Nici, Marita, and Sabrina bringing a new meaning to couchsurfing

It is my last day with Sabrina, Marita, and Nici the three couchsurfers that I welcomed into my home two days ago. Last night we decided to spend the morning hiking before they were due to catch the greyhound downtown. I quickly suggested Cowles Mountain – a moderate hike and a favorite of mine. Before bed I Google the Top 10 hikes in San Diego and my choice made the list for spectacular views, and is one of the closer hikes allowing us plenty of unrushed hours for hoofing it and taking photos along the way.

hiking hands with color changing nail polish

Marita enjoying the view

We head back to the house for lunch. The girls have chosen to help me eat the leftover kasespaetzle – there will still be some lettu when they leave – and this will help with their travel budget. They want to pack some sandwiches for the road so I offer to take one to the store while the other two shower. Sabrina stays to shower and the rest of us head to Vons supermarket for cheese, tomatoes, bread, and lettuce.

proof they made it to the top

four girls on a mountain top

Upon our return 45 minutes later Sabrina is still in the bathroom and my dogs have helped themselves to her bag and chewed through some cough drops. Sparky is hidden in the bedroom and soon Piggy will be too and will remain there the rest of the visit feeling guilty or at least looking so when the girls inquire to their whereabouts. Luckily nothing else was ruined and no person or dog harmed, but I don’t appreciate my host puppies being rude to our guests. My dogs can be great most times, but they still have a lot of doggy nature in their little brains that can get the better of them.

a postcard worthy photo

Mike texts me that he would like to take the girls out before they leave. I let him know that we will finish taking showers and that he can meet us at the beach for ice cream. The place looks different in the daylight and we walk to the end of the pier and think about fishing and jumping over for a swim (but that’s not allowed). On the pier we pass by two guys that are using nine-inch nails to secure new boards to the pier – a process I’ve never seen. One guy uses a plugged in power tool to get the nails in with two inches left for the guy with the hammer – what a workout.

the beach as seen from the pier looking north

some lovely kelp

Done with the pier, pigeons, and power cords dragging behind golf carts we stop into Cow-A-Bunga for a scoop of ice cream and then sit on the patio to enjoy their last minutes before I take them to the bus station. The website suggests showing up an hour before departure. They are supposed to leave at 4:15 pm and I drop them off 30 minutes prior. I didn’t know where to park, so I followed a car into the bus only lane, quickly tossed their bags out, and two hours later they message me that they are still waiting on the bus that will take them to Los Angeles – they made it – and my weekend.