coronado-bay-bridge
Coronado Bay Bridge

A funny thing happened when I started thinking what to write about the Coronado Bay Bridge.

I realized I have an unresolved issue with that bridge.

That bridge and I have something we need to work out.

That bridge stole a fun little part of my childhood from me!

Back when I was a kid, BB – Before Bridge, my grandparents would come out to San Diego, once every year or so, to visit from Texas. My parents would pile us all in the car (no seatbelt laws, no carseat laws) and we would take off sight-seeing around San Diego.

One special thing we would do was ride the ferry over to Coronado. Sometimes in the car, sometimes by foot. But I remember loving to stand out on the deck, steadying my feet against the gentle rocking, and feel the sea breeze on my face. As the wake splashed up around the ferry, the boat’s toot-toots rose over the engine noise. Taking in the salty, seaweed-y smell of the bay, I’d wrap my sweater against the wind, while seagulls kept pace. It was another world, and it engaged all of my senses.

Sunrise-over-the-Coronado-Bay-Bridge
Sunrise over the Coronado Bay Bridge

Was my love affair with riding the ferry the origin of my love of boating?

Then in 1969, it happened.

The Coronado Bay Bridge was finished and the ferries stopped running.

What? The injustice. Just because this big ol’ bridge is here, we can’t take the ferry anymore?

Somehow, even though my young teen Wanna-Be-Flower-Child self was bursting to separate from childhood, I didn’t want to let go of THAT part of my childhood.

Funny, huh?

Aerial-Over-Coronado-and-San-Diego
Aerial Over Coronado and San Diego Connected by Curving Coronado Bay Bridge

Well, this story is moving little by little toward a happy ending.

Somewhere along the way, the ferries started running again, for nostalgic purposes.

And though I’ve been to Coronado many times, via the bridge, I haven’t been back on the ferry.

Yet.

But I will. Writing this post makes me want to relive and reclaim a sweet childhood memory. My grandparents are long gone. My parents are gone, too. Now I’m the grandparent. I say, let’s grab those grandkids, throw them in the car (with car seats and seat belts, of course), and get downtown to ride the ferry soon.

And hopefully we can start a whole new generation of sweet memories.

 

Donna Amis DavisSan DiegoSan Diego A to Zcoronado,San DiegoA funny thing happened when I started thinking what to write about the Coronado Bay Bridge. I realized I have an unresolved issue with that bridge. That bridge and I have something we need to work out. That bridge stole a fun little part of my childhood from me! Back when I was...Author of the '60s SURF SHOP MYSTERIES and DIVE SHACK MYSTERIES