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Day 1
A Day of Flying

Day 2
Around the Town

Day 3
A Day at Sea

Day 4
To the Tower

Day 5
Balboa Park

Day 6
A Bit to the North

Day 7
Back to San Diego

Day 8
Snowed in in SoCal!

Day 9
More Old US-80

Day 10
(Almost) Back Home Again in Indiana

February 4, 2011 (day 10)
A drive to the airport, a bit more flight shuffling, then arrival in Indianapolis as scheduled -- plus two days. My ice encrusted car waited for me overnight. I've also described dealing with it and chowing down at an Indy classic.

February 3, 2011 (day 9)
I used today to drive Old US-80 from the Gillespie Bridge to El Centro. I drove essentially this same path in 2003 but I worked in a few new things and revisited some places as well.

February 2, 2011 (day 8)
Yep. I'm snowed in in San Diego. Conditions in Indianapolis caused my flight there to be canceled so I'm spending a couple of extra days out west. Today I dashed down the road to Gila Bend, AZ, and will leisurely return to San Diego tomorrow.

February 1, 2011 (day 7)
After driving back to San Diego, I strolled along the waterfront then ended the day with family. This was to be my last day in San Diego but a major winter storm makes things uncertain.

January 31, 2011 (day 6)
I drove Historic US-101 as far as Oceanside then wiggled my way up and up and up to a closed observatory.

January 30, 2011 (day 5)
Everybody got to go to Balboa Park today and I finally got some pictures of my youngest grandson. Rain fell today but was timed so as to not interfere with our walk in the park.

January 29, 2011 (day 4)
Fletcher the younger and I drove to Desert View Tower with a couple of museum stops along the way. CA-94 out and old US-80 back. Yea, two-lanes.

January 28, 2011 (day 3)
Today was Family Cruise Day on the USS Boxer and a good time was had for sure. We got some narrated San Diego waterfront sightseeing, some Navy/Marine air power demonstrations, and they fed us. Waiting in line for lunch was the biggest chore we had to deal with.

January 27, 2011 (day 2)
I was on my own today and enjoyed a great breakfast and a few historical spots. Plus I stumbled across a flock of not-yet-available cars.

January 26, 2011 (day 1)
Distant snow affected my flight just a little. It could have been much worse. Flying from Indianapolis to San Diego pretty much filled the day then I hooked up with the family for dinner.

Prelude - December 14, 2010
My sailor son is now in San Diego. His brother remains in San Francisco. The 2011 Lincoln Highway Association Conference is being held at Lake Tahoe; less than 200 miles from the Golden Gate. At one point I thought of involving all three in a glorious western outing. First the LHA Conference then a son to son drive that would clinch the Pacific Coast Highway for me. The plan was ambitious but very possible -- except for one thing. The conference is in June and, when I asked the sailor if he would be around, I got a very definite "no". When that Lake Tahoe conference adjourns, he'll be somewhere around the mid-point of a seven month cruise.

So the all-inclusive Lake Tahoe + San Francisco + San Diego adventure is not to be. I immediately thought of tackling the SF-SD bit in October, when the sailor's ashore, and maybe I still will but it's only a maybe. It's also possible that I'll make it to that Lake Tahoe conference but right now I'm thinking not. Right now I'm thinking about San Diego in January.

A Southwest Airlines' ad made me look and I discovered some inviting post-holiday fares. While I was bandying about dates with my son, he learned that a Family Day Cruise was being planned for his ship on January, 28. I've booked flights that will have me in San Diego over the 28th and am looking forward to seeing my son, his family, and the USS Boxer next month.

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