cazalea
[Seiko Moderator]
19641
Cruising the ‘Hoods, Part 1
I changed my operating style today - went in the afternoon, drove to an area I’d never really visited before, went on my own (wife at her sister’s house) and didn’t see any wildlife.
BUT I had a great time looking for houses, citrus trees, cars & trucks and other wonders.
Thanks to Google Earth I can zoom in on the streets and rotate the orientation and tilt the perspective so you can see those canyons that divide one set of residential streets from another. This is impossible without a helicopter and many years of driving around getting stranded on a dead-end street.
I forgot to mention there is a pedestrian crossing over the 163 which allows people without a car to get over to “the mainland” and reach schools and shopping, or walk their dog. I walked up the other end of the bridge once. I will try to find that in my photos.
Notice the lady riding her bike. She just came off the bridge. onto this dead end street in the NW commercial corner of Birdland. Sadly, motorhomes are often camping here
as evidenced by angry signs warning them to stay out of the School District’s property. Fresh fences and massive locks underline the message.
All of the area I circled is residential, and that’s where I noticed citrus trees laden with fruit on about 1/3 of the homes.
This grapefruit tree was groaning under the weight of its fruit, which was falling on the pavement below. I was tempted… but that’s a job for my charming wife.
Another vintage Corvette! Raise your hand if you have ever done damage to a motor vehicle that you own (or owned). 🙋
I never had the nerve to cover it like this!
Things got elevated very quickly as I came across a Brown Chevy Truck (at least it was once a truck)
NEIGHBORHOODS
San Diego is cut up by Canyons and Freeways. Here’s a map of the northern central part of the city. Highways are odd numbers North/South, and even numbers West/East. Crossing either Canyons or Freeways is possible only in a few places, depending on the terrain. As a result there are neighborhoods that were settled BEFORE the Freeways which are now “land-locked” triangles with only one or two ways in or out. The places I visited this afternoon are shown in the area between highways 163 and 805.
Thanks to Google Earth I can zoom in on the streets and rotate the orientation and tilt the perspective so you can see those canyons that divide one set of residential streets from another. This is impossible without a helicopter and many years of driving around getting stranded on a dead-end street.
OK, enough of the maps. I will start with Birdland whose street names include Blue Jay, Canary, Cardinal, Finch, Goshawk, Hornbill, Hummingbird, Kiwi, Macaw, Mockingbird, Nightingale, Pheasant, Sea Gull, etc.
My trip started just right, as I got a chance to folllow this guy whose Corvette sounded great but has the usual old car maladies - lights not working, wires dragging, etc. I see he’s a member of the yacht club. He shot away from me when we rounded the corner.
I forgot to mention there is a pedestrian crossing over the 163 which allows people without a car to get over to “the mainland” and reach schools and shopping, or walk their dog. I walked up the other end of the bridge once. I will try to find that in my photos.
Notice the lady riding her bike. She just came off the bridge. onto this dead end street in the NW commercial corner of Birdland. Sadly, motorhomes are often camping here
as evidenced by angry signs warning them to stay out of the School District’s property. Fresh fences and massive locks underline the message.
All of the area I circled is residential, and that’s where I noticed citrus trees laden with fruit on about 1/3 of the homes.
This grapefruit tree was groaning under the weight of its fruit, which was falling on the pavement below. I was tempted… but that’s a job for my charming wife.
Another vintage Corvette! Raise your hand if you have ever done damage to a motor vehicle that you own (or owned). 🙋
I never had the nerve to cover it like this!
Things got elevated very quickly as I came across a Brown Chevy Truck (at least it was once a truck)
I got to the bottom of one street and was able to look out over the valley. I’m sure you could make your way down there but not without trespassing and perhaps some climbing gear.
Below is not a Christmas tree, but a huge growth of ivy on a palm tree!
I have to take a short break, so please come back for Part 2
Cruising the ‘Hoods, Part 1
I changed my operating style today - went in the afternoon, drove to an area I’d never really visited before, went on my own (wife at her sister’s house) and didn’t see any wildlife. BUT I had a great time looking for houses, citrus trees, cars & trucks a...
The giant ivy?
My front yard looked a bit like that when we bought the house: Back yard Ivy vs Mike! ...
My favorite grapefruits! . . .
. . . you haven't lived 'til you've had a chihuahua . ...
Cruising the ‘Hoods, Part 2
Continuing our adventure in Birdland, I walked and drove around, completely lost but also completely confident that I would eventually come back to where I entered. Citrus were everywhere. Front yards, side yards, driveways! There were other California pl...
The 🩹 with “ouch” on the car is kinda cute…but an understatement.
I had to look it up since the ivy in your pictures had a weed-like character…and apparently it is a weed. That was scary to see how aggressively it grew up that palm and your house years ago.
We still have some ivy - it’s impossible to eradicate completely
Bear in mind the house is 70 and the wall 25 years older than that, so the ivy had time to climb It provides an environment where some animals thrive - not runners but climbers - no coyotes but plenty of possums; no gophers but raccoons; and plenty of tin...
Cruising the ‘Hoods, Part 3
Having left Birdland, I cruised to the edge of the Phyllis Place neighborhood, which for 80 years sat above a sand and cement operation. Here’s a view from 15 years ago: and satellite from last fall: I got out of the truck, climbed a hill, and took photos...
Your pics of this recently developed neighborhood as well as your Part1 satellite pics of SD impress upon me how densely packed all the neighborhoods are.
Despite being so packed, I’m impressed by how much nature is still integrated and defines the character of each area.
Keep cruising the hoods Mike 😎…
An enjoyable glimpse into the hoods. Particularly enjoyed seeing cars from the area.
America’s response to Land Rovers
Land Squashers: If the British can make it, we can make it longer and wider and taller and heavier. ...
I definitely remember seeing that jacked up Chevy pickup long ago
Doing some searching, I found we indeed roamed the Birdland, back in 2016 when doing some Vehicle Spotting exercises in our electric Fiat. Here are a few images for your viewing pleasure! Tiny Geo Tracker Pontiac Fiero Honda / Acura NSX AND that pickup! N...