Swinging the States

Thursday’s drive to San Diego went without a hitch, with very little traffic apart from a small patch as I passed through LA but that has to be expected. I’m annoyed I didn’t allow myself more time to stop at the Balboa Peninsula and check the Pavilion where they host the Balboa Rendezvous each year. I reach San Diego around 3pm, the city is set in and around some beautiful scenery with mountains all around. Joel and Alison Plys are a such a nice couple, and I had the pleasure of both their trained eyes for some balboa lessons. I find out my ‘come around’ is all over the show, and I’m doing too much work running around the follow. Bad habits have set in and it’s going to be hard work re-training muscle memory. Before I leave Joel gives me a list of events over the next few days for me to check out. I book into my Super8 motel which has become a favourite choice for last minute accommodation as I cross America, they tend to be cheap and clean, but not cheap enough to attract the hookers. After throwing my bags down I drive across town towards the Sea to find a night of Lindy at La Jolla - YMCA Firehouse. There are a bunch of people practising a Balboa routine upstairs but I can’t join in because they are on week 6 I meet and dance with a San Diego local Cassandra Suthard who it turns out is best friends with a girl I have danced with in three States on this trip Andrea Kugelman from Florida. Cassandra is kind enough to offer a sofa for the next few days.

Friday I visited the Midway, an aircraft carrier that is permanently docked on the sea front and now used as a naval museum. Cassandra works on the Midway so I’m lucky to get a free tour, I love naval history, ever since my grandfather reeled off tales from D-Day landings I’ve been fascinated. For the evening we hit Ciao Bella in La Mesa. It’s a small restaurant but has enough space for 8 or so couples on the dance floor, it’s an intimate venue with a nice atmosphere, I was fortunate that a lot of the old school lindy hoppers had turned up for a leaving party. I met some fantastic Balboa follows and generally had a great night.

Saturday Cassandra and I went to a local beach to chill and dance in the sand. Then we headed for an afternoon of Lindy lessons at a workshop called ‘Swing out Saturday’ at the Pacific beach women’s club. After the lessons we popped down to Pacific beach to watch the sun set which was stunning. We continued the evening dancing Lindy back at the club. I met Shawn Lesniak a great swing dancer and acrobat who taught me a few moves and showed off his crazy flag pose see pic below. To finish the night we went to a bar called Reds with live music, one of our fellow swingers Carl is a singer and he often get’s on the mic at this club.

Sunday I stroll around down town San Diego with Cassandra, then we drive to Balboa Park so I could get a hoodie with Balboa on it We have lunch in the Italian district then jump in the car to make a short drive up mount Soledad to catch another sunset. The view over the city is breath taking. Ciao Bella has another Lindy night with fewer people than Friday, so it’s more of a practice night with people working on moves and studying clips on laptops. I meet Nate who is the local Balboa teacher, he’s working on some crazy moves. As soon as I return to Cassandra’s apartment I try and book my next Amtrak leg to Portland and find everything sold out for the next week ! I’m forced to buy a one way plane ticket for $261 flying out at 1:30pm Monday.