Showing posts with label Diablo Range. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Diablo Range. Show all posts

Tuesday, September 27, 2016

Soaring Above Hollister


Last Friday, the Husband and I celebrated our wedding anniversary by soaring high above our fair city. Yup. Through Groupon.com, we purchased discounted tickets for scenic sailplane rides with the Bay Area Glider Rides/Hollister Soaring Center, located at the Hollister Airport. The local outfit has been offering scenic rides, soaring lessons, and glider towing services at the airport since 1993. About four or five years ago, it was purchased by Bill and Sharon, who are originally from Vermont.


Bay Area Glider Rides is the only operation in the San Francisco and Monterey Bay areas to offer glider rides to the public. Depending on the ride, you soar over 4,500 to 6,000 feet. Two of the scenic rides fly around San Benito County, while the third soars above Monterey Bay.


The sailplanes can accommodate two passengers, but the Husband and I purchased individual rides. The weight limit is 328 pounds for passengers, which uhm the Husband and I exceed. That was fine, more room in the back to sit.


For the Husband's trip, the sailplane was towed to the west, where Pilot Bill and the Husband glided above Fremont's Peak. I was interested in seeing what it looked like above the Diablo range, so that's where Pilot Bill took me.


Here's how ditsy I can be: I thought that the Central Valley starts immediately behind the Diablo Mountains. So, I was very surprised to see a narrow valley beneath the eastern side of Santa Ana Mountain, and that there were a couple other ridges beyond that valley.


Pilot Bill and Jake, one of the Bay Area Glider Ride employees, said it was a clear day for soaring. One of the best days in a long while. From the sailplane, Pilot Bill and I saw the San Luis Reservoir. I thought I could see the Sierras.


Another thing I didn't realize is how near we really are to the ocean. The Husband says that Hollister is about 23 miles from Monterey Bay as the crow flies. Caw, caw. 


Would I soar again?

Is Hollister the county seat of San Benito County?

Friday, July 15, 2016

I Spy . . . a Sandwich Sign


I spy with the my little eye a billboard advertising sandwiches far beneath the near distant Santa Ana Peak.

I took this photo earlier this week from San Felipe Road as the Husband and I were slowing down for  the stoplight at Highway 156. A few days later, we went searching for the sign because I was curious: Who is selling the sandwiches?

We couldn't find the sign. Hmmmm.


Friday, May 20, 2016

I Spy . . . a Barn


I spy with my little eye an oldtime barn on the north side of Airline Highway (aka Highway 25), across from the Ridgemark Golf & Country Club.

Saturday, May 14, 2016

Thursday, May 12, 2016

Enterprise Road


You're looking east on Enterprise Road, near the intersection with Southside Road. The mountain in the distance is Santa Ana Peak.

Wednesday, March 23, 2016

Intermission

Lone Tree Road, Diablo Range

Dear Take 25 to Hollister Readers,

I'm taking a hiatus. How long, I do not know. The Husband, the Mama, Molly the Cat, and I have started on an interesting, one-of-a-kind learning adventure. I will be writing about it now and then at my other blog, The View from the Top of the Ladder. I welcome you to join me there anytime.

If you're new to Take 25 to Hollister, I'm sorry to have missed you. Thank you for visiting and please wander about the blog to find out about what there is to do and see in and around the real Hollister, California, such as the Pinnacles National Park, different state parks, the various parades, Mission San Juan Bautista, San Benito Olive Festival, and fantastic shops and restaurants.

Thank you, all Dear Readers. See you around town.

~ Su-sieee! Mac

Thursday, March 3, 2016

The Diablo Range


I pedaled up Hillcrest Road on the bicycle this morning. Puff, puff. Seeing the Three Sisters and Santa Ana Mountain near the top of the road was worth the struggle. Every time.


Wednesday, February 17, 2016

A Look at the Diablos from Downtown


I'm always surprised when I see the mountains from Fourth Street in Downtown Hollister, especially when the mountain sides are green. Joyful!


Sunday, December 27, 2015

Looming Diablos


Don't the Diablo Mountains look like they're sitting right behind San Felipe Road rather than far in the distance? This was taken from Briggs Road, off of Bolsa, aka Highway 25.


Sunday, December 20, 2015

Santa Ana Mountain in the Mist


Recognize Santa Ana Mountain? It looks nearby in the photo but it's truly far off in the distance. I took this photo from Thomas Road, off of Southside Road.


Tuesday, December 15, 2015

Going Around the Bend


I like this bend on Union Road, the one by Riverside Road. It reminds me that we do indeed live in a rural area, no matter how developed we get. Even, if one day, the orchards and vegetable fields along this bend are gone. Hopefully, that doesn't ever happen. Knock on wood. 


Wednesday, December 2, 2015

A December Morning


The Three Sisters look closer than they are. I took this yesterday morning from John Smith Road near Guerra Cellars.

See you tomorrow.

Friday, November 6, 2015

Gilroy Yamato Hot Springs


Some of you may recall picnicking, hiking trails, dipping your toes in the mineral springs, or swimming in the freshwater pool at the Gilroy Yamato Hot Springs in the eastern foothills outside of Gilroy. The resort closed its gates to the public in the 1980s. Today, it is part of Henry Coe State Park.  

A couple of weeks ago the Gilroy Yamato Hot Springs celebrated its 20th year as a historic landmark. It's a California Historical Landmark as well as on the list of the National Register of Historic Places. 


The resort has an amazing history that dates back to 1865 when Francisco Cantua stumbled upon the mineral springs while seeking lost sheep from his flock. He claimed the area and turned it into a campground, but shortly afterwards sold the property to George Roop. He, in turn, with the help of partners, developed the hot springs into a big-time resort. By, 1874, a large hotel and 18 cottages were built, which could house up to 300 visitors. 

And, people did come. Locally as well as from far away. Many, including the rich and famous, such as Adolph Sutro, James Phelan, and Claus Spreckels, from San Francisco took the three-hour train ride to Gilroy, stayed overnight at a hotel, then, the next morning, jostled for three hours in a horse and buggy on 12 miles of dirt paths to the hot springs. Visitors often stayed for one or two weeks. The springs was considered the best in California, and until the mid-1930s, it was a popular destination place. 


In 1938, Harry K. Sakata, a well-known lettuce grower in Watsonville, bought the property and changed the name to Gilroy Yamato Hot Springs. Yamato is the word for Japanese. Sakata's goal was to develop a retreat for Japanese Americans.

Then came the U.S. entry into World War II and the internment of the Japanese American population in very remote locations. Sakata's Caucasian business partners took over the management of the hot springs, returning the property to Sakata after the war. In the postwar years, Sakata invited interned families to live on the property as a place to transition back into American society. 


The famous hotel and clubhouse are no more, nor the soaking pools or the freshwater swimming pool. Many of the cabins are still on the grounds in various stages of disrepair, which are being renovated by volunteers known as the Gilroy Yamato Hot Springs (GYHS), formerly known as the Friends of Gilroy Hot Springs. GYHS is a subgroup of the Pine Ridge Association, the nonprofit group that provides interpretive programs for Henry Coe State Park. GYHS' goals are to protect, preserve, and restore the site and its historic buildings, as well as to re-establish the landmark for public use.


The public can visit Gilroy Yamato Hot Springs when GYHS hold guided tours, which are usually the 2nd Saturday and 4th Sunday of the month. To ensure one is available, call GYHS at 408-314-7185 or send an email to info<at>gilroyyamatohotsprings<dot>org. 

By the way,  GYHS is seeking a campground host, with his or her own trailer or motor home, to live on the site. For more information, contact GYHS. 

Check out these websites to learn more about the Gilroy Yamato Hot Springs
• GYHS
• Gilroy Hot Springs History (The Valley of Hearts Delight)
• Gilroy Yamato Hot Springs (Wikipedia) 

For more of my photos and a bit more story about the Gilroy Yamato Hot Springs, please click here

The once-upon-a-time swimming pool


Sunday, October 11, 2015

The View from Ridgemark


In 2010, Ridgemark had a population of 3,016, according to the U.S. census. I had no idea that this private, gated community, a few miles south of Hollister, is a census-designated place until I read Wikipedia. Never too late to learn something.

See you tomorrow.

Wednesday, September 30, 2015

The Diablo Range from Highway 25


The other afternoon, while driving back from Bolado Park, I managed to get a clear shot at Santa Ana Mountain and Three Sisters.

See you tomorrow.

Sunday, September 27, 2015

Another View of Hollister


Yesterday afternoon while rocking out to the Moondance Band with friends in Dunne Park, I turned and saw this sight.  For a moment, I thought I was in a Swiss Alps village or some place like that.

That's the church on the corner of Monterey and Sixth street. The peak? Santa Ana Mountain.

See you tomorrow.

Friday, July 31, 2015

Diablo Mountains


That's the Diablo range to the east of Hollister. Doesn't it look like it's right behind the neighborhood? They're several miles away. By the way, that wall separates the neighborhood from Highway 25.

Sunday, July 19, 2015

A View from KT Road


It was a wonderful morning for a bicycle ride on Southside Road. Pedaled a bit down Thomas Road and came across a neat old wooden bridge near the intersection of Thomas and KT Roads.

Tuesday, July 14, 2015

Santa Ana Valley Road


Santa Ana Valley Road is a pleasant bicycle ride or drive, several miles east of Downtown Hollister. You can get there one of three ways.

The most direct route is to access it from the north by turning onto Santa Ana Valley Road from Fairview Road.

From the south, turn onto John Smith Road, and follow it all the way to the end. You have a choice of turning left or right onto Santa Ana Valley Road. Turn left and you pedal or drive through the valley floor.

The least direct route is from Tres Pinos. From Highway 25 (aka Airline Highway), turn onto Quien Sabe Road, across from Immaculate Conception Church. Simply follow the road, and at the end, turn left. Voila, you're on Santa Ana Valley Road.

Enjoy!

Saturday, June 27, 2015

Illusions in Santa Ana Valley


Doesn't it look like the mountain is fenced off? And, that the mountain is quite nearby? For that matter, are those really mountain peaks?

I'm on Santa Ana Valley Road looking up at the Diablo Range through a fence, on which the other side rows of corn are growing.

See you tomorrow.

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