Heading for the Hills

When we first visited San Diego several years ago, Karen took us to the little mining town of Julian which is in the mountains east of here. I always wanted to go back so today we decided to go exploring.  I had also been looking into lodging in the area and had stumbled on the Laguna Mountain Lodge.  It looked rustic but comfortable.  So we headed there first just to look around.  It is very near where we went hiking last summer when we visited. http://www.lagunamountain.com/Index.htm

There is a big store at the Lodge so we took a look around then I asked the guy at the counter if it was ok to look around where the cabins were.  He said that we could actually have a tour and called a guy called John to help us.  I explained that we wanted to come back later in the summer and it might be just us or it might be Karen's family also.  So he showed us many of the cabins.  I was really impressed.  They do bedding and linens but you have to bring all your food, dishes, pots, pans etc.  I can do that!  But wouldn't you know, I didn't take any pictures!!  So, go to the website and check it out for yourself. And yes, they have TV!

I did take a lot of other pictures though. Here goes. 

A view looking west

 

There are many free range cattle around here.  Many signs warning drivers of cattle on the road. We didn't see any however.

I thought this sign was a hoot.  I can't imagine there are too many of these signs made. 

Looking east toward the desert. It's hard to see but we saw smoke on the horizon.

The Visitor Center is across the road from the Laguna Mountain Lodge.  I forgot my Golden Age Passport so we didn't take any hikes as it would cost to park the car.  I did inquire about a yearly pass and it is $30.

Looking eastward

We had lunch at the Pine House.  Pretty good food actually.

 There was even a "barr" skin on the wall. 

And fancy wine glasses!!

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Looking east toward the desert.

 

 A sign about the Cedar Fire in 2003. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cedar_Fire It burned 280,278 acres  2,820 buildings (including 2,232 homes) and killed 15 people including one firefighter

 You can still see evidence of it today.  You drive for miles and miles and see scenes like this.  Driving home from Julian, we took a different route and saw evidence of the fires that took place in the fall of 2007 and in 2011.  There was also evidence of very recent fires along side the road.  Don't know if this was controlled burn or not but it didn't really look like it.

 Even though it was Sunday and Julian was crowded, we found a parking spot with no problem--right next to the Julian Hotel which is where my son in law proposed to my daughter.

 Interesting sign

 You never know who you will meet on the streets of Julian. And yes, I got to pet him and no,  he didn't spit on me.

 

 May check out this place to eat at next time.  It really looked inviting.

 Pony ride.  Poor little thing!

 This is more like it.

 Two BIG tables

 

 Apparently apples are the big product grown around Julian. Every restaurant has homemade apple pie.  So of course we had to try a piece.  We chose the Apple Pecan Pie ala mode. Yum.

 I found this really neat store which focused mostly on birds but they had these two shirts.  No I didn't buy one but I just might next time!

 

 On the way home we drove by Lake Cuyamaca. May have to check this place out another time! 

We had a great time today.  It was hot up in the mountains but we still felt like we were in a different world--away from the city.  Can't wait to go again.