Decided to take a peek at SD North County summer beach scene yesterday late afternoon, on a Saturday (mistake), and maybe paddle around a bit, if I could find a place to park.
Started at O'side harbor beach, packed as any summer weekend day as ever. Drove south, checked my fave north of pier spot, packed and black-balled. Drove past pier, traffic and beach still very busy into south O'side. People walking around all over, probably less then half wearing masks in public. Checked my other fave south O'side spot, hardly any sand on beach, so people were taking advantage of bottom of cliff sand spots behind the piles of rip-rap. No masks to be seen. Surf sucked, but water is warming back up, so there's that at least.
Drove thru Carlsbad, traffic and no parking anywhere. Beaches were packed, people walking around all over. That little grass park area next to Harbor Fish Cafe was packed with a group doing gymnastic performances and work-out equipment. Reminded me of Venice Beach in a way. Lots of people standing/milling around watching, majority without masks. Continued south past Tamarack and Terra Mar, parking is tight and it's now 4-4:30pm. People/traffic still arriving to escape to beach.
Get to Glorious Ponto and luck into a single parking spot on beach side. Decide to get out and get wet, paddle around at a minimum. Water has warmed back up to trunkable again, so that was very nice. Later drove back thru part of downtown Carlsbad, and restaurants are doing whatever they can to offer outdoor dining, and they're busy. Waiters in masks, diners not. Nathans Ice Cream stand was packed and must've been 50-100 people hanging/milling around or standing in long lines for ice cream. Some with masks, some not, about half/half.
Without the masks on some people, you wouldn't know there was a pandemic emergency of death going on yesterday at NCSD beaches.