It's been a while since I've driven California's Highway 395; and it's been even longer since I've done it with patina'd Jeep skins wrapped around me. I'll need to change that soon.

I love driving Hwy 395 'cause it goes from California's high desert through places like Victorville; up into little mountain towns like Lone Pine and Bishop; past pine-lush Mammoth Mountain and Yosemite; skirts the surreal Mono Lake (where High Plains Drifter was filmed); and dumps you out in the Reno/Lake Tahoe area.

There's lots of derelict vintage Jeeps and abandoned cafe's awaiting exploration. I guess I love it so much 'cause it's the closest thing we have to Colorado mountain ghost towns here in California. And don't get me started on places like Colorado's Animas Forks, Leadville, and other high-elevation Colorado locals.

I think my CJ-6 needs to hurry up and get finished so I can start taking some of these great drives!