It Was a Super Day for Everything From Jogging to Just Basking in the Sun

Those who were able to add an extra day to their weekend took to the county’s parks and beaches by the thousands Monday to enjoy clear, sunny weather that was pronounced “perfect” by tourists and residents alike.

“I couldn’t ask for anything more,” said Isobel Thee, 81, of Sun City, Ca. Thee and a group of friends who had come to town for the day were sitting on a bench near the Reuben H. Fleet Theater and Science Center in Balboa Park, basking in the sunshine.

“We’ve had some pretty terrible Santa Ana winds lately and quite a bit of frost,” Thee said. “We froze our toes off. So we came out here and it’s been perfect.”

Thee’s friend, Norma Anderson, 62, agreed.

“We just watched a movie in the Space Center about Minnesota. It was beautiful--all that snow--but I couldn’t wait to get back out in the sunshine.”

Super Weather for Bowl

Like many people passing through town this week, Anderson was thinking about the weather in terms of the Super Bowl.

“I know those people coming out here from Colorado and Washington for the football game are just gonna love it,” Anderson said.

They should. While winds gusted as high as 40 m.p.h. in Denver and snow fell in Washington on Monday, the temperature in San Diego reached a high of 74 degrees. Weather forecasters predicted that Sunday’s temperature would be only slightly lower.

“I think the teams are going to be glad to be in San Diego,” said meteorologist Patricia Cooper of WeatherData, which provides weather information for The Times.

Her colleague, Mike Smith, saidz: “It looks like we’re going to see dry weather and temperatures in the 60s, but that’s pretty preliminary at this point.”

Richard Stitt of the National Weather Service concurred. Stitt said that temperatures would slowly cool over the course of the week and some low clouds would form along the coast, but no rain is expected.

“It’ll be cooler, but still pleasant,” he said.

Spending Time Outdoors

Meanwhile, it was still possible to find people too busy enjoying themselves to give the Super Bowl a second thought.

Laurren Pilarczyk, who owns a plant store in Old Town, was celebrating her 35th birthday by spending every minute outdoors.

“This is just heaven,” she said, walking out of the Botanical Building in Balboa Park with a friend. “I went down to the beach this morning and went running. People were lying out there in bathing suits. My dog went swimming. Even I went in.”

The National Weather Service put Monday’s water temperature at 66 degrees and said waves peaked at 3 to 4 feet. Lifeguards at area beaches reported unusually large crowds on the beach for a winter Monday, but said few people dared to go in the water.

“It’s just a fantastic day,” said Scott Lieziert, a lifeguard at Carlsbad State Beach. “It’s really pretty, clear as a bell all day long, but the water’s freezing cold.”

Mike Emerson, a lifeguard at Del Mar, said that only small children seemed to be braving the water.

“No one larger, unless they’re surfers in wet suits,” he added.

Cleaning Up Kelp

At Mission Beach, crews were still cleaning up the kelp that had been dragged ashore during last weekend’s storm. Lifeguard Dave Cockburn said about 1,500 people, mainly strollers, had come by during the course of the day, despite the continuing presence of bulldozers.

“People have been pretty understanding,” Cockburn said.

Phyllis Cooper, who was visiting from Oakland, said that her morning walk on Mission Beach had been the high point of a beautiful day, even though the air was unusually pungent.

Of course, there were a few people who weren’t satisfied with Monday’s blue skies and high temperatures.

“I wish it wasn’t this hot,” said 10-year-old Misty Moore, one of 15 fifth-graders from the Field and Fulton schools who were lucky enough to be on a field trip to the San Diego Zoo and Balboa Park museums.

“I’d rather be here than in school, but I wish it was a little cooler,” she said, pulling at her collar. “I’m dying.”

“They’re all dying,” said teacher Sue Sachs. “I love it. What a great way to be spending the afternoon, rather than sitting in the classroom.”