Mission San Luis Rey and the Pacific Ocean

Thursday was a sightseeing day!  After a nice one-hour walk around the campground with Auggie, Bob and I packed a lunch and headed for the Pacific Ocean to complete our coast to coast trip. Oceanside is about an hour from our campground, a 30 mile drive. On the way we spied a sign for the Old Mission San Luis Rey in Oceanside, CA, and turned the car off Highway 76 to visit.

It was a beautifully restored mission, set amongst the hills of southern California with a lovely view.  A perfect place for a picnic. Temperatures were in the low 70's with a light breeze, and there were picnic tables on the front lawn under a huge old tree.

We ate our lunch, then went inside the sanctuary.  There we met a docent who explained that the present church was started in 1811, and was one of only two mission churches built in the shape of a cross. This church has been lovingly maintained and is still used for masses today.

Our docent also told us that this church was used as a set for four of the Zorro episodes (Disney version) and a plaque memorialising Guy Williams is under a bench in the church graveyard. Those of you who were children in the 60's will remember Guy Williams as the original Zorro (and as John Robinson in Lost in Space as well.) We found the plaque and it reads:

In Loving Memory of Guy Williams

The One and Only "Zorro"

1924-1989

You carved a "Z" on our hearts and

changed our lives forever

Your friends salute you

August 2, 2003

In the gift shop we found a life sized cutout of Pope Francis.  He and Bob shared a high-five.

The mission was so charming and we enjoyed wandering the grounds. But then we were on our way to the ocean.

It must be spring break week here.  The beaches and pier in Oceanside were filled with families enjoying the sunshine and sand, despite the cool breeze that blew off the ocean. From the pier we had a great view of it all, and watched some surfers ride the waves.

We even made friends with some birds hanging out at the pier as well!

We did it!  Made it from sea to shining sea. :)