Before any of you SoCal peeps start getting all bent out of shape, let me explain. I went to watch james of Xterra dominance fame (http://va2ca.blogspot.com) at the Snow Valley off-road triathlon in the San Bernadino Mountains. I'd already run twice on my vacation. A quick 1.5 miles in the ATL airport on layover and a hilly 3 miler in Valencia the next morning. After a day off and a day on the beach, I was fired up about triathlon. I ran some killer hills and trails for about a 7 mile run in the La Jolla Cove area. Great day right? I hadn't had quite enough, so I went for an easy one to take some pictures the next day. I ran up the hills for some panoramic views, and then down to the south side of the cove, hoping to run around the point, and meet up with my friends....
So I found a small park that I thought led down to the beach ( a bit further south than I was hoping for, but it would work) when wham- I run into a fence. "Crap, no go I guess." But then it became apparent that attached to fence was a glorious piece of rope which allowed would be explorers to rappel down the rock face to the dry kelp and small rock shore which gives under the feet about 4 inches every step. I got down and began to jog again, feeling just a little bit like MacGyver, and thus, very good. I took about 10 steps and to my left I see a beautiful young hawaian woman jogging barefoot in a bikini. She looked at me waved and smiled, and I dumbfoundedly waved back (how'd she get out here?). Before I had time to ask, my would-be girlfriend dove head-first into the pacific and begin swimming out to sea. I figured she was probably a bit young for me (running on a monday afternoon) and continued on. I ran around some smaller inlets and came to a real problem: 25-ft drop-off. Not totally sheer, but only a few small, wet hand and footholds. I began considering my options. 1) Climb down carefully, continue running next 1-2 miles, and hope not to run into any more of this. Not a bad option... 2) Turn back around and run all the way back across that terrible kelp bed. Not a chance... 3) Trespass into one of the three backyards behind me and hope I don't get arrested. Mind you these are NICE houses, probably with security systems. slightly illegal, but should work in a pinch.
I decided quickly that I'd give option 1 a shot. I began to find my first foothold and what I though was rock was hardened soil-it broke off beneath my foot. Deaths usually aren't fun on vacation so I re-evaluated my options and chose option 3. I chose the most friendly-looking backyard and went for it. Through the back yard to the sideyard gate was fine, through the first sideyard gate and BAM! another gate. Oh crap! Through the second gate and BAM! work van with worker in van staring me right in the face. As I shut the fence door, I noticed a 10-digit code pad for a security system and determined the last two miles would not be the same as the first 2. It was time to hammer, bob-and-weave, do anything to avoid the imminent arrest for trespassing in my future. I heard somebody yelling as I got about 100 yards away from the house, and (I think a phantom) car behind me for the next mile. Every time I heard it, I sped up and turned. I made it back to the beach out of breath, with the top of my foot bleeding (tore up at off-road triathlon, for some reason can't upload picture right now, I'll try later. Ask me to send it and I'll e-mail it out to you if you'd like), and happy to get a little relaxing beach time in with the boys before leaving Sunny and Beautiful San Diego for the North.
My point being this San Diegoanites: You live in one of the most beautiful places in the world (I know real estate is insane, but) you better appreciate it. Or team sam is coming for ya.
No comments:
Post a Comment