Pie In The Sky

 With 32C (90F) in the making, we decided to escape to some cooler surroundings. A daytrip to the Apple Pie Town of Julian, CA filled today's agenda.

We left camp early and before there was a major heat.

Now, Julian is a very small town in the San Diego Mountains, about 12km west of Anza Borrego Statepark.

At an elevation of over 4100ft the area had only 22C (71F) and was the perfect place for a get-away.

The drive led us via the city of Brawley over to the west side of the Salton Sea. The US Border Patrol has maintained a check point along that road for years, and right behind that check point, Hwy 78 turns west towards Borrego Springs. 

It's a desolate area we drove through and it is used by the crazy off-road people. Ocotillo Wells is their headquarters. All along that road until it crosses into the State Park, one can see trailers and shacks lining the road. Not a pleasant view, if you ask me.

Mystery: How did this boat get into the desert and what's the purpose of it?

Now, we continued on Hwy 78 which brings the traveler along a winding road to ever rising elevation until the town of Julian comes up. 

Julian got known because it's plentiful apples and their resulting super delicious Apple Pies. Also, it has a certain ambiente with its special wellkept architecture.

Steep grades on the road to Julian

Finding a parking spot can be a challenge, though it wasn't a big problem today, but if you end up her during a weekend - good luck!

After moseying along Main St. (it's really very short) we decided to go for the Pie. The Julian Pie Company is just down the Main St. and Bea bought 2 super delicious yummy tasty apple pies. One was for us, the other for our camp neighbours.

A look into one of Julian's Boutiques

We then sat in the van to devour our sandwiches we bought along.

Now, it still was only noon and way too early to return home as the heat always reaches its peak around 3pm.

So we found Lake Cuyamaca Recreation Area not far away from Julian. A lake seemed to be a great place to hang out on. We paid 5$ access fee and went down to the lake trail where we set up our chairs and enjoyed the scenery and the birds. Among lots of Canada Geese, some white pelicans were on the water as well. Bea took Dixiefor a walk along the lake shore and after a while I followed her. 

 

Bea had discovered a huge tree where the bark had thousands of little holes and where every hole was filled with an ekorn. We had to marvel at this grand work performed by a woodpecker. The tree was covered all around and to a respectable height with these ekorns.

Returning to camp we drove south towards the I-8. There are several California State Parks along this route. The winding road through forests of Live Oak and Conifers would be an adventure to drive with any bigger RV, but it was fun with our Van.

Stopping at Desert View Point we enjoyed an amazing overlook towards the east.

After reaching the I-8 the forest retreats from the road, giving room to large mountains vistas. 

The mountain slopes are about the strangest I have ever seen. Huge round boulders are reaching the top, some balancing precariously on others.

Strange looking structure along I-8

Back at camp we invited our neighbours for a Pie-Party.

It was a great day, but we have to weather another couple of hot days before temps will be reaching back to 23-24C.