchased in 1907 by a wealthy local business man, George Marston. Now I know who my junior high school was named after. He bought it to preserve the area. In 1929 he donated the land and museum building to the city of San Diego. The city still owns the park.

Picnic area in Presidio Park

At the top of the hill, hidden by a stand of eucalyptus trees, is a statue commemorating the Mormon soldiers who marched here. Rather than repeat the  story, I took pictures of the placards. Click on the photos below to enlarge and read the story.

Mormon soldier statue

Click on photos to enlarge

After I returned home and showered, I rode the scooter out to Kearny Mesa. I wandered around a couple of RV lots and looked at used motorhomes. I was just kicking tires and getting ideas. We might trade-in next year. We’ll see. I would like to have a diesel-powered unit. Turbo-charged diesels perform better at altitude. They go up hills better and they come down hills better. Going down hill with a diesel you can use the exhaust brake to reduce your speed without worry of overheating the service brakes.

While I was in Kearny Mesa, I stopped at Performance Bicycle and bought a set of SPD cleats for Donna’s new bicycle shoes. She wants to convert back to SPD type pedals and cleats. They’re easier to walk in than the Shimano cleats she has now. I also bought postage stamps while I was out.

Last evening, Donna made kabobs with boneless chicken thighs, scallions and mushrooms with a sweet ginger-garlic glaze. While I grilled the kabobs, Donna steamed bok choy which she served sprinkled with sesame seeds. Delicious!

Hot off the grill

Chicken kabobs served with bok choy

Today, Donna is renting a car from Enterprise that she will have through Monday morning. She wants to go to Joann Fabric and a few other places over the weekend. It will easier to shop with a car. We’ll also use the car tonight to go to a Halloween party at her sister, Sheila’s house.