Yesterday at 3:39 pm the power went out…Everywhere! 5 million people from Mexico to Orange County and into Arizona lost electricity for up to 12 hours. In the first hours of no power, some people panicked and went to wait in long lines at the grocery stores to buy water and ice, others drove around looking for an open gas station (there were none) while other people took the opportunity to relax and have a beer or two. I went surfing, watched the sunset, and then went up to Mt. Soledad to take a few pictures of the blackout:

Pacific Beach in the foreground:

The dark buildings of downtown are hidden behind the fog, Car lights from I-5 and the runway at North Island, the Mt. Soledad Cross lit by car lights passing by

Scripps Pier La jolla with some kids running around with some neon flashlights on the grass

The Mormon Temple in La Jolla is lit with generators and Scripps Hospital had backup power

It was surreal riding my scooter around Pacific Beach in total darkness save for my headlight. There was only one establishment open in Pacific Beach, (Cass st Bar & Grill)  the outdoor generator powered two big screen TV’s  a couple of ceiling fan lights and most importantly, the kegerator for that cold beer at the end of a hot day!