I debated this morning about checking out Plum Canyon (it's closed) hoping that perhaps the road to the parking lot is open and I can poke around but San Diego is only sunny until about mid-day and there's things to see there! So I take a very short stop at Hellhole Canyon. Some folks I met earlier said the side canyons might be a good bfly spot.
We leave the hotel around 8 am - sunny skies. Hellhole Canyon trail head is about 1 mile away (and on our way to San Diego). We stop and walk up one of the side canyons.
Yes, full of flowers and no surprise, Painted Ladies flying.
I think we probably only walked in about 1/4 mile before turning around. Would have loved to go farther but it's time to head to ocean!
Besides the Painted Ladies, I get a glimpse of one Funereal Duskywing and a Sphinx Moth!
Time to head up those switchbacks and out of the valley.
I head directly to San Diego with one stop - the Julian Pie Company (yummy)!
Then back on the road to experience curvy road in sunlight this time - great landscape!
The first stop in San Diego is Torrey Pines and the Pacific Ocean!
Lots of people there for week day but we easily find parking down by the ocean. Then we take a nice slow walk down the beach looking at the rocks and shells. (Brought back lovely memories of doing the same at Lake Michigan.)
Afterwards, we walk uphill towards the Visitors Center and some views from the bluffs a couple hundred feet above us.
I take the North trail
that eventually leads to an overlook.
Along the way see more Painted Ladies (not in great numbers but they are flying here) and a little Blue butterfly (I have no clue at the species because it never stopped flying).
And there are cactus in bloom
Poppies
and Paintbrush
The views at the bluff were awesome!
To the north
To the south
Lots of flowers up top
Pretty sweet.
On the way back, I see 2 lizards
and more Ground Squirrels.
After a quick bite for lunch, we're back in downtown San Diego walking along the harbor towards the USS Midway Museum.
We didn't go aboard, just walked around - boy it it big.
On the south side, is a notable WWI statue (the artist just passed away).
And a great tribute to Bob Hope's support for the troops.
Then it started to rain and that ended our exploring for the day.
Good day!
