Sweet single track in Laguna Meadow.
Sometimes we fail to appreciate our own backyard. We just kind of take it for granted, or perhaps worse, forget about it.
Our local mountains are beautiful, yet this was only our second camping trip there. That’s going to change. The scenery is magnificent. The single track biking trails are fast and flowy. Mid week the crowds are minimal and here’s the kicker, it’s only sixty miles away! A mere seventy-five minute drive.
We reserved three sites in the Lilac Loop of Burnt Rancheria campground for R, Jen & Ang, and ourselves. It was like the good old days, socializing unmasked. The five of us ate breakfasts and dinners together, played card games, Chinese checkers, and had a few drinks.
San Diego County, what an amazing place: mountains, desert, beaches, and even another country all just a short drive away.
Ok, let’s get this pic out of the way before we get to all the beautiful scenery shots. What the heck is going on here? This was on the bathroom stall door. Amelia said it’s an actual thing.
Site 15, surrounded by Black Oaks and Jeffery Pines.
A beach bum named R.
We saw more flowers than expected including the Montane Woolly-Star. .
The beautiful and appropriately named Summer Snow flower was in most of the shaded openings and as bright as snow.
Amelia + single track = smiles for miles
This memorial plaque is at Kwaaymii Point. Richard M Zadorozny died here in a paragliding accident. There are dozens of memorial plaques, but only a few of them are from deaths at this spot. Of all the locations for stunning views in San Diego County, Kwaaymii Point might just be the best. It’s located on the Sunrise Highway, mile marker 30.3.
Kwaaymii Point video
Strawberry Moon: the last super moon of 2021
The land is Cleveland National Forest, so it’s common to see cows grazing in the pasture. Sometimes you just have to be patient while they pass. They haven’t harmed the trails yet, but beware there are plenty of fresh cow patties.
I went out at seven in the morning for a quick solo ride before we left. It was pristine, chilly, and magical.
Greg & Amelia's Airstream Adventures 
Yummy grilled dinners and great moon rises. We drove all over looking for a good moon rise spot and then Ang n I hiked on the Thing Valley Trail looking for an out of the way ridge but ironically the best spot to view the huge moon was on the way to the bathroom with the awesome sign (see blog). Fun learning the checkers game and Ang had a blast beating us over and over again at Taco Cat Goat Cheese Pizza. Yes we’ll be back again but grrrr, hopefully the Shriners’ construction crews won’t be starting at 5:30am. Who does that? After we left we went to stay at a relative’s house near Idyllwild that had dogs and a rooster who woke us up around the same time. Had to come home to get some sleep but excited to head out again soon.