google.com, pub-1183232341631896, DIRECT, f08c47fec0942fa0 We Discover Canada And Beyond: Baja Bound, Part 32. Back in the USA
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10 March 2014

Baja Bound, Part 32. Back in the USA


Encinitas, CA to Ventura, CA


Yesterday, December 1st 2013 we drove from the Mexican border town of Tecate to Encinitas just north of San Diego on Hwy. 5. We stayed at the local EconoLodge Moonlight Beach.



Back in the USA

For supper we walked down the road to a local Pizza Place. The food tasted heavenly familiar.


Ah, Pizza...

 This morning we went for a walk to the beach in Encinitas. But the tide was in, the sandy cliffs were 100 feet tall, so we walked instead through the little town. It had a good feeling, sort of like Oak Bay in Victoria. The house prices were similar. Lots on the beach were $2.2 million. Homes not on the beach, but close to it, no views, around $ 4 Million.


Beach in Encinitas CA

After breakfast we drove slowly north along Hwy.1 along the Gold coast. Well, what a culture shock after the Baja, Mexico.



California Hwy.1 Coastal Drive



Spanish Coat of Armes for the Californias

What an inversion of history. California was the poor and neglected backwaters of the Spanish and Mexican rulers from 1769 to 1848. The Catholic Church established 21 Missions along the Camino Real from San Diego to Sonoma, each about a day's ride apart. But food shortage, sickness, and unhappy native worker/slaves forced the closure of quite a few of the Missions and Forts.


21 Missions were established along this path

Today this whole area along the southern Californian coast smells of money. All cars are incredible newish and expensive. Bentley and Maserati give each other competition. We stopped in Laguna Beach for a little walk about. Nice stores, the pre-holiday sales were on. We had a yummy lunch at a Scandinavian Deli. Oh yes, on the streets we were asked 4 times for change, and some totally stoned young man could not walk anymore. We must be back among the affluent.


Fancy cars everywhere

We continued our drive all along the California coast, passed Newport Beach, Huntington Beach, Long Beach and Redondo Beach. Not all areas were super fancy. There were some "regular" neighbourhoods. But compared to the Baja it was mind boggling. It took us for ever to drive passed Los Angeles.




Amazing right offshore along the fancy beaches there were oil drill platforms. Even in the Port of Los Angeles there are working oil drills pumping along.



Offshore Oil Rigs

Oil Pump right in Los Angeles

Eventually passed Santa Monica and Malibu the drive was more relaxed. Just off # 1 Hwy along the Santa Monica Mountains one could camp right at the beach. What a change from the wall to wall concrete further south.


Drive on the coast along the Santa Monica Mountains

Once past the national Park from around Oxnard to Ventura miles and miles of flowers, berries, and vegetables are grown. The millions of people in California today should not have a food shortage.


Large Farms around Oxnard and Ventura, CA

We stayed in Ventura, CA for the night.

For more pictures, please go to our Web Album

Click on any of the links below to go to other parts of this wonderful trip.

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11.    12.    13.    14.    15.    16.    17.    18.    19.    20.

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