Yamaha TW200 - Alpine to the Palomar Observatory

Yet another beautiful day in San Diego!

My buddy Jim and I decided to attack Palomar Mountain and grab some lunch at the Santa Ysabel Casino.

Total Miles: 154
MPG: 66.4
Temps in Alpine: 81
Temps on Palomar: 63

I left out of Alpine at 8:45 to meet Jim at Packards in Ramona.

From there we headed out the Old Julian Highway to 78, then up to the 79 at Santa Ysabel.

We split of to Mesa Grande Road - A real nice twisty ride - where we came along a sport-bike rider that had just
run off the road - Thank the Lord he wasn't hurt as he went right off the road and through a 4-wire barbed fence:
He was lucky enough to land in a very wet/muddy marsh - And ended up riding away a wiser rider (I hope).

We then headed down the 76 past Lake Henshaw, then the East Grade Road up to the Palomar Observatory.

After some sightseeing we ran back down to the Santa Ysabel Casino for a burger. When leaving Jim's battery
decided to retire... Got him push started and he set out ahead of me home.

I stopped on the way home only to collect some bread and breakfast bars at Dudley's.

In spite of the few issues we had - It was a spectacular day!

Here is the general track:

http://www.spotadventures.com/trip/view/?trip_id=198253

And here are some photos:

Up Wildcat Canyon, on the Barona Reservation, are some of the densest oaks I've seen:



Up through Old Julian Highway are several horse ranches - These are for my daughter but I'll share with you as well:





Here is a shot of Lake Henshaw heading down Mesa Grande towards the 76:



Yes: Me and my wonderful T'Dubya overlooking Lake Henshaw:



A few shots at the Palomar Observatory:







Looking North - Big Bear Mountain:



Lunch at the Santa Ysabel Casino:



That's it folks! Hope you enjoyed riding along!

Warren, looks like a fun day.
Steve

Just glad the sport-bike rider was unhurt - I dread riding up on a serious accident...

Great pics Warren.

I am a Fallbrook native. I love the areas you have been reporting on. I used to head up Palomar almost ever weekend. Some of the best riding anywhere.

I now live in the PacNW. I miss the riding down there greatly, the weather, and my family, but those are probably the only things I miss about SoCal.

Anyhow I have been enjoying your posts. I am thinking about picking up a TW and have been browsing the forums for research.

How is the food at the casino? I keep telling my self that I will stop there for lunch, but I just keep heading home.

Pretty good food at the Casino - You should drop in and try it out!

Did you do the $4.99 prime rib?

I've that once and had a few of their burgers - Pretty good.

Please tell me more about the TW. Have always been interested in one of those. Thanks.

Enjoy!

TW200 Forum

I think Im going to take up your suggestion and head up there for dinner sometime this week. My wife is working late every night this week, so it seems like a good time to go!

Let me know Steve - I'm due for an evening ride!

Would tomorrow work out ok for you? I get off of work between 2:30pm - 3:00pm, and would probably go straight from there. I work off of Scripps Poway Parkway which intersects Hwy 67. We could meet up in Ramona? Then we would probably get there a little after 4pm for the $4.99 prime rib!

I could get into Ramona about 4 p.m. if you can hang out somewhere for a bit...???

Works for me!

Shall we check back on here around 12pm tomorrow to make sure everything is a go?

Ill ride my 250cc Vespa so we are on even ground, unless you bring the Night Hawk, then I'll bring my SV.

I'll be riding my KLR... But I poke so the Vespa is fine... Tomorrow noonish we'll chat - I'll PM you my cell...

Ah, I might ride the SV then since it hasn't moved in about 2 weeks. Im a cruzer as well, so it sounds like we are on the same page with riding speed!

Sounds good Steve!