Cuyamaca Rancho State Park

If you're like me, you have never heard if Lake Cuyamaca or Cuyamaca Park. The easiest way to describe where it is, is its in between San Diego and the Salton Sea in the Laguna mountains. Mike and I have never been there, but we went this weekend. Trying to get in one more ride before winter hits and Mike becomes a father. We set off from Irvine and rode all the way there and back without getting on one freeway, 400 miles round trip.

We took the usual route of heading down PCH, then cutting across on the Ortega Hwy to Lake Elisnore. Then heading south, and coming to one of my favorite hills which is on Los Gatos Rd.

When we hit De Luz road we made a right and took it to Fallbrook. De Luz road was really cool. Twisting and turning thru tree tunnels, hills and over creeks which half the time ran over the road. Which was a little tense, riding thru water with street tires is not something either of us likes to do. But it only added to the adventure.

At Fallbrook we headed East on the 76 and came to South Grade Road. There are roads and then there is South Grade Road going up Palomar Mountain.

Its hard to describe the feeling of riding this road up the mountain, riding it down is its own monster all together. But it was awesome. The road itself is probably as close to a race track on a public road as you will ever ride. Tons of sport bikes are there flying up and down this road.

When you get to the top your heart is racing, hands cramped from gripping too tight on the handle bars, and smiling so big, your helmet gets tighter. And the view is not bad either.

Here is Mike coming to the top of it.

Once on top of the mountain we headed over to the Palomar Observatory, which has a 200" telescope. I didn't get any pics of the actual telescope inside, but it was impressive. Next time we will have to do the tour of it.

After the Observatory we got back on the road and headed to Julian. We were going to eat lunch there but it was way to crowded and every place has the prices you would expect at a tourist trap. So we kept riding until we got to Lake Cuyamaca and had lunch in a little mom and pop cafe. We camped at Green Valley campsite, which was...ok. It wasn't quite as good as Idyllwild. But we were so tired all we needed was a place to sleep.

Once we got camp set up and took the mandatory nap we headed into the small town of Descano for dinner. If you have never been Descano on a Saturday night, you don't know what you are missing. Actually you probably do, nothing. But outside the gas station/store/restaurant we saw this ol pickup truck, that summed up Descano.

The next morning we got up and hit the road, this time taking the S1 up and around back to Lake Cuyamaca. S1 is probably my favorite road I have ever been on. Twisting thru forests, mountains and over looking valleys.

It was another great trip and far exceeded our expectations. And no great trip is without its wrong turns, and other mishaps that you look back at and smile. Like at the camp site when the wind shifted a certain way, you smelled shit, getting stung in the neck by a bee while riding, and after a wrong turn you see a sign that says "Pavement Ends 600 Feet".