Our big event for the day was the Padres game at Petco Park in downtown San Diego. We could have driven down, and then searched out and paid for parking, but on the advise of others, we decided to ride the Coaster down to the game. We dutifully checked the schedule, and decided on a trip into the city early enough to include Old Town (Bubb is looking for another house number like we bought in February, for a friend of hers) and perhaps dinner at the Tin Fish. We decided on a 3:30 departure from the Oceanside Transit Center.
When we got there, we unfortunately discovered that because of the Labor Day holiday, the Coaster would only make one trip that day. A 4:55 PM departure specifically to provide transportation to the Padres game. We tried to make sure of the details, but found the ticketing staff a little bewildered by our questions. We asked really hard ones like, "Is the Coaster running to the game, or not?" "Which track will it arrive on?" You know things that only Heavenly Father could know.
We did purchase our tickets. It seems that Bubb's days as a cheap date are coming to an end. It cost $13.00 for her Coaster round trip ticket and only $6.50 for the newest senior citizen in the Eves family. She still wants to be a cheap date, but for the next two years, it looks like I may have a few advantages. Of course how cool is it to get a senior discount? Not very.
We had some time to burn. Bubb suggested a return to Worldmark and lunch at the Harbor Fish & Chips (highly recommended for its fish tacos). I pointed out that by the time we drove back, parked our car, walked to the marina, and reversed the process, we would be hurrying. My alternate plan was to find food on Pacific Coast Highway (PCH) and enjoy it at our own pace. I told Bubb she had to choose the restaurant.
We drove along the PCH clear to Carlsbad, but Bubb didn't see anything that intrigued her. We passed this place on our way south, and when we turned back north, figuring that Carlsbad was too far from our train, we spotted the sign below.
Quote, "If we are on a quest for fish tacos, this is as good a place to start as any." I looked at the price (top line) and figured, what the heck. This place was sooooooo greasy. I know why Ron and Nancy haven't ventured here for fish tacos. We ordered up two for $4.85 and a side of "fresh cut" fries, and tried not to get infected while we waited. When the tacos came we were pleasantly surprised. They were huge, piled high with fresh-fried white fish, jack cheese, cabbage, onion, tomatoes, and a sour creme-based sauce-all wrapped in a fresh corn tortilla. There was fresh salsa and pickled carrots to be had as well. We both devoured the tacos, rating them 7/10 on our quest scale, and commented that Harbor Fish and Chips and the Tin Fish might have some competition in our taste test and were already sucking wind on our cost test. The fries tasted just like In-n-Out, except they were thicker. Very, very good. The entire meal cost $7 and change. Not too bad.
Catching the Coaster proved to be more challenging than we thought. We parked, walked over to wait, and the fun began. There were two tracks, shared with Amtrak. We were trying to get our bearings and a lady on the other track (Track 2) shouted over that if we were catching the Coaster to San Diego, we needed to wait on Track 2. This involved a trip down two flights of stairs, a stroll through the tunnel, and a hike back up the stairs. Very soon thereafter, a voice came over the loud speaker. It announced that the Coaster would be leaving from Track 1. So, we reversed the process, and resumed our wait for the train, which by now was late. One of the Transit security folks instructed us that the Coaster would actually be leaving from Track 2. Down the stairs, through the tunnel, back up the stairs, and we wait. Not ten minutes later, the same security staff member informed us that the train would be leaving from Track 1, after all. Reverse the process.
I realize that this photo of the Bubb is a little out of focus, however, in the photo that is in-focus she is not smiling. Probably exhausted from all the stair hiking and tunnel travel. That photo was rejected by the Bubb.
Once we got off of the Coaster, we just followed the Padre and Dodger fans to a trolley and then to the park. Piece of cake. Our seats were on the left field line. We were four rows back from the left field fence. I thought we might see a fly ball, but it didn't happen.
After the game, we reversed the process to get back to Oceanside. While it didn't involve as much stair work, we still didn't arrive at the Worldmark until after 12:30 AM. Way past the Bubb's bedtime. She ate half a peanut butter sandwich and crashed. We did get to play a little cribbage on the way home. As long as Bubby was thrashing me, she was willing to play. When I won the first game, she quite. Actually, it was approaching midnight and Bubby's head was morphing into a pumpkin like form. She just couldn't handle the mental anguish.
Once we woke this morning, we decided that a trip to the grocery was in order, before breakfast. We did our work on the computer and found the nearest was Ralphs, a Kroger affiliate like Smith's in Utah. It was 8:30 AM, and when we plugged the address into Tom Tom, she wanted us to get on the I-5 for a 2.5 mile trek. Not likely at that time. I just started down the PCH and let her have apoplexy trying to steer me back to I-5. She finally gave in and took us there via the PCH.
Ralphs is a nice store and we bought our stuff. But we noticed, like Smith's, it was a little pricey. Before returning to our digs, we noticed the market pictured above. At first I thought it was a Mexi-market, but it ended up being a health food/international store with amazing deals on produce and a wide variety of ethnic foods. More kinds of yogurt than I have ever seen. You know how we love a grocery store, so we enjoyed our morning. We even found some Oceanspray White Peach and Cranberry mix-in powders, to make yucky water taste good (look for it in the store, Babs, pricey but good).
Today we will go to the San Diego temple and Blue Water Fish Company. More later.
Buboppy
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