#Beautiful Skies: From Oceanside to Menifee

WATCH 3-MIN. VIDEO:  #Beautiful Skies: From Oceanside to Menifee

I frequent and surf the Oceanside coastline mostly because it’s a southbound straight shot via I-15 to westbound, State Route (SR) 76.  SR-76 used to be a winding, two-lane, country road with bottlenecked traffic between Bonsall and the San Luis Rey River crossing. The latter presents a captivating, landscape photo opportunity in and around the dry riverbed, especially when the bold hues of autumn paint the natural surroundings.  The improved flow of traffic is both appreciated and commendable:  DOT SR 76 Improvements

Before I hit the beach, I sometimes ride my bike along the seven-mile, San Luis Rey Bike trail: San Luis Rey Bike Trail Map . Beginning at Neptune Street to College Boulevard and pedaling back again is one of my favorite, day trip highlights.

As a serendipitous, easy, breezy footnote, I usually park in the lot adjacent to both the pier and the beach off Surfrider Way and the north Strand.  All-day parking for five bucks; the meter takes ATM cards.  Prepping my gear to haul over to my little neck of the sand, two, really  young surfer dudes across the parking lot were packing up their Jeep pretty early. 

“Ma’am, did you get your parking pass, yet?” one of them asked.  Arrrgh? Ma’am?

“Not yet,” I answered.  One of them walked over and handed me an all-day parking stub.

“Can I pay you?”

“Nah, just pay it forward and catch some wild, wooly waves,” the young man said.

“Wow, thanks, gentlemen,” I said.  Too cool.  I spent the rest of the day alternately sitting on the beach, reading, then surfing, then teaching little kids how to boogie board (with their parents’ oversight) and eating sweet, cherry tomatoes with spicy hummus. No, I’m not vegetarian. The less I assemble entrees, the safer it is for everyone. 

At around four-thirty, I decided to leave.  A young couple pulled into the same spot as the young surfer dudes had earlier.

“Did you get your parking pass,” I asked?

“Not yet,” the man driving the convertible VW said.

“Here, I have an all-day pass.  It’s good till eleven tonight,” I said, handing him the slip of paper.

“Wow, thanks.  Can I pay you?” he asked.

“Nah, just pay it forward,” I said.

Paying it forward from my abundant past, I’d occasionally stop to eat at Nessy Burgers in Fallbrook on the way to or from Oceanside. The small, modular building (I refuse to call it a trailer) used to be located next to the AM/PM mini market on the northeast corner of Old Highway 395 and SR-76, alongside a Park and Ride lot.  Spotting the line of patrons swirling into the patio filled with casual diners was like driving by a thriving, burgerstorical landmark.

Maybe Nessy Burgers disappeared about the time SR 76 construction commenced; I head out to the beach only a few times a month, so it’s difficult to recall.  As I drove home Sunday from the Oceanside pier, big, fluffy thunderheads served as an easterly backdrop against the Pauma and Pala Valleys.

On my way home, from northbound Old Highway 395 (OH-395) on the west side of I-15, I desired to photograph some of the hillside features.  Searching for an open spot away from the stretch of fence line obstructing the view,  I drove north bound for a spell, passing the Pala Mesa Market, the Pala Mesa Nursery and the Estancia Inn.  I flipped a euwie, heading back toward a clearing I’d spotted behind the AM/PM – more road improvements going on. 

What do you think I drove on past the first time? Yep. Uh huh. That’s right!  A small, blue and green road sign: NESSIE BURGERS.  The small burger haven is nestled between the market and the nursery, still with the long line of patrons and the patio area filled with casual, friendly diners.  The address is: 4775 Via Bel Monte at OH-395:  Nessy Burgers Website

Oh, happy day!  Guess what I had for dinner?  The Nessy turkey burgers rock!  I ate two for good measure! Does life get any better than spending the day reveling in children’s laughter, surfing at a beach so close to home, a divinely artistic, cloud-filled sky, Nessy turkey burgers for dinner and innumerable photo opps?  I think not.

I swear, I sometimes think living in SoCal is like being on a perennial, mini-vacation.  No complaints on this end, only a lovely experience and scenic photos to share in the video above.