I've been wanted to get out for a longer ride so I planned a route Thursday night and then jumped on the FZ6 last Friday morning to head out on my adventure. I didn't get rolling as early as I had planned and had a couple quick errands to do do, so by the time I hit the road it was about 10:45 am. The unintended positive of leaving a little late was I missed the morning rush while heading south to San Diego County and the evening rush on the return.
Rode south on 405 to the 5 and then turned inland on Hwy 76 from Oceanside. Gassed up in Oceanside at about 65 miles in, then the first stop was in Julian for a stretch and water at 125 miles.
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The weather was great. When I started out it was a little cool and foggy at the coast but as I ventured inland the sun came out and the temps were in the high 70s, low 80s.
From Julian, after a slight jaunt off the intended route due to a hiccup from Google Maps, I turned south on Highway 79 past Lake Cuyamaca. 79 is a great road, winding through the Cleveland National Forest with very little traffic and lots of turns and great views. The max altitude of my ride was just south of Julian at just over 4600 feet.
Just before reaching Interstate 8, at about 185 miles I stopped for lunch at the Descanso Junction Restaurant.
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It was my first time there and I highly recommend it. The food was excellent and the service was very good. I had their Sweet Jalapeno Burger with homemade potato salad. :drool: I've added the place to my favorites list for next time I'm in the area.
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After lunch I continued south on Hwy 79, and then onto Japatul Valley Rd and Honey Springs Rd, and then turned west at Hwy 94 towards Jamul.
When I reached Spring Valley I turned north on Hwy 150, and went through El Cajon, Santee, and into Lakeside where I stopped for gas again and to stretch my legs (after a little unintended detour due to heavy Friday afternoon traffic) near Lake Jennings at about 200 miles.
It was starting to get a little late in the day so I decided to skip Wildcat Canyon and went north on Hwy 67 through Ramona and then took the 78 west through Escondido and Vista back to the 5 for the ride back north into Orange County. Traffic wasn't too bad on the way home because it was so late.
I finally rolled into my driveway a little before 8:30 pm after 339 miles. Not a bad day! :vroom:
During the ride I tried out the Rever app that's been on my phone for more than a year for the first time. It seems decent but I'm just using the free version. Still learning the features but it's very intuitive and easy to use. I didn't capture the entire ride so it doesn't show the complete mileage.
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I'm planning to do another one of these soon. There are some other great roads in San Diego County that I'd like to hit. Next time I'll try to get rolling earlier in the day.
I spent decades of my life living in all the East SD county locations you mentioned. Even off Honey Springs Road in Jamul for 5 years before moving to Lakeside in 2000 and finally bailing out of CA in 2017. If you do Julian again, try the Apple Pie- was always a big deal for people every year. Did the Descanso cafe probably around 1995. My wife has family living over that way.
Quote from: RDnuTZ on May 10, 2026, 08:32:36 PMI spent decades of my life living in all the East SD county locations you mentioned. Even off Honey Springs Road in Jamul for 5 years before moving to Lakeside in 2000 and finally bailing out of CA in 2017. If you do Julian again, try the Apple Pie- was always a big deal for people every year. Did the Descanso cafe probably around 1995. My wife has family living over that way.
Nice area, you lived out in the countryside! That whole section from Julian down to Dulzura is just epic for riding!
I've had the apple pie before, and although I was tempted I didn't do it this time. I'm somewhat familiar with the area, as I lived down there in the coastal area for about 10 years (in La Jolla Village, Mira Mesa, Pacific Beach) and went to college there. Pie could happen on the next trip :haw: , which I'm already planning, and I may drag friends along next time.