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I scheduled a 'client-free day' today and took a road trip with my new car. I know there are some OC'ers here so I thought I'd do a write-up of my trip.
From 405 I took Jamboree north to 241 (or is it 261?) and headed east. 241 was EMPTY in both directions - I've driven it on the weekends and it is always extremely crowded (the main reason I went today). In one way this was good because I could take the curves the way I wanted to, but in another way it sucked because I was a sitting duck for speed traps. I'm still in my break-in period so I was being careful anyways. :angel:
For those of you in OC who haven't traveled 241 (why not?!), it consists of fast sweepers with a posted limit of 55 in most areas. The road is in good shape overall, though there are some patches here and there.
My first detour was Silverado Canyon Road. This is a slower drive (posted 25-45) with a number of blind turns and a few [unexpected] blind hills with some reverse-camber curves. Beware of coarse gravel in the road in a few areas. This is more of a scenic drive than it is a spirited one, since there are cabins/houses literally on the edges of the roads in some areas and there are many driveways. One slip-up and you're in someone's living room. I hate when that happens! There is an area to hike at the end of the road (it's not a loop!) that is beautiful in Spring when the creek is running. Be sure you have a pass if you park there though, they do check. Silverado is the highest elevation road in the area at about 1900' according to my navi.
'The end of the road' - Silverado Canyon. The trail begins just behind my car.
Location/elevation according to my navi.
I continued East on 241 and took Modjeska Canyon Road 'till it ended. This is another scenic drive not really suited for spirited driving. There are horses and other critters (I almost nailed a puppy that ran out in front of me at the last second, that would have ruined my day), and it turns into one lane with trees in the middle of the road. The posted limit is 25 in most areas. If you like hiking, there is a great trail that goes 13 miles (if I remember correctly) along the ridges of the mountains there. The trail is quite a workout and it dumps you into Silverado Canyon. I've hiked 7 miles in a few times (awesome view up there), but never could find much reason to go any further than that. I think the peak you hike to has an elevation up around 5,000ft.
A typical view on this road. It was hard to stop and take pics, especially in the more scenic areas. There are few turnouts that are paved.
Instead of taking Modjeska Canyon Road all the way back to 241, I took Modjeska Grade to 241 at the junction. I had never been on this road before. It is pretty short and steep, and it has a hairpin towards the beginning - it's really a blast. I took it (ahem) several times with the road to myself every time but once. The first time I didn't notice the warning for the upcoming stop sign for 241 (which is at the bottom of a steep little hill) and was caught by surprise. Yikes! :yikes:
Stopped at the only turnout. Look at those curves!
Looking in the direction of the hairpin (a few turns back). I wish this road wasn't so short!
I continued east on 241 and turned left (where the diner is with all the motorcycles - I forget the name of the road) towards O'Neill Regional Park. This road is pretty freshly paved until you reach the park, and the curves are banked perfectly. There is a nice hairpin just a bit beyond Holy Jim's Canyon. This road drops you off on Santa Margarita Pkwy.(?) where suburbia suddenly appears out of nowhere. I turned around and went for it again in the other direction, this time behind a brand-new silver WRX. He didn't seem to understand the idea of 'break-in period' and wanted a piece of my new car. Having nothing to prove to him I just let him go. :angel:
An umbrella of trees that you find in a few areas of the trip. Too bad this shot came out blurry.
Well, that about sums up the trip. I'm glad I played hookie and took the drive, I feel much more connected with my car now. Nice set of roads for being so close to the city (20 min or so) - all things considered I would probably give them a combined 6+ on a scale of 1-10.
Thanks for reading...
--SONET
From 405 I took Jamboree north to 241 (or is it 261?) and headed east. 241 was EMPTY in both directions - I've driven it on the weekends and it is always extremely crowded (the main reason I went today). In one way this was good because I could take the curves the way I wanted to, but in another way it sucked because I was a sitting duck for speed traps. I'm still in my break-in period so I was being careful anyways. :angel:
For those of you in OC who haven't traveled 241 (why not?!), it consists of fast sweepers with a posted limit of 55 in most areas. The road is in good shape overall, though there are some patches here and there.
My first detour was Silverado Canyon Road. This is a slower drive (posted 25-45) with a number of blind turns and a few [unexpected] blind hills with some reverse-camber curves. Beware of coarse gravel in the road in a few areas. This is more of a scenic drive than it is a spirited one, since there are cabins/houses literally on the edges of the roads in some areas and there are many driveways. One slip-up and you're in someone's living room. I hate when that happens! There is an area to hike at the end of the road (it's not a loop!) that is beautiful in Spring when the creek is running. Be sure you have a pass if you park there though, they do check. Silverado is the highest elevation road in the area at about 1900' according to my navi.

'The end of the road' - Silverado Canyon. The trail begins just behind my car.

Location/elevation according to my navi.
I continued East on 241 and took Modjeska Canyon Road 'till it ended. This is another scenic drive not really suited for spirited driving. There are horses and other critters (I almost nailed a puppy that ran out in front of me at the last second, that would have ruined my day), and it turns into one lane with trees in the middle of the road. The posted limit is 25 in most areas. If you like hiking, there is a great trail that goes 13 miles (if I remember correctly) along the ridges of the mountains there. The trail is quite a workout and it dumps you into Silverado Canyon. I've hiked 7 miles in a few times (awesome view up there), but never could find much reason to go any further than that. I think the peak you hike to has an elevation up around 5,000ft.

A typical view on this road. It was hard to stop and take pics, especially in the more scenic areas. There are few turnouts that are paved.
Instead of taking Modjeska Canyon Road all the way back to 241, I took Modjeska Grade to 241 at the junction. I had never been on this road before. It is pretty short and steep, and it has a hairpin towards the beginning - it's really a blast. I took it (ahem) several times with the road to myself every time but once. The first time I didn't notice the warning for the upcoming stop sign for 241 (which is at the bottom of a steep little hill) and was caught by surprise. Yikes! :yikes:

Stopped at the only turnout. Look at those curves!

Looking in the direction of the hairpin (a few turns back). I wish this road wasn't so short!
I continued east on 241 and turned left (where the diner is with all the motorcycles - I forget the name of the road) towards O'Neill Regional Park. This road is pretty freshly paved until you reach the park, and the curves are banked perfectly. There is a nice hairpin just a bit beyond Holy Jim's Canyon. This road drops you off on Santa Margarita Pkwy.(?) where suburbia suddenly appears out of nowhere. I turned around and went for it again in the other direction, this time behind a brand-new silver WRX. He didn't seem to understand the idea of 'break-in period' and wanted a piece of my new car. Having nothing to prove to him I just let him go. :angel:

An umbrella of trees that you find in a few areas of the trip. Too bad this shot came out blurry.
Well, that about sums up the trip. I'm glad I played hookie and took the drive, I feel much more connected with my car now. Nice set of roads for being so close to the city (20 min or so) - all things considered I would probably give them a combined 6+ on a scale of 1-10.
Thanks for reading...
--SONET