CA74 - Ortega Highway

I like telescopes, particularly the big ones.  The first one I ever was able to get up close to was the observatory complex on the summit of Mauna Kea in Hawai'i and I was hooked.  I just love the shape and size of the things for some reason.  Since then I've had a chance to visit several others and it was my hope that on this trip, I would be able to visit Mt. Palomar Observatory.  I was successful in that endeavor and found a lot of other parts of the state that I didn't know existed.  The ride was decidedly not without challenges: technology, maps, weather and fatigue.  It would also be the first ride I would abandon before the full weekend was complete.  At this point though, the more challenging the ride, the more interesting it is for me.  For now, I'll leave the journal in the form that my notes took to see if that is a usable format (it certainly is easier on me!)

I had originally wanted to head up into Sequoia and King's Canyon but the weather reports over Monday and Tuesday rained that plan out. I wanted to get a ride in, so I decided that I would try my hand at the desert, since it probably wouldn't rain there. Consequently, I was not as prepared, route-wise, as I like to be. I put together a game plan with fixed routes between my way points and figured I would just rely on my map and GPS to get me from place to place if there was a road closure.

San Diego East Sport Touring Photo Album

Day 1

I left work Wednesday afternoon and rode home to load the bike up.  All I had to do this day was get from Playa del Rey to San Juan Capistrano.  A quick short day to try and get me perfectly position on the Ortega Highway (a very popular ride in SoCal) for the next days ride.  It rained a bit on the way down during the hour to hour and a half south.  No real traffic to contend with which was a blessing.  I got to SJC and checked into the hotel, laying my gear over the heater to dry it out.  Popped downstairs and lubed the chain in the parking lot.  I walked around then trying, without luck, to find some maps specific to the area I was heading into but only was able to find Thomas Guides.  I ate at Bravo Burger (ok food, but not great) and turned in for the night.