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cazalea
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Drive in the Country

It looked to be a gray day along the coast, with low clouds and mist. But in the desert, just 90 miles away, we could find sunshine (but not too much). So we grabbed a few items and hopped in the car. It was time for our annual Drive in the Country.



"The car" is our 1991 Lotus Elan M100 - many of you have seen it here before, and Europeans (and Brexiters) know the car from its appearance in the late 80's and early 90's. Only a few hundred were sold in the US, so it's an orphan like many of our other vehicles. But still packs a punch with 1.6L turbo putting out around 180 bhp and weighing only around 2300 lbs.

I chose the spring-time Ochs & Jr to wear today. Notice the unremarkable skies overhead!



A half-hour later we were filled up with premium fuel and hitting the highway up out of town into the mountains.



This was the last point at which there would be a center divider in the roadway.

We passed through the old western town of Ramona (for wine lovers this is the Ramona Valley AVA). Traffic was very light on this Wednesday morning which is just the way I like it.



We continued East and North up towards Santa Ysabel and Julian (gold rush towns)



The road forks at Santa Ysabel and we took the route less traveled. You can see a bit of the country and it's looking DRY even though this is still May. We've had only 8 inches of rain since October (the weather year starts then).

Out here in the Anza-Borrego Desert, it's a LOT drier than in the mountains.







Now we are down in the desert.



The temperature was nearly 100 degrees F at the bottom, and I had to pull over and get out of my fleece pullover.

After a quick look through the art gallery (air conditioned) and a visit to the gents we were back on the road again. Now heading West.



The countryside is very inhospitable. We don't have mobile phone coverage, mechanics, tow trucks or many passers-by, at least on weekdays.



A sudden flash of green as we come up and down on Banner Grade into Shelter Valley, which collects a lot of the rainfall before it gets to the desert. 

This is near the intersection of the Great Southern Overland Stage Coach Route.



Now up at 5000 feet elevation near Wynola and you can see it's very green again. A brief stop was in order while Mrs C got over a slight touch of carsickness. 



Hence the photos are now from the driver's side of the car.



A look at one of the Elan's few total failures - the instruments in daytime are nearly invisible!