#8: Thirteen Observations from Our Trip to San Diego: 05/30/07

Over the Memorial Day holiday weekend, the four of us traveled down to San Diego to visit my family. We stopped in briefly to see Ian's parents en route. This week's Thursday Thirteen is inspired by the car trip.

1. Google Maps says it takes 7 hours 11 minutes from my house to my mom's house. In reality, with traffic, and two small children, it's more like 12 or 13 hours.

2. It is actually easier to travel with two young children (even if one is a baby) than with one young child. They keep each other entertained.

3. Hot air balloons that are visible from the highway are enough to cause a ten mile long traffic jam.

4. California freeways are inefficiently designed. Or put another way; California drivers do not use the freeways as the engineers designed them to be used. The engineers need to rethink how drivers actually use the routes.

5. My best friend used to be the geekier one; now I am.

6. My best friend drinks coffee at an popular BookCrossing release site but has never heard of BookCrossing. I at least, got the thrill of finding a book in the wild!

7. San Diego has changed more in 10 years than the Bay Area has changed in 30 years, except for Gilroy which seems to think it's part of southern California.

8. It is faster to go around Los Angeles than through it when heading to San Diego.

9. I don't miss all the roadside advertising that is so prevalent in Los Angeles and San Diego.

10. Harriet's smile can melt anyone's heart. But it does mean that every stop on the road will take an extra ten or fifteen minutes while I have to chitchat about my children with perfect strangers.

11. It is a good idea to include gardens in our travel plans because Sean loves flowers so much. (He's also a very good gardener).

12. San Diego is just far enough away to notice it getting darker sooner than here.

13. My brother and I ended up in jobs very similar to our mother's even though she never pushed us into her field of work and studied completely different things in college.

thursday thirteen

Comments (28)

Comment #1: Wednesday, May, 30, 2007 at 19:55:47

Ctina says:
"It sounds like you had a nice trip! I love California and want to go back for a visit so soon!"

Comment #2: Wednesday, May, 30, 2007 at 20:21:33

mama kelly says:
"What a great list. I love the idea of bookcrossing but have yet to jump in and take part.

Mama Kelly

PS my 13 are up "

Comment #3: Wednesday, May, 30, 2007 at 20:52:06

Wylie Kinson says:
" Very entertaining!! I've never been to San Diego, but have been on a long car trip with two kids, so totally get these."

Comment #4: Wednesday, May, 30, 2007 at 21:53:35

dew says:
"Thanks for a reminder! I need to enter some bookcrossing books.

I hope you had a great trip."

Comment #5: Wednesday, May, 30, 2007 at 19:39:22

Pussreboots says:
"We had a lovely trip but the drive to and from was exhausting!"

Comment #6: Wednesday, May, 30, 2007 at 21:54:38

JHS says:
"San Diego is a beautiful city . . . I could live there . . . but I'm never moving. :-) "

Comment #7: Wednesday, May, 30, 2007 at 22:04:34

Margaret says:
"Sounds like you had a wonderful time as well as the 'lil ones. Great list. Happy Thursday "

Comment #8: Wednesday, May, 30, 2007 at 22:46:00

Susan Helene Gottfried says:
"I have to admit, I don't have much desire to see San Diego. I'm a Bay Area sort of girl...

Happy TT! "

Comment #9: Wednesday, May, 30, 2007 at 20:31:21

Pussreboots says:
"I was born and raised in San Diego and the rest of my immediate family lives there. I'm sort of tied to it even if it's no longer my home."

Comment #10: Thursday, May, 31, 2007 at 01:49:14

Raggedy says:
"Terrific Thursday Thirteen!
My TT is posted.
Have a wonderful day!
Happy TT'ing!
*^_^
(=':'=)
(")_ (")
Raggedy"

Comment #11: Thursday, May, 31, 2007 at 05:23:11 Karen (miscmum) says:
"Sounds like a successful trip. Congrats!"

Comment #12: Thursday, May, 31, 2007 at 06:58:30

Tink says:
"I'd love to visit San Diego! So many great places, so little time and money! ;-) My TT shares 13 things about the blue moon. "

Comment #13: Thursday, May, 31, 2007 at 07:35:56

Christine d'Abo says:
"LOL about the hot air balloons! I think that might be a world-wide phenomenon. "Oooh, look at the pretty floaty thing...""

Comment #14: Thursday, May, 31, 2007 at 07:44:36

This Eclectic Life says:
"My husband is from California and talks about the traffic the same way you do. I hate relying on the maps on-line, the estimated driving time is never right. In Texas, it doesn't have to be anything as exciting as a hot air balloon to slow traffic (lol). This is a good list. I enjoyed it."

Comment #15: Thursday, May, 31, 2007 at 08:09:45 Gabriella Hewitt says:
"I love San Diego. My mom's sisters have lived there forever it seems and my brother and I spent many summers visiting our aunts. Finally, my folks retired there last year. And San Diego has changed so much over the years. The whole downtown is completely renovated and neighborhoods have sprung up all over the place. But there is so much to do there. So what did you do on your vacation? Hope you got some beach time in."

Comment #16: Thursday, May, 31, 2007 at 09:34:45

pussreboots says:
"We mostly stayed with my mother. We did get out to the beach (La Jolla Shores) and down to the Water Conservation Garden at Cuyamaca College. I also snuck out to have coffee with my best friend; I've known her since 1979!

Comment #17: Thursday, May, 31, 2007 at 08:44:12

Candy says:
"What a trip...and I loved imagining the drive it sounds so exotic to me...it's been a long time since I've been to the area...your descriptions had me imaginig the drive and traffic. How interesting that your family has a carreer in common...it would be interesting to hear more about that realization. Your kids look goergous in that photo!

Comment #18: Thursday, May, 31, 2007 at 09:13:51

Ctina says:
"Your cat's name is Caligula? That is hilarious!"

Comment #19: Thursday, May, 31, 2007 at 09:14:07

Starrlight says:
"I have not been to San Diego in years. I mean like since the 80's. Sounds like it has changed a bit! Happy TT =)

Comment #20: Thursday, May, 31, 2007 at 13:51:01

Kristi says:
"I totally get you about Google...we were supposed to have a 90 minute trip to pick up my mom at the airport...2 hours later....... :) "

Comment #21: Thursday, May, 31, 2007 at 15:32:22

Mark Caldwell says:
"Thats a long time to be on the road."

Comment #22: Thursday, May, 31, 2007 at 16:34:49

villageofmany says:
"Great list! Sounds like a fun trip :) I've never signed up for bookcrossing either, how funny that she drinks coffee there but never heard of it!"

Comment #23: Thursday, May, 31, 2007 at 17:03:20

WendyWings says:
"I went to San Diego a long time ago,my main memory is getting drenched by a whale at Seaworld lol. "

Comment #24: Thursday, May, 31, 2007 at 20:47:21

Kuanyin says:
"I love Book Crossing! Congrats on your catch and Happy TT!"

Comment #25: Friday, June, 1, 2007 at 21:34:33

PJ says:
"I'd love to visit San Diego, thanks for sharing your observations. Happy TT."

Comment #26: Saturday, June, 2, 2007 at 04:00:26

kristarella says:
"Sounds like a nice trip. I'll keep that in mind about travelling with kids :)"

Comment #27: Sunday, June, 3, 2007 at 19:57:40

Julia says:
"Sound like you had a great trip! Thanks for sharing

And thanks for visiting my blog, hope you have good day"

Comment #28: Wednesday, June, 20, 2007 at 20:24:02

Mz. Jackson says:
"I totally agree with number 2! Happy Thursday. "