After a whirlwind couple o’ days in Colorado Springs where we caught up on mail and appointments, we flew to San Diego Monday night and took the train to Oceanside Tuesday. We’re staying in a lovely condo that’s less than a block from the Pacific Ocean. HOWEVER, the train tracks are as close as the ocean (but on the other side of the condo); and there are passenger trains with really loud whistles that pass frequently throughout the day and start again about 4 am. Of course, the train station is over a mile from here, and we had to walk that way with all our belongings Tuesday and will do the reverse next month. The on-site laundromat is free though, and we’ve been sleeping well; so overall it’s good.
Oceanside is a pretty large city – about 170,000 people. I was pleasantly surprised to see a grid system of streets on the west side of town, and we quickly learned our way around. On the east side of I-5 is a totally different story with sprawl and cul-de-sacs – not unlike our Castle Rock neighborhood. Other than maybe seeing the architecture and sculpture at Mission San Luis Rey de Francia, we probably won’t be venturing over there.
The Oceanside pier – about 2,000 feet, the longest on the West Coast – is near downtown where we walked for both the farmers market and the sunset market this morning and evening. That sunset market, with food vendors and live music, was really happenin’; it seemed the whole city came out for it.
We’ll probably go to the San Diego Zoo next week although it will require a walk, one train, and two buses. We’re not really Disneyland or Legoland kind of people for which I am grateful after I checked the online prices.

“Boycott Wal-Mart” – Laurel has been writing liberal messages in the sand every day, including “Free Tibet” and “350.org” (an environmental organization). The writings are quickly swallowed by the sea.