day IV Mount Laguna and Interstate 8

I picked Virginia up in downtown San Diego and we headed out Interstate 8, stopping to pick up a picnic lunch and some cold drinks. I wanted to drive East on Interstate 8 because it seemed from the maps to be the best route to see the mountains and another part of Southern California.

Almost immediately we were out in nature and the land was beautiful and alien. At one point we looked off in the distance and saw a road rising into the mountains, and when we saw a likely exit and signage that might lead us there, we got off the interstate and started winding our way up in elevation. I love these unplanned adventures and they often lead to the most amazing experiences. This pieced-together panorama was the first view we saw before we attained any elevation.... there was so much more to come!