Beachgoers Get a Warm, Sunny End to Holiday

Summer poked its face through the gray overcast Monday, the dreary clouds giving way to magnificent blue skies that left thousands of beachgoers basking in the warm sun and weekend sailors taking advantage of blustery winds that blew their sailboats across Mission Bay.

“It’s definitely the beginning of summer,” said Mike Rea, a lifeguard at Mission Beach. Actually, summer does not arrive until June, but lifeguards along San Diego’s coastline reported summer-size crowds despite an ocean temperature of 63 degrees.

At Fort Rosecrans Memorial Park on Point Loma, about 1,000 people paid tribute to veterans who died in America’s wars in a moving two-hour ceremony that featured a Marine Corps band. The ceremony included speeches and patriotic music and ended with a lone bugler playing Taps. About 52,000 veterans and their wives are buried at the cemetery.

Beach crowds ranged from 5,000 along the Silver Strand at Coronado to almost 20,000 at Solana Beach and Encinitas. Law enforcement agencies reported beach parking at a premium. Despite the cold water and low surf, lifeguards were kept busy plucking bathers out of the surf.

“It’s as if the people are out of practice . . . ,” said state lifeguard Steve Raap at Silver Strand. Balboa Park was packed with picnickers, joggers and many who chose simply to lie in the green grass to enjoy the warm afternoon sun. Other parks were also heavily used by families taking advantage of one final day of leisure before returning to work and school today.

Police said the weekend was remarkably free of violence. By Monday night authorities reported only one driver killed in the county, and the California Highway Patrol reported 163 drunk driving arrests.

However, tragedy marred the holiday weekend Saturday when Navy Lt. Matthew C. Hawley, 26, died after his jet crashed into San Diego Bay. The plane’s navigator, Lt. Kathryn Cullen, 25, ejected safely and was released from Navy Hospital in Balboa Park after receiving treatment for minor injuries.