Jason and I had a pretty relaxing morning drive out of the mountains next to Dog Lake.  The route back to Lakeview was full of large fields, farms, and cows all bathed in early morning lighting and a thin layer of fog.

After a quick stop in Lakeview we headed south.  The road was still paved until the turn off east to Cedarville that went over the mountains and closer to the desert.  This was another scenic road.  We also saw a few wild horses!

From Cedarville, we headed towards Vya.  This road was definitely gravel and not taken very frequently.  Vya itself isn’t really a town so much as it’s a bend in the road with a farm at it.  Maybe back in the day it was actually something, but not anymore.

Along the way (and I forget how far or where exactly!) we passed some large sandstone rocks that reminded us of the “hoodoos” in Bryce Canyon.  That was random enough to warrant a stop!

Our planned route took us on the gravel road away from Vya into the desert.  Eventually we turned off of the “main” gravel road onto a path made mostly of crushed obsidian. (pretty rocks. I collected a few, but not so great for tire life since they’re essentially broken glass shards.) There’s nothing out here now.  Just a few leftover windmills and grazing cattle.

Our actual goal for this entire road trip was the high rock canyon trail, even further into the wilderness and away from civilization.  The trail was part of the Lassen-Applegate emigrant trail from the late 1800’s.  Looks like we get to take the Colorado offroading!