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 Photo by Scott Kardel © Caltech/Palomar Observatory By Ric Hawthorne, Editor |
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Oceanside, California, lies between San Diego and Los Angeles, and traveling east
from there on California Highway 76 takes you to Cleveland National Forest. A number
of pleasant surprises await travelers to this part of the country.
 The first surprise is how quickly you leave highly
populated areas behind. Driving the route on a weekday late last July, I was struck
by the lack of heavy traffic only a few miles inland from the Pacific Ocean. Then,
as the miles passed, the carved and chiseled hills gave way to a number of mountains,
including Palomar Mountain.Another surprise was the Palomar Observatory near the top of Palomar Mountain. It was impressive for its history and its physical size, as well as for its significance to astronomy. The Observatory’s unassuming grounds belie its stature in the scientific community. Delightful, too, were the food discoveries along the way – surprising due to their origins (relying on area produce), preparations and tastes.
 Traffic and population density thinned quickly while traveling east, with four-lane roads surrendering to two. The landscape changed with every turn. Cactus and shrubs, boulders and crevices as well as houses tucked in among the slopes were visible from the road. Every once in a while, a patch of irrigated green demonstrated what could grow in this dry part of the country. The curves of Highway 76 turned out to be just practice for what would lie ahead. The traffic sign designating Highway S6 to Palomar Mountain pointed toward a driving enthusiast’s dream. With the exception of one lone motorcyclist, the Impreza that I drove was alone going up that mountain road, and I was able to enjoy the curves and turns without interruption – one after another in seemingly unending succession. Very few straight stretches of more than a few hundred yards interspersed the curves on the climb. Speed signs were consistently in the 25- to 35-miles-per-hour range. The views to one side of the road were of trees, boulders and walls of dirt, while sometimes nothing but sky could be seen on the other side. If you like to drive and enjoy climbing ever-turning mountain roads, this Highway to the Stars is a must! Highway S6 leads to the Palomar Observatory from the southwest. Near the Observatory, S6 meets S7, which climbs the mountain from the eastern side. While not as wild, S7 has even greater views, particularly overlooking Lake Henshaw in the San Luis Rey River valley.  The Highway to the Stars ends in a park situated at the Palomar Observatory’s gates. A short walk up the pathway from the park takes you to the domed building that houses the Hale Telescope. The dome looks otherworldly, and I couldn’t help but think of 1950s science-fiction movies. However, fiction plays no role in the contributions to astronomy made by the Hale Telescope and the other three instruments that make up the Palomar Observatory. They’ve helped to “map” the universe and discover some of its secrets. Due to its large size, the Hale Telescope is the most impressive part of the Observatory. Its dome-topped enclosure is open to the public, with a viewing area overlooking the astronomers preparing for the night’s exploration of the universe. Exhibits help to explain the telescope’s operation and show some of the images it has captured.
The telescope was created by George Ellery Hale, who had supervised the building of the 60-inch telescope at Mount Wilson in 1908 and then the 100-inch telescope there in 1917. Two decades later, Hale secured a six-million-dollar grant for constructing an observatory with a 200-inch telescope. He selected the Palomar Mountain site after researching locations in Arizona, Texas, Hawaii and South America. 
As you pass through Wynola Springs on the way to Julian, you’ll find the Wynola Pizza Express. I recommend its vegan pizza, which is made with pizza sauce, sautéed tofu, fresh garlic and veggies. Even more interesting is the oven in which the pizza is baked. It features a mosaic exterior created by artist James Hubbell. The mosaic incorporates broken tiles, plates, cups and saucers. Look for the cup handles and teapot spout.  The Hale Telescope has been used by astronomers to help unlock the secrets of the universe since 1949. The soil and climate of the area surrounding Julian are perfect for growing apple trees. Many of their apples go to the Julian Pie Company, which served as another food stop. Apple pie a la mode at the pie company’s location on Main Street in Julian topped off lunch. Pies made locally can be shipped anywhere, for anyone who enjoys the flavor and crust of homemade apple pies. The company offers other pies and desserts as well. For more about the pizza and pies, visit www.wynolasprings.com and www.julianpie.com.  Returning from the Highway to the Stars and the Observatory, I couldn’t help but reflect upon how explorers have used the stars as navigational tools for centuries. This road trip exceeded expectations. Driving the mountain roads was a delight, plus it was scenic, educational and I had satisfied my appetite!
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© 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008 Subaru of America, Inc. Drive is published quarterly by Subaru of America, Inc. All rights reserved. Contents may not be reproduced without the express written permission of the publishers. |