Doane Valley, in Palomar Mountain State Park, was our first stopping point, but hardly the first noteworthy waypoint on our excursion. The day was partly cloudy and of reasonable temperature when we departed from Mira Mesa, to which Dad drove to meet up with me. We took the route recommended by Apple maps as the fastest, departing the 15 in Escondido and taking Bear Valley Parkway to through Valley Center to Pauma Valley. It's a route I had never taken before, and I never really had an idea of how much development exists out there.

We could see that clouds often obscured the top of the mountain, but I don't think either of us expected how cloudy it would be. Driving up South Grade Road, the fog closed visibility down to maybe 20 feet. And with the clouds came lower temperatures. By the time we reached the summit, the temperature dropped to 41ºF (5ºC). Fortunately we were ready for that, with plenty of layers to keep warm.

In Doane Valley proper, we were more protected from the clouds, which floated above near enough to see it filtering through the surrounding trees, leaving the valley itself open.