Beach Village

Road Closed. My family and I had driven to the eastern outskirts of Tucson to a dirt road called Redington Pass. We needed to take Redington Pass to get to a short foot trail that led to Tanque Verde Falls. It was early July and we were looking forward to swimming in cool mountain water under gushing waterfalls in the protective shade of canyon walls. The Forest Service website said Redington Pass was open. I had checked because the Bighorn Fire had been raging for weeks through the Catalina Mountains and many surrounding roads were closed. The webmaster must not have gotten the memo, because Redington Pass was barricaded with signs and government vehicles.

Tucson is difficult in the summer; it is brutally hot day after day. You have to prioritize your outdoor activities and cram in as much as you can before 8:30 am. After that, you are putting your health and life at risk with each minute that you continue to exert yourself. The evenings won’t save you, either–the temperature is still at or near triple digits.

You do what you can to cope. Gyms, theaters, restaurants, bars, museums, and malls provide indoor alternatives to being cooped up in your tomb-like home where shades are drawn to block the blazing sun. For outdoor escape, Mount Lemmon in the Catalinas is an easy drive to enjoy cooler weather high above the desert floor.

The summer of 2020, though, was different. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic the usual indoor refuges were either closed or not places where it would be wise to spend much time. And Mount Lemmon? That was cut-off by the Bighorn Fire as was pretty much all access to anywhere in and around the Catalina Mountains where you could cool off, whether they be high elevation trails under the canopy of Ponderosa Pines or lower elevation waters such as those found in Sabino Canyon, Seven Falls, Romero Pools or Tanque Verde Falls. Tucson had gone from being difficult in the summer to becoming purgatory.

As we drove home from Redington Pass for yet another day inside the house, we decided we needed to get out of Dodge. We considered Colorado and our old standby–coastal southern California. We found availability at a rental in Carlsbad Village where we previously had stayed. We booked a week, packed our three Chihuahuas and other essentials into the car and rolled west.

After arriving in Carlsbad, I immediately put on my running shoes and jogged down Garfield Street past quaint 1950s beach cottages and construction sites where they were being replaced with zero lot condominiums. I ran to a cliff overlooking the Agua Hedionda Lagoon and the Pacific beyond. The temperature was 75 degrees and a cool, moist ocean breeze filled my lungs while scattered clouds filtered the sun overhead. It was 3:30 in the afternoon and I was OUTSIDE, running no less. LIBERATION!

We enjoyed jogging, walking the dogs throughout the day and evening, helping our son practice basketball, hiking, and, of course, goofing around on the beach and in the ocean. The immediate rejuvenating power of waves rolling over my body never ceases to amaze me! Most meals we ate on the patio, and I read several books, on the patio, too. If it could be done outdoors, that’s where we did it!

We had such a wonderful experience in Carlsbad that we extended our stay by another week. Usually Village rentals are booked six to twelve months in advance; however, this year many tourists had canceled reservations due to COVID-19. We were happy to help the landlord during these difficult times.

We hoped that upon our return to Tucson near the end of July, the rainy Monsoon would be in full force. Instead, upon returning to the Old Pueblo, our revived spirits quickly melted away in record heat. Suffering from Carlsbad withdrawal, I contacted the landlord in Carlsbad. She had space available, again, so we drove back to the Village for another week of enjoying the outdoors.

Beyond the obvious–the perfect weather and the ocean–I enjoy a beach town such as Carlsbad Village because it shows how lovely people and life can be. In a beach town, people tend to loosen up. They let their guard down and cast away pretensions and insecurities. On the beach, they wear what they want to wear, which is often not very much. Ripped, young, old, fat, skinny–let it all hang out almost like Eve and Adam once did. Be who you are. Grab a spot on the sand and chill. Jump in the ocean. The basics will do. Turns out less is more.

Also, at the beach, I like observing families. Kids play with each other and adults play with kids. At the beach, the kids know what to do and the adults are reminded what to do. Moreover, adults are reminded about what is important, and it shows! Beach = Love.

In town, people are casual, friendly, and talkative. Without even trying, I had wonderful conversations with locals and people visiting. It was interesting to listen to people describe where they lived and to learn their thoughts. COVID-19 was a common point of conversation, and I was treated to a wide spectrum of perspectives on the severity of its impact and how related issues should be handled. Whatever the conversation, I enjoyed the interaction that a beach village fosters.*

During the evening, anyone with a patio or a deck was on it. Windows and doors were open. Firepits and a few street lamps gently glowed. I could hear the symphony of conversations, songs, clapping, and laughing drifting over crashing waves. People walking by stopped to chat and pet our dogs. On some evenings, an elderly couple stood on their balcony facing the sea, and the man played Taps with his trumpet as the sun set. Afterward he saluted the ocean, and the street erupted in applause. People showed how awesome and appreciative they can be.

Carlsbad revived us physically and mentally; it was just what we needed. Back in Tucson, Monsoon continues to demur. We get up early and do what we can outdoors until the heat forces us inside around 8:30 am. We look forward to October when we can reclaim outdoor living for several months. Until then, I’ll have to embrace a Southern Arizona version of Hygee!

Relevant Links

Friends of Redington Pass, Tucson, Arizona

Tanque Verde Falls, Tucson Arizona

Bighorn Fire, Tucson, Arizona

Mount Lemmon, Tucson, Arizona

Santa Catalina Mountains, Tucson, Arizona

Sabino Canyon, Tucson, Arizona

Seven Falls, Tucson, Arizona

Romero Pools, Tucson, Arizona

Carlsbad Village, Carlsbad, California

Agua Hedionda Lagoon, Carlsbad, California

Hygee