One Tank Gang: Old Town San Diego

Date: Saturday, July 16, 2011

Starting Point: San Bernardino County, California

Destination: Old Town San Diego, California

Routes taken: CA-60, CA-57, Interstate-5

Total Miles: 261 miles (round trip)

Attendees: Anthony, Jenny, DarDar and Heather

Following the spirit of Legend Tripping and avoiding Carmageddon we headed south to Old Town San Diego. We chose to take the scenic coast route (I-5) over the barren desert route (I-15).

Whaley House in Old Town San Diego offers history, romance, mystery and ghosts. According to the Travel Channel's show America's Most Haunted, out of all the haunted houses in the United States, the Whaley House is the number one most haunted. Thomas Whaley built the house on land that was partially once a cemetery. The Whaley House has since been the home of dozens, if not hundreds, of ghost sightings. This is a fact the Whaley docents and staff are most proud of and happy to discuss.

“To visit the Whaley House today is to sweep back time like a curtain, leaving the visitor standing on the threshold of the 1850s -- the age of stagecoaches and crinolines - in what for years was the only ‘grand mansion’ in a dusty little frontier town” . (The Journal of San Diego History , SAN DIEGO HISTORICAL SOCIETY QUARTERLY, April 1960, Volume 6, Number 2 , SPECIAL ISSUE)

(The Whaley Family)

In a series of photos taken between 4:11pm and 4:12pm in the Whaley House courtroom, we had one photo with an anomaly. A smoky, hazy anomaly hovers at the judge’s seat. Is this the ghost of a former judge coming to say hello? Is it a reflection from a passing car on the street? We sent the photo to a paranormal group local to Whaley to rule reflections and other naturally occurring phenomenon. Jury is still out. (Pun intended.)

Was it Murder or Suicide?

Did the Violet Whaley, divorcée and daughter of the Whaley patriarch, commit suicide? Or could her parents no longer face the humiliation of having a divorced daughter? We debated either side. Thank goodness for smart phones! We had all versions of the story at our finger tips. When we left the site we were leaning toward the “save face” explanation.

(Left to right: Heather DarDar and Jenny)

Disturbing, yet interesting:

We wandered down the road to the El Campo Santo Cemetery (California State Historical Site #68). According to Weird California website, El Campo cemetery was founded in 1849. In 1889 the cemetery was divided for a street car line. Parts were later paved over in 1942 becoming San Diego Avenue. It is reported that cars parked on the street would often have problems starting and their car alarms would often go off. In order to appease the spirits beneath the street, special marks have been placed in the pavement to show where the original graves were. If you visit look for them, they are little metal circles that simply state "GRAVE" on them. Yes. These graves are still under the sidewalk and San Diego Avenue. CREEPY.

DarDar may just have found home!

(Left to right: Jenny peeking out, Heather and DarDar)

We gained one participant and lost one participant in the late afternoon. Just before dinner we met up with our friend, Andi and lost our friend, Jenny. We found Jenny in the wine bar. One look at the cowboy bartender and we knew why Jenny disappeared. All throughout dinner we took turns on reconnaissance to check on Jenny (and—ok-- to get a look at the bartender).

(Left to right: Bartender, Anthony, new friend, Ana, and Jenny)

Fabulous day!

Lessons learned:

Don’t take still pictures with a video camera.
Take photos of the gorgeous scenery along the drive. Oops. We were too busy talking.
Leave extra time for parking. Parking at Old Town was nuts!
Don’t Facebook your activities. The petty, juvenile, dramatic fallout is not worth it.
Get your margaritas blended, not on the rocks.
Beware of blue eyed, cowboy bartenders. Enough said.

Next stop:

UFO watching someplace in the Southern California desert. Or maybe the mountains. We are not sure yet. Wherever it is, it will involve lounge chairs, music and a six pack or two.

Other One Tank Links:

CNN Travel’s “One Tank Trips in Five States”

http://articles.cnn.com/2011-07-01/travel/one.tank.trips_1_gas-prices-gallon-of-regular-gas-cabin?_s=PM:TRAVEL

Southern California’s KTLA

http://www.ktla.com/news/traffic/onetanktrips/

Florida’s Fox One Tank Trips

http://www.foxonetanktrips.com/

Michigan’s ABC Channel 13

http://www.wzzm13.com/news/article/170276/42/Summer-Travel-One-Tank-Trips

And for your food lovers, Michigan’s Foodie Tours

http://www.michigan.org/Places-to-Go/Tours-and-Trails/Foodie-Tours/Default.aspx

The Kentucky office of tourism offers this