cazalea
[Seiko Moderator]
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2025 Drive in the Country, Part 1
Every year I do a drive around our county - not all of it of course, because it’s 4000 square miles of dirt (plus some water too). It’s most often been in a Lotus, sometimes in Citroen, once in a rental van, and today in our Honda Ridgeline.
We headed out before 7 am, going North and East, heading for the Anza Borrego Desert to get away from the marine layers and fog, hoping for a warm sunny day. The first 18 miles are uneventful as I retraced the route I drove to work for 10 years before retiring. Then we head off the highway onto smaller roads up into the hills.
Coming into the town of Ramona, known for horses, chicken ranches, winery tasting rooms, a small airport, etc.
Downtown Ramona, starring Charles Lindberg
Soon we are heading into Santa Ysabel valley, turning north.
This is one of the California Missions from the 19th century.
North past the valley that used to be Lake Hodges, now mostly dry, and NE towards Warner Springs.
We are in the country now! A goat “ranch"?
We pass Ranchita and we are at the highest point approximately 4500 feet above sea level, looking down at the Anza Borrego Desert
The road drops dramatically and we are soon nearing the town which is about 1000 ft elevation.
We cruise the neighborhoods checking out homes...
Citrus! Oranges, lemons, grapefruit everywhere.
Two hours driving and we are about to the other end of town and ready for some off-roading.
We leave town, passing through the meadow filled with iron animal sculptures.
Past miles and miles of commercial citrus groves.
We are heading for Coyote Canyon, where I used to go camping with Boy Scouts 60 years ago. Today, for the first time, we spot a handsome Coyote. We don’t know if he is wily.
Please go on to Part 2.
2025 Drive in the Country, Part 1
Every year I do a drive around our county - not all of it of course, because it’s 4000 square miles of dirt (plus some water too). It’s most often been in a Lotus, sometimes in Citroen, once in a rental van, and today in our Honda Ridgeline. We headed out...
2025 Drive in the Country, Part 2
Coyote Canyon is about 80,000 acres of land at the NE edge of the Anza Borrego desert area. There’s year-round water in the creek, and today we can go about 5 miles up before the road is closed at the 3rd river crossing. We see only 5 vehicles in 2 hours....
What a fabulous trip 👌🏻🙌🏻👍🏻
Foot, bicycle or motorized vehicle - your trips always have something special about them and this one is no exception. Really enjoyed the ride 👍🏻🙏🏻
Thank you, glad to contribute
I was looking at other trips over the years: Citroen DS circa 1980 Jeepster Hummer The Volvo Lotus ...
Fabulous journey Mike …
Out of all the cars you have done this trip in, which was your favourite ?
Great question! There are two, I guess
INCLUDING OFF-ROAD DRIVING Best overall when off-road is involved would be the Volvo Cross Country Ocean Race Edition. Fast enough, comfortable, adequate AWD when needed, nice looking. We went off-road the first week we had it (after 4 years with the 850 ...
Variety is the spice of life …
Especially when it comes to cars. The Elan M100 is a very capable car and I came very close to buying a black one many years ago.
Yes, indeed
The C8 Corvette was a fine car too, though I felt it was a bit big for our narrow windy roads (and too much temptation on the highway) Big hips ...
It’s really intriguing…
And the higher powered versions look like lots of performance for the money. They used to be very good at mile munching in the past - still the case?
You didn’t have it for long, right?
Those winding roads look thoroughly tempting. All in your neck of the woods? 🤞🏻
Same here…
Was listing after one many years ago. Wondering if I should give them a look now 🧐
Very, very cool 👌🏻👍🏻
You made me miss my 850T-5R… Actually we still have it but my father is slowly considering selling it (at soon 30 years and 250k+ miles it’s not exactly going to appreciate in the future). Our final family Volvo was the first generation S80T-6. It had som...
The Lotus seems to naturally sniff out the curvy roads 😁🏁
Fantastic pictures, all! Did the DS do some light off-roading there? 😊
DS is fine off-road when raised
We did some exploring in the wagon, but I’m loathe to take an exotic machine out where there’s little mechanical repair or recovery capability. Such as the lesson I learned with my Saab - just a few feet off the pavement… ☹️ ...
You blow my mind 🤯
Is there any cool car out there you did not personally experience? Amazing, the Sonnet 👌🏻👍🏻
Other cool cars?
I've had lots of cars, many of them cool. 3-4 Corvairs Many Citroens (12-15?) The first Honda Element in California. Camping the first weekend Honda Insight 900cc 3-cylinder 72 mpg mild hybrid MG TD Triumph Herald Lots of Buicks (7-8) and a few Volvos a c...
Including the tire burning Grand National, right? 👌🏻👍🏻
Thanks so much for adding pictures of all of these 👌🏻👍🏻
So that's what sunshine looks like (said he who is in gloomy Ohio where there's been virtually no sunshine since Dec 1).
Fantastic photos and road trip. M4
Here's a bit of scenery I overlooked
On last year's trip and another desert visit ...
Loved it thanks for the trip.
You and your wife share a lot with us, and I believe she was a physical education teacher, what was your occupation and have your lived forever in the San Diego area. You and the Mrs certainly have lived a fun physical active life. I remember you saying y...
Thanks for reading (and remembering)
We rode across the Rockies on our Tandem, about 1200 miles Some unicycle riding - about 10 feet total for me; a couple miles for my wife and Jane (with helmet) Around in England and Wales, various places and times with friends In the San Juan Islands, Bri...
I guess I should get on that!
I would forget everything if I didn't have (checks computer) 160,133 photos and 800 videos to remind me... like this one Or this pre-diversity photo Or pre-bankruptcy photo (McLaren's financial hard times, not mine) ...
Really really enjoyed the different sceneries in this road trip and post!👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽
I was very surprised that there were hummingbirds that far out.
