Carrizo Plain

I spent a wonderful evening in the Carrizo Plain National Monument. I was the only one in the parking lot of Soda Lake Overlook. The afternoon and morning light was wonderful. It was cold but I was cozy with my down bag and a furnace, for an evening. The next day I drove out through the plain. It was 35 miles of dirt road, too long, but who knew you could drive for two hours in California and only see two cars. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carrizo_Plain_National_Monument
The wikipedia articles is clear and accurate, reliable because I've just been there! Coming down the mountains, into Ojai was beautiful too.