29 of 30 - San Diego Outback Expeditionary Force

[aggienaut]

   So on Sunday my parents and I went on an adventurous day trip down into the far southern end of California - the San Diego outback. As I would learn when we got there, our reason for going was that my dad is crazy. You see, he's running ANOTHER 100 mile "ultra-marathon." And when they do these things they don't just run 100 miles through flat lush shrubbery or something, no, they run it through death valley, or somewhere with man-eating javelinas, or through the rugged hills of inner San Diego county.

   The red dashed line shows the 290 mile trip we made on Sunday, going roughly counter-clockwise around. The green dashed line shows roughly the 100 mile route dad is going to run -- he's running that line TWICE: out and back, 50mi each way.
   Those national forests and wildernesses that make it look like we're awash with forests? See picture above the map. Also note the presence of a large number of Indian reservations, that is a clear indication that this land is crap, since thats all we reserve for Indians.

   Our first destination was Lake Moreno, where the San Diego 100 will start. It is about six miles north of the Mexican border. Apparently the San Diego city council hired a rainmaker to fill Lake Morena. Seriously, read this. Here are more pictures I took at Lake Morena.

   Next we proceeded up Kitchen Creek Road to where it was crossed by the Pacific Crest Trail, which the ultramarathon route follows at that point. We followed Kitchen Sink Road further north with plans to link up to another road, the S1. Along the way we passed a honeybee metropolis, and of course stopped to take pictures and investigate:

   Also the damage from recent wild fires was quite evident.

   Suddenly a huge road barrier obstructed our progress on what appeared to be a perfectly good road. We had to double back.
   Shortly thereafter, heading up main road The Eight, we passed a large border patrol checkpoint. I think the other road was closed to prevent automobiles from bypassing the security checkpoint on that route. Earlier on our way down we had passed one on a smaller road that consisted of one border patrol agent sitting with his m16 in the shade next to his SUV, waving people past.

   Next destination was a campground called Green Creek, that was in a little grotto of actual foresty-ness. It was quite pleasant. We frolicked by the stream and I entertained myself by trying to photograph a dragonfly in flight. Also we saw a weird green eyed bee looking thing.

   Finally, on the way out I took these pictures, and we headed home. First stopping at Pedros in San Juan Capistrano (right about where The Five turns inland between Laguna Beach and San Clemente on the map at the top of this entry), which is the best source of burritos anywhere.

   The end. Be sure to follow all the links that go to flickr because they are all links to pictures not posted here.

Quote of the Day by which I mean Sunday
   "Maybe we should ask Kris about his hair, and we'll understand more about the Stegosaurus" - Mom
   "Yeah -- why its extinct!" - Dad

Brilliant Thought of the Day:
   After mother mentioned to me that there's a "help wanted" sign in the Persian grocery store, she joked that I could wear a turban, and thus not cut my hair.. and I realized "hey wait thats true!" If I could realistically pull off being Sikh or something, I could work ANYWHERE without losing the mohawk! If The Man tries to oppress me, it'll be religious discrimination!
   
   

Comments

[rote.livejournal.com]

That quote is awesome!

[alainedances.livejournal.com]

nice pic! (referring to the first pic of the dead tree branches)

School break again, woot

[basicallyasap.livejournal.com]

I found a pond in the park and there are hellof turtles that chillax there and it is my new favorite place in Siena. Also there are swans! I have decided swans are one of the few types of birds I jock, they are so funny when they clean themselves, remind me to do my imitation of a swan cleaning itself when I get back to the states! :D We went dancing last night, it was way fun! I still definitely miss you.

Nice pictures love!

[dont-cry-out.livejournal.com]

yeah I worked crap out for my effin partay/kickback

you better go
ghjvgdhdh

[ashael.livejournal.com]

That "bee" is, in fact, a fly, I think. A species of many which look similar to bees for the benefit of predators avoidance (Batesian mimicry).