Log: A Day in the Life...of a Sportswriter/Photographer

"Lost in Space" on the Bishop's campus

(see 12:42 entry below).

(Photo by Ed Piper, now escaped)

By Ed Piper

8 a.m. Meeting.

9:02 a.m. Head up I-15 from I-8 junction to CIF Division 3 Track Finals in Valley Center (39 miles away). Take circuitous route via Bear Valley Parkway to Valley Center Road.

9:58 a.m. Arrive outside Valley Center High, parking lot packed, meet about to start. Park down Cole Grade Road on the street. Have to harch up the sidewalk, panting, not yet hot in Valley Center but warming up.

10:02 a.m. First photo shots of the morning inside the high school stadium. Small crowd so far, lots of colorful awnings from each school for sun cover, prep athletes in girls long jump and girls 4x100-meter relay on the field and track.

Planning to stay one hour, then jet back to La Jolla to cover the Vikings-Bishop's girls lacrosse quarterfinal playoff game, starting at 12 noon.

10:02-11:02 a.m. Photos of long jump, relays, girls pole vault (boys not yet started), etc.

11:02 a.m. Hustle back to car in late morning heat. (Avery Redfern, La Jolla long jumper, says, "But it's beautiful out here.") Much warmer now (upper 70's, sunny--unlike La Jolla).

Caught a glimpse of flower stands for Mother's Day tomorrow across the road. Pulled off, they take only Venmo or Zell or cash (no credit cards)--try to set up the Venmo app on my phone, it needs to be connected to a debit card, can't do. Have to say goodbye, maybe go to our local Von's for something later?

The lady says "Sell" (what else they accept besides cash at the pop-up stand on Cole Grade Road). I can't figure that one out. It turns out she means "Zell", but in Spanish, like the good Spanish student I was, you pronounce the "Z" as an "s" sound, so you say "Sell". I didn't get it, rushed off.

12:22 p.m. I hurry from the underground parking lot on the Bishop's campus out onto the lacrosse field above, take first shots. It is already the second quarter, 10:10 on the clock. Phenomenal time arriving, considering Cole Grade Road, and especially Valley Center Road and Bear Valley Parkway--people are up and out, so there is much more traffic than at 9 a.m. earlier in the morning.

12:42 p.m. First half ends, Vikings trailing 7-5. I haven't gone to the restroom since I-8 start at 9 a.m., so the need is urgent.

I go into the Science Building next to the turf athletic field on the Bishop's campus. No problem. But instead of going out the way I came in, I think I'll be smart and learn a new way. Out the door I went--the door locking behind me! I go upstairs and downstairs, and it only leads outside the campus to the side street on Draper.

I walk all the way around, down Pearl--I eye the Racket Stringing Workshop business at the corner of Draper and Pearl--then right on La Jolla Blvd., back in.

12:55 p.m. I take my first photos of the third quarter. Most of the third period has elapsed during my lost-in-space episode! La Jolla now trails 8-6. I tell the Knights trainer, Jason, whom I have known for years, of my Science Building lockout debacle. He smiles, I laugh. Pretty embarrassing.

1:26 p.m. The Vikings drop a 12-10 heartbreaker, end of their season.