Nice 180 mile drive to Mt. Palomar and back

[450knotOffice]

I haven't taken the black car out for a good thrashing in a while and I've heard so many good things about the road to Mt. Palomar Observatory, home of the 200 inch reflector telescope that was the biggest in the world from 1948 to 1976.

Great drive. Once I got on the mountain I had the road all to myself - literally. What an awesome road! Lots of 2nd gear 180 degree switchbacks linked by short straights.

It rained near the top but only lightly. The roads were steaming however from what obviously had been harder rain before I got there.

[scottmandue]

"Had the road to yourself"

I presume Monday or today?

Got to get the Porsche running and take my astronomer geek lady friend up there!

[azasadny]

When I was in the USN, stationed at Camp Pendleton, my wife and I used to enjoy that drive every few weeks. It is a great place to drive and enjoy the scenery! We used to stop in Julian and get some apple pie and cider, then drive back to Fallbrook. Great place, great curves, I just wish we would have had the 911 then...

[450knotOffice]

Yep, the drive was today. I saw no one on S6, which is the climb up the mountain. I've heard that road is like that basically all the time. 76, on the other hand, while kind of scenic, was slowed by traffic.

I think S6 is just one of those roads people just haven't really heard about, which is good for me.

It took just uinder two hours for me to make the 90 miles each way. Four hours total, including the 15 minutes at the summit.

[slodave]

Oh, sure, and I was sweating things out in a hot hanger removing my engine and tranny for the second time. I bought an atv floor jack, I was able to get the whole thing out in about 3 hours. Still too long, but getting faster! Looks like a fun drive.

Dave

[450knotOffice]

Oh Oh! Busted. Naw, I left the house at 11:30 and was back by 3:30 (which was when my wife was to get up from her nap).

Yea, I saw your other thread. You move fast dude. I can't believe you got the whole enchilada out in three hours.

[Dantilla]

That's a great road!

My wife had a conference in San Diego a few years ago, and I took the rented Mitsubishi Eclipse convertable up to Mt Polomar, pushing the rev limiter on a regular basis.

Close to the top, I saw a big bunch of Miatas, every driver with a silly grin, headed back down. Also a few dozen sport bikes on my way down, one of which laid it down hard. The road was closed for a bit, with the bike destroyed, the shaken up rider leaning up against a big rock watching his bike burn to a crisp. He, like Nostatic, was in suprisingly good shape considering the ride he just went through.

It was a fun day, and I hope to drive it again sometime soon.

[Jims5543]

Looks like fun. I think I will play hooky one day this winter and take the P-car on a trip somewhere here in Florida.

Cool pics!

[kevin993]

Sorry that I missed this when it was first posted. What a great drive. I'll have a look at the calendar and see if we can't get some momentum going for a fall group Palomar run. Thanks Scott!!