So I’ve lived in the Bayarrhea for most of my life and I’ve never been to Mount Diablo. Until today.

Mount Diablo is one of those landmarks that’s hard to miss–you can see it from just about anywhere in the Bay. The summit is about 3,850 feet, and is the highest in the East Bay Area. Every winter it gets a little snow, which usually melts the next day or so. I think it’s also a dormant volcano.

So I’ve never been to the top. Yum and I have been talking about going up there to take pictures for the last year and never got around to doing it. And now we’re leaving the Bayarrhea for Vacaville, so today was the day.

The drive to the top is windy and slow, the speed limit is 15 mph most of the way, and the road is narrow. There are plenty of bicyclists on the road, so you have to drive extra carefully and slowly.

But the drive up is beautiful. It’s so cool to see the change in vegetation from low-land weeds and brush to manzanita and pine trees near the top. And the summit is awesome.

We got there just in time for the sunset. At the very summit there is a big parking lot and castle-fortress looking thing that acts as a visitors center. From here you get a 360 degree unobstructed view. They say that on a good day you can see clear on down the San Joaquin valley to Bakersfield.

We were treated to a nice sunset to go along with the sweeping views of the Bay, San Francisco, the Delta Valley, and San Joaquin valley. I wish we had more time, but it got dark rather fast after the sun set, and the rangers were quick to kick us out of the park.

Ansela Adams (AKA Yum) had her camera of course, and was not to be rushed. It’s one of her basic rules of life, you know. “When I have my camera, do not rush me,” she says. I had mine too and took some quick snaps, which you can view here.

I can’t believe it’s taken me this long to go up there. I need to go back one day soon for a road-side picnic or even some camping (yes, there are campgrounds way up there) and maybe some horseback riding (if I had a horse).