Leila

Labrador Lane is a short street that runs from Olde Highway 80 and ends a Highway 8. The Flinn Springs Country Store backed Labrador Lane. This local landmark recently changed hands and has been beautifully updated with specialty shops and offices. Historically, Bud's Firewood was on Labrador Lane, but Bud moved east around 2004. On the north side of Labrador Lane, Ethel and Hank Pratt had an "egg farm" in the 1940's and 1950's. Tom Henkel’s estate, next to the Pratt's, later became the home of Southern California Dog Magazine, a regional magazine for dog lovers, which ended up having six regional issues before its demise in 1998. This was also the site of Flinn Springs Farm, where warmblood sporthorses were bred. The farm was renowned as a location for weddings, with three ponds, a running creek and a lovely gazebo that dated back to the 1970's. The property has since sold to a developer who is facing stiff community opposition to her plans to build a 44-unit mobile home park.

Via Dieguenos, in Alpine, is on the north side of “old” Palo Verde Ranch, connecting the ranch from its northwest to southeast ends. This street is lined with two-plus acre ranch-style homes, many built in the 1970’s and 1980’s. This community is one of San Diego’s best kept secrets! There are two lakes, one small at the entrance to the community and a larger lake at the southeast end. Residents enjoy two private parks, the one at the lake has a deluxe picnic area. The lake has a sand beach and a dock that residents and their guests can swim to and sun on. Quiet boating is also allowed and fishing enthusiasts enjoy the well stocked lake. Additional amenities include a large clubhouse with a gym, at the entry park, there is a tennis court and riding arena. There are trails behind all of the homes for riding and hiking. The community backs onto the Cleveland National Forest. The “new” community next store is Rancho Palo Verde, a sister community that has the addition of a guarded entry gate.

California Highway 67 begins in El Cajon, and for 5.9 miles is a true freeway. In Lakeside it becomes a rural road, running approximately 18 miles through Lakeside and eastern Poway into Ramona. There can be a lot of commuter traffic along this route. Coming south, many cars speed quickly down the hill and are often unprepared for the heavy traffic at the bottom. The intersection at San Vicente is famous for the number of serious accidents that have occurred. There are homes along 67, including Navy housing and mobile home parks just after the freeway ends. There is heavy industrial business along 67 in Lakeside. The homes along 67 are on large lots to many acres. The area along 67 in Poway is one of the least expensive areas for a large home and large lot in Poway. Poway is well known for its exceptional schools and the number of celebrities who reside there. Driving 67 through Ramona is a scenic peek at one of San Diego’s rural communities, with small shops and restaurants along with large fields and a variety of home styles.

For what might seem initially to be a short side street, Zion Avenue delivers a lot! It is a quick connector from Mission Valley (Mission Gorge Road) to Allied Gardens (Waring Road). At the east end, there is a good community park, Allied Gardens Park, which includes a community swimming pool. The Benjamin Library is on Zion Road. There are several churches and a well regarded school, Foster Elementary School backs onto Zion. Anchoring the west end of Zion Avenue is the Kaiser Permanente Hospital and medical offices. Next to Kaiser (fronting Mission Gorge) is a supermarket and strong suburban strip mall. There are numerous opportunties to eat along Mission Gorge and Friars Road. For a street that is not very long, Zion packs a punch!

At either end of Jackson Drive you will find something of interest! To the southeast, you have access to Grossmont Center with shops, restaurants, theaters and other services. The northwest, you are close to the entrance to Mission Trails Regional Park, an area with diverse recreational opportunities. In between there is the suburban Lake Murray/San Carlos community. Jackson Drive itself tends to move a bit quickly through the suburban neighborhood, this is a regular spot for speeding tickets. There are small parks along Jackson Drive as well as access to trails at Lake Murray. You can get a view of the lake, plus the golf course as you drive along. There is also a small public library, which has hoped for many years to expand.

In El Cajon, Fletcher Parkway becomes Broadway on the east side of Highway 67. Broadway runs parallel to Highway 8. When traffic is stopped on 8, many folks take Broadway. There is an assortment of stores, apartments and condominiums along Broadway. It is an area with more foot traffic than one might expect to see in San Diego, where the majority of people travel by car. Years ago, El Cajon had fairly lax building regulations. This resulted in dense, cheap apartments. Demographically, the residents in this area tend towards a lower income. There are homeless people on the street. A few blocks to the north of one intersection is an area well-traveled by prostitutes and their johns. This is not necessarily a high-crime zone, the community has a mixture of different nationalities and ages and is working hard to raise the standard of living.

Friars Road is the primary east to west street through the north side of Mission Valley. It is long and generally flat and an easy bike ride. Riding to the west, it joins with Sea World Drive, following along the San Diego River. Riding east, it passes Riverwalk Golf Club and Fashion Valley Mall, one of San Diego’s premier shopping centers. Further east there are myriad shopping complexes interspersed with lovely apartment and condominium projects. Great restaurants abound along Friars and there are numerous opportunities for nighttime entertainment. Near the east end of Friars Road is Qualcomm Stadium. Friars Road has north/south access to Highway 163 and Highway 15.

Peutz Valley Road is on the western side of Alpine, just east of El Cajon. This is a lovely rural community and a beautiful route for biking. Mountain bike enthusiasts also enjoy off-road opportunities, such as Anderson Truck Trail. Glimpses of El Capitan Reservoir are enjoyed starting at the western end of Peutz Valley. Chocolate Summit rises to the North. High to the south one catches glimpses of the large, new homes developed in Alpine’s Victoria Drive neighborhood. The road itself winds through old oak trees and a stream which often is running. The 2003 Cedar Fire swept through this area, but few traces remain. Former Congressman Duncan Hunter Sr. has his home in Peutz Valley, his son (the current Congressman Duncan Hunter) and wife have resided at the same address.

Mission Gorge Road has long been an alternate route to Hwy 8 to reach East County from San Diego. Even at peak traffic hours, this road moves along pretty steadily. Traveling through Santee used to be just that: “traveling through.” But Santee has made some big changes. Shopping opportunities along Mission Gorge are now the best in East County. There are also a number of good restaurants to choose from.

Olde Highway 80 is part of the historic U.S. Highway 80 which existed before Highway 8, running from San Diego to Yuma. You may pick up Olde Highway 80 in El Cajon where Broadway runs into Main Street and the name switches from Broadway to Olde Highway 80. The name switches back and forth between Olde Highway 80 and local street names as you continue east. In a few places the only road east is Highway 8 (portions of which are approved for biking).

Olde Highway 80 is a great bike ride. There are beautiful stretches that are part of the California Scenic Drives and Byways program. From west to east, you will see suburbs, industrial areas, and mobile home parks increasing to lovely extended countryside passages. There are some affluent pockets to the north and south, but the residential areas tend to be less expensive homes.