BACKROADS OUTING

Every now and then I just like to take off for a day on my own and explore new places. I sometimes scout a little with Google maps ahead of time, but I always end up making decisions along the way that add unexpected surprises.

On this particular day I headed east on Highway 138 from the 5 North and found a delightful backroad drive that started in pines and ended in prairie.

Overlooking the western Antelope Valley

The new ride

A pond along the way

View beyond the pond and into the valley below

Ghost tree forest - fire went through here one year

I only saw two cars in 20 miles

A prairie-like view to the west; mountains of Los Padres National Forest in background