America's Finest Climate
During my recent travels, I got to feel what a
real winter felt like. Well, to be honest, skies
were clear throughout my trip—but temperatures
certainly felt wintry in many of the places I
visited. Santa Fe, for instance, only warmed to a
chilly 38 during the two days I was there. Patches
of snow speckled the ground at both White Sands and
the Very Large Array. And of course, at over 10,000
feet, Sandia Peak had a full covering of the white
stuff.
Now, I'm back in Paradise, America's Finest
City, San Diego, just a few miles from the beach.
It's mid-January, and it's sunny and 70 degrees.
Yes, this city has become overcrowded. Yes, the
traffic's often as bad as L.A. But in so many ways,
this is still the best place in the United States
to live.
What am I going to do with this perfect day,
just two days before I stick my nose back in the
books for four more months? I'm going to get out in
it, hike up to one of my favorite spots, Torrey
Pines State Park. It's one of the most
beautiful spots in this beautiful city. Miles of
trails twist and wind along dramatic sandstone
bluffs, overlooking the pristine beaches between
Del Mar and La Jolla. Majestic groves of Torrey
Pines and broad swaths of chaparral (and the
occasional cactus) cover the breathtaking
topography. Well-maintained trails include wooden
decks and overlooks, where one can sit and look for
migrating whales (which is what I intend to do
today).
I'd like to write more, but time's
a'wasting!
©2003 Michael
Strickland ALL RIGHTS
RESERVED
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