At The Backroads

I was browsing Jerry Schad’s A Foot and a Field in San Diego County and I learned that there is a new trail currently developed that will ultimately go all the way from Torrey Pines State Reserve to Anza Borrego Desert State Park. The trail covers habitats from ocean to mountain to desert over a variety of terrain. Interestingly, the trails are isolated enough to allow hikers to see more wildlife. Since I know we will never complete this trail, therefore, we had our own version of Pines to Spines Trail last weekend, but it was a drive and hike . We drove to Spines, and walk one mile. Drove to mountains, and hike 5 miles. Drove to Pines, and hike 4 miles again. Yes, from desert, to mountains to oceans, that’s what we did! But with the aid of our vehicle haha! And since we did not have to avoid civilization, our route is a lot shorter than the hiking route for we did not have to climb several mountains. From this trip, you can guess how much geological diversity is there in San Diego County.

Our Spines to Pines trip, all within San Diego County:

I. San Diego to Spines, Morning: From Highway 15, we took Scripps Poway Parkway to 67 North, continuing to 78 East, then taking 79 North to S2 and then S22 to Borrego Springs.

Spine @ Anza Borrego Desert State Park Visitor Center

From Borrego Springs, we take S-22 East to Font’s Point.

Badlands Across to Mexico, @ Font’s Point

Badlands as Far as Your Eyes Can See, Font’s Point

Badlands Up Close

Looking West from Font’s Point to Our Next Destination

From Font’s Point, we moved west to Tamarisk Grove Campground for more Spines and did the 1 mile Cactus Loop Trail.

Cactus Loop Trail @ Anza Borrego

II. Spines to Mountains, Mid-day. From Tamarisk we took 78 West and then 79 South to Cuyamaca Rancho State Park and did a 5 mile hike looping around Lake Cuyamaca and to Stone Wall Gold Mine.

Start of our Hike @ Lake Cuyamaca Loop to Stone Wall Gold Mine

Pines and Oaks ( just imagine East of this Forest is Anza Borrego Desert )

Hiking to Historical Stone Wall Gold Mine Site

If only these leaves would turn into real Gold, then, we can retire

The Stone Wall Mine Site

$2,000,000 worth of gold in 1893 (how much would that now be?) excavated in this 30-ft shaft alone

Since The State Park is an Archaelogical Site, and No Excavation Allowed, We Settled for This Gold

More Gold with A Dash of Iron

Stepped on Fallen Apples @ the Trail

Apples

Almost Done

One more Look at the Lake before we move closer to the Pacific Ocean

III. Mountains to Pines by the Sea, Late Afternoon. Drive Back to San Diego by taking 79 South to I-8 West to I-5 North to the Pines part of the Spines to Pines Trail, @ Torrey Pines State Reserve (our route was a loop ). As I told fellow San Diegan blogger Frigga, I had been going to the mountains and desert lately forgetting for a short time what is closest to us, the ocean. Her picture brought a reminder for me to feel the ocean breeze again on my skin and listen to the magical and powerful sound of the waves. And by the ocean, is my favorite place on Earth, if there is anywhere I wanted to be if I would be ask for only one choice, then, by the ocean it would be! Only that living in San Diego affords us the experience and enjoyment of all these three different atmospheres, the ocean, mountains and desert.

Squid (we got there at low tide )

Gulls

Just Landed Gull

Broken Hill

Torrey Pines By the Hill

Broken Hill

Sun Sets on Thick Marine Layer Over Torrey Pines

Spines (Left) Meet Pines (back of Broken Hill) @ Torrey Pines State Reserve

That was a lovely but long day. Actually, when we got to Torrey Pines, I was so dismayed, since I enjoyed immensely the blue sky at the desert and mountains. But when we got at Torrey Pines, the marine layer was so thick, it was so overly foggy. I did not think I could take any picture because of poor visibility. I actually at first left my backpack, thinking I will just finish our trip by hiking to Broken Hill. But then, I saw my hubby bringing his backpack. I asked him why, he said for weight training, so, I followed him. I told myself, okay, for weight training! I am glad I brought my camera and tripod for weight training, though the sunset was not one of Torrey Pines’ best, but at least, the fog cleared a bit for me to take some pictures of the gulls and hills, and it was my first time to see a squid breathing on sand. We can never tell indeed how situations will change in the great outdoors.

 

In Part 1 of San Diego Zoo’s Wild Animal Park we started our walk from Nairobi Village to Condor Ridge to Kupanda Falls Botanical Garden to Kilimanjaro Safari Walk and stopped at Lion’s Camp getting a little bit up close with Eezo.

Nose to Nose with Eezo, well, Almost

At Lion’s Camp, one can experience an up close encounter with lions, seeing their enormous paws hint at their power.

Eezo

There is a thick glass window between visitors and lions, and it is a unique experience to be just inches away from them. The exhibit extends to an open grassy plain that starts from the top of the hill and slopes downward. Here, you can experience how the lions play as family.

Lion’s Family

Baby Lions

The Lion Camp does not only bring lions and people together, it also tells the African lion’s story. You can find information in Lion’s Camp about the challenges the lions are facing in Africa and how we can help ensure the survival of this powerful yet beautiful animal. Visiting the Park, you will share their pride of succesfully breeding endangered animals and their re-introduction of almost extinct species into the wild program. 

Continuing West from Lion’s Camp is the Heart of Africa. In between this two you will pass the boarding for the Journey into Africa Tour.

Journey into Africa Tour Vehicle with Cheetah

Yes, you can ride a vehicle to tour Wild Animal Park, but the ride paths and walking paths are different. One would not be able to see in the vehicle tour the Condor Ridge, the Tiger, the elephants, the Old Wolrd Succulent and Baja Gardens, the Kupanda Falls Botanical Garden, and much more. Instead, The Journey into Africa tour is designed to give you a glimpse of the amazing diversity found in Africa.

Buffalos and Giraffe

Courtship Amongs Antelopes

Mom and Baby

Rhino

Balloon Safari and Buffalos

Next to the boarding area of the Journey into Africa tour is the Heart of Africa. Here, you will experience Africa’s amazing diversity of species, which includes some of the most widely recognized and admired animals in the world.

Cheetah

The unique Heart of Africa exhibit makes the cheetahs appear like they are within reach, but no, well, almost.

Cheetah

Cheetah

At the Heart of Africa exhibit, you would still get a glimpse of the Giraffes which seem to be walking all over the African Safari Exhibit. You can watch the Giraffe as much as they seem to watch people too.

People Watching?

The winding trails yet gentle terrain of the Heart of Africa offers a very relaxing walk, with lots of places to sit beneath the trees or near the streams.

 Old Jeep by the Lake @ Heart of Africa

Flamingo Island

Primate Island

There are ample opportunities for meeting animals face to face in the Heart of Africa. If you consider looking up at the branches of the trees, you will see a lot of native and wild Californian visitors also wandering and experiencing the wonderful world of Africa.

Wild Migratory Birds Also Visiting the Heart of Africa Exhibit

Wild Migratory Birds Also Visiting the Heart of Africa Exhibit

Emerging from the trails of the Heart of Africa, you walk uphill going North back to Nairobi Village. Along the trail, you will pass the Gorilla Exhibit and experience some pensive and playful moments of the gorillas.

Happy with his Carrot Stick

Carrot Snack

Broccoli Snack

The Gorilla Exhibit connects to Nairobi Village where you pass the pink backed pelicans resting on the lagoon and the rushing stream. Emerging from the African themed wooded and grass huts and bridge, you will be greeted by the meerkats exhibit. They are tiny, yet I find them so adorable. They keep on moving their heads as if watching for predators coming.

Meerkats

The Same Meerkats, Again

The exhibits I mentioned are all part of the loop trail that goes clockwise. Not mentioned in this loop trail are the exhibits that are at the center of this loop, such as the Lorikeet Landing, Hidden Jungle, Petting Kraal where kids can have their moments petting some animals, and much more.

A walk at Wild Animal Park is an inexpensive way for me to get a glimpse and learn about Africa, without having to leave San Diego and pay for an airplane to Africa. But of course, one day, I dream of really experiencing a real African Safari in the jungles of Africa. While it is still a dream, for now, I content myself with visits to Wild Animal Park.