Week 7 & 8: San Diego Zoo, Waterfalls, and Happy Hour

Monday, February 15-Sunday, February 28

This marks the final post of our winter work blog--and in true Webbie fashion I have procrastinated posting it until now. 

At work, we all spent our final week and a half finishing up last tasks and assignments. Dillon completed various ECNs and finalized an Excel project automating the selection of beam proportions as per ABS regulations, Daniel worked on on updating a database for systems, and I worked on the deckhouse arrangement in preparation for a progress meeting. On the Tuesday before we left for Webb, each of us presented highlights of the work given to us throughout our internship to our supervisors. 

Outside of work, we kept ourselves plenty busy by checking off our remaining bucket list items. This meant that aside from sleeping, we rarely spent more than a few hours in our homey Airbnb. 

On Tuesday evening, I headed back near Point Loma with Isa Hill '20 to taste-test a brewery recommended to me by a co-worker, Eppig Brewing Waterfront Biergarten. While enjoying a sour named "Moment of Weakness" and catching up, we also appreciated the nearby marina. 

In the days to follow, we did very little cooking at home as we tried to catch up on some dining recommendations from fellow Webbies. My hidden passion as a food photographer was well-fed.

Crispy Crawfish Tacos and Jack's Burger at Cerveza Jack's in the Gaslamp District

Appetizers at Half Door Brewing Co.

In hopes of maintaining our athletic figures, we reserved the weekend for some intense walking. Saturday morning we started with an early walk through the San Diego Zoo located in Balboa Park. This enormous zoo is home to more than 3,500 animals and boasts roughly 100 acres. Although visiting the zoo did awaken an internal conflict regarding the morality of keeping animals in captivity, it also made me feel like a kid again. Determined to see every exhibit we could, we spent roughly five hours trudging on its winding trails. (A big thanks to Chirs Bal '20, who used his member guest passes to sponsor our visit!) 

During our visit we got to witness the transport of a cheetah to the zoo's medical facilities

Two cheetahs excited after sighting a service dog

Since the five-hour stroll through the zoo was not tiring enough, on Sunday morning we visited Three Sisters Falls Trail near Julian for a final hike. This four-mile long trail treks through California's backcountry to three waterfalls created by snowmelt from nearby mountains. During the summer this hike is particularly popular as the smooth rocks of the waterfall can be used a natural slide. If you plan on doing this hike, make sure to bring lots of water! Also, consider looking at this blog post which contains many helpful tips. 

Chris Bal '20 and Dillon

Dillon, Chris, and I were crazy enough to venture into the icy cold waters of the waterfall

 After completing the taxing hike back up from the falls to the parking lot, we headed to nearby Julian (which was actually a bit less nearby than expected--around an hour drive). 

There we picked up some of Julian's famous apple crumble pie and visited a few local shops. If you get the chance to visit this itty-bitty town, we would highly recommend it! 

A quaint store--The Warm Hearth of Julian

On our last Monday following work, we headed to South Mission Beach in hopes of fulfilling Dillon's desire of setting things on fire. There, overlooking the sunset, we had a bonfire complete with smores. 

The happiest I have seen Dillon all winter work

On Tuesday, we were invited aboard a coworkers' sailboat for some sailing. Having limited experience with sailing, I was super excited for this opportunity to learn some new skills. 

The best view of the San Diego skyline we got all winter work

And so we concluded our winter work adventures. On Wednesday evening we packed up and said goodbye to our coworkers. Leaving San Diego was bittersweet. Although I was excited to return to Webb and continue my studies, I also recognized that this internship was truly remarkable. Not only was I able to meet and reconnect with some incredibly kind people, but the work I was given was meaningful and challenging. The weather and sight-seeing provided additional perks. I can confidently say this time will hold a special place in my heart. 

As for our trip back home, that was eventful as well. We reached Webb in three days. On our first day, we pulled an all-nighter by driving thirty-one hours to Georgia. There, we rested at Daniel's home and took the required COVID test prior to entering New York. (Big thank you to Daniel's family for hosting us!)

Big perk of being 5'2" during a long drive

Drive-up location where we got our negative COVID tests; yay!

The following day, we drove roughly ten hours to Hank Rouland's '21 Maryland home. (Big thank you to Hank's family for a super yummy soup dinner and a comfortable bed!) Hank graciously took us on a tour of the premises which featured pigs, goats, chicken, and a horse!

The final leg of the trip consisted of five brief hours to Glen Cove where we quarantined for four days, Dillon at his family home and Daniel and I at the Glen Cove Mansion. 

I would like to take the time to thank you, the readers, who patiently read through this blog and took this San Diego journey with me! I really enjoyed writing these little snippets, and hopefully you did as well! 'Till the next adventure, best wishes!