"I've got to ride, ride like the wind
To be free again
And I've got such a long way to go
To make it to the border of Mexico
So, I'll ride like the wind, ride like the wind"
-- Christopher Cross
After seeing an episode from a YouTuber I follow (Sidetrack Adventures) about the Sunrise Highway (County Road S1) in eastern San Diego County, I thought to myself, "I need to go ride that someday".
So, I started researching and mapping out a route which included the S1 (the "Sunrise Highway"), Highway 94, and stops for gas, interesting landmarks, and lunch. I wasn't sure when I would make the journey south to run the route I had planned, but after mentioning it to my riding buddies last week, one of them said "The weather should be nice, let's do it Thursday!"
So yesterday we tackled the adventure. What a blast! 317 miles in a day! :vroom:
Sunrise Hwy_ride_map.jpg
We met in Fountain Valley, then headed down the 405 to the 5 to the 805 in San Diego, then took 94 east through Lemon Grove, Jamul, and Dulzura down to Campo near the U.S.-Mexico border. Highway 94 heading east from Dulzura is some really fun riding – smooth and winding through the rolling hills. It's a section of road nicknamed "Smuggler's Run" due to its proximity to the border. I hadn't been out there for a ride since 2009 when we did a two-stroke group ride with a bunch of guys from the old USA 2Strokers site.
In Campo we visited the Southern Terminus of the Pacific Crest Trail, which involved about a mile of dirt road riding on our street bikes.
20241121_123415_PCT start_Campo.jpg
Looking east at the border
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From Campo we headed north on Buckman Springs Road which becomes S1 and follows part of old Highway 80 in one area, then crossed Interstate 8 and followed the S1/Sunrise Highway up into the mountains. Awesome scenery and fantastic roads with no traffic!
Hwy94_Sunrise Hwy_ride_map.jpg
We stopped for lunch in Mt. Laguna at a place called Pine House Café & Tavern. The food was outstanding and the décor inside was really cool. They have a huge Christmas diorama with a functioning ski chair lift, model train, merry-go-round, and other things.
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20241121_145514_Pine House.jpg
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We also stopped for some photos at the peak on Mt. Laguna, looking out over the Anza Borrego Desert from 6100 ft. before heading back towards civilization on Highway 79 then 78, and back to the 5-North to head for home.
Looking East
20241121_151657_Mt Laguna_Anza Borrego.jpg
Looking NE
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What an epic day! :thumbs:
Looks like a beautiful way to enjoy the day, as well as life itself :thumbs:
Epic indeed. Thanks for sharing!!!
wow thats cool af :clap:
Wow, looks like a great journey! Also, Saxon has a fantastic cover of that song.
https://youtu.be/mWn06y86__w?si=E6rSuGihpTQlXN3O