SD, CA - Earning the Double Scoops

One of our favorite place to hike and visit is Torrey Pines State Park, north of San Diego along the coast. You’ve got drop-dead gorgeous views of the ocean,

4000 of the near-extinct, rarest pine tree in the US - the Torrey Pine,

beautifully colored cliffs lining the shore

fabulous hiking trails leading down to the beach - here come the surfers

where you can play on the finest sand

and sit on huge rocks uncovered by the receding tide.

Add to that the views of the hang gliders cruising in the updrafts along the cliffs and you’ve got a great place to sit, stroll, wade, hike, whatever you want to do. We come here every time we’re in San Diego and never tire of it.

We began at the Gliderport where, unfortunately, there was not enough wind for gliders today so we hiked down the cliffs which warn:

That was me 2 years ago, are the cliffs any more stable? Hah! But, we love the challenge. The trail goes right up that notch, not quite straight up, but there are a lot of steps and it’s like climbing a skyscraper.

Sure looks like a challenge to me. Besides, we’ve taken this trail before, it’s challenging and fun. Down we go, through a break in the cliff. We listen to the huffs and puffs of those climbing up knowing that we, too will be there soon enough. Along the beach walk, I’m entranced by the views of the steep cliffs, the blue sky and the ocean. Mesmerizing.

We walked down the beach about 2 miles to the parking lot of Torrey Pines State Park. Ah-h-h: a bathroom. Then we began the slog up the hill. They close the road up the hill when all the parking lots at the top are full and we walkers and bikers have the hill to ourselves.

At the top we meet a volunteer from Burlington, IA, then begin our trek down to the beach again. Today is Sunday and Californians are loving their State Parks. These people are on a trail which switchbacks down the cliff to the beach.

This climb down is not so harrowing since it is an official trail to the beach. And, we begin our trek back down the beach to where we can climb back up to our car. And, here we begin huffing and puffing. Someone had spent hours making this trail. Sometimes there are logs making the steps, sometimes cinder blocks. Often the steps are about 18” high, often there are 10 in a row - real step work. But a neat trail.

AND THAT’S HOW I EARNED A DOUBLE DIP

Sure enough, we checked the IPhone for the nearest Rite Aid and, SURPRISE! ! !, it’s right on the way home - if we go the long route. Well, maybe it’s not right on the way but close enough. Donette waited on us again and she’s got a heavy hand with the scoop. I made my choice (medieval madness), lamenting the fact that my favorite flavor (mocha fudge almond) was too far gone to make it easy to scoop. She scooped my second choice into a cup, then began scooping out the last of the mocha almond fudge.

        ‘Oops, I only wanted a single scoop of Medieval Madness.’

        ‘Well, we’ve got to clean out the container and might as well put it to good use.’

My new best friend.

Looks like Gary only got a single scoop. Too bad. But, I took pity on him and gave him half. I can’t eat a 6” stack of ice-cream.

Hey, the ice cream was done before I got a picture of it. Well, next time.

Home to watch the Super Bowl and what a game it was.