LA JOLLA SHORES WALK

La Jolla Cove

Paul and I enjoyed a walk along the La Jolla coastal path that hugs the cliffs with scenic views of the ocean. There is limited access to some of the beaches below. 

The Children’s pool is a small cove protected by a concrete breakwater wall. It was originally built as a safe swimming area for children but was claimed  long ago by harbor seals who beach themselves on the sand with their young. The area is closed for swimming now and offers a view of these marine animals. The seals are so used to people that they show no fear of approaching visitors

The seals are so used to people that they show no fear of approaching visitors

 The path continues past Ellen Browning Scripps Park which is a popular picnic spot with a  grassy area with large trees. We watched a gentleman there making soap bubbles with an extended wand.

La Jolla Cove is a picturesque swimming spot that is frequented by open water swimmers and divers. Beyond one can often see kayakers from La Jolla Shores.

Looking towards La Jolla Shores

LIVING COAST DISCOVERY CENTER

            The Living Coast Discovery Center is on the Chula Vista bayfront. It showcases the wildlife of San Diego’s coastline. The center is adjacent to a wildlife preserve with trails throughout the habitat.  The center began as a nature intrepertive center in 1987 by the Bayfront Conservency.  Later it was funded by the city of Chula Vista and it became independant in 2012.

Some of the aquatic and terrestrial exhibits include  Eastern Pacific green sea turtles.  There are four turtles in an open-air aquarium. 

A larger aquarium is home to Manta Rays and local Leopard Sharks 

                           

                                                                                   An indoor tank showcases a pacific Octopus. 

 Other tanks have fish, starfish and other aquatic specimens.

                             

This colorful chameleon was of special interest.

 

The center is a birdwatchers delight with egrets, sandpipers, lightfooted clapper rails, least terns, owls, hawks etc.

LABOR DAY 2016

Two events took place on the embarcadero of San Diego Bay during Labor Day

The Festival of Sail is an annual celebration of tall ships  which takes place at the Maritime Museum of San Diego during the Labor Day weekend. This year it included 19 ships from several West coast locations.  It is the largest tall ship festival on the west coast.  The festivities included some mock cannon battles.

The Californian was built in 1984 at Spanish Landing in San Diego Bay and was launched with great fanfare for the 1984 Summer Olympic Games in Los Angeles. In July 2003, the Governor signed a bill into law designating the California as the official tall ship of the Sate of California.  She is the only ship to carry this title. It is a replica of the 1847 Revenue Cutter C.W. Lawrence, which patrolled the coast of California enforcing federal law during the gold rush.

Another festival ship was the Claudia built in Norway

The San Salvador is a replica built recently at the Maritime Museum of the original that arrived in San Diego in 1542 under the command of Juan Rodriguez Cabrillo which is considered the founding ship of San Diego and the Sate of California.

One of several mock battles

Another ship was The bill of Rights, a Gaff
topsail schooner constructed in 1971 in South Bristol, Maine.

The Star of India is the world's oldest active sailing ship on the Isle of Man in 1863.  The ship is one of the permanent ships at the Maritime museum
                                                                 

Watching all the activities

View from the embarcadero

 Another event on the waterfront near the Maritime Museum was the U.S.  Sand Sculpting Challenge on the B Street Pier with participating artists from around  the world.

Nostalgia by Ilya Filimontsev of Moscow won 1st place

Alpha Waves by Fergus Mulvaney of Dublin Ireland won 2nd place