Showing posts with label San Juan Valley. Show all posts
Showing posts with label San Juan Valley. Show all posts

Saturday, September 22, 2018

Saturday Errands in San Juan Bautista


Hellllooo! Yes, it has been a while. I am alive and well, thank you very much. Officially retired I am, so there you go. I've been catching up with the Husband who has been in every-day-is-a-Saturday mode for years.

This morning we actually got out of the house early to do errands in San Juan Bautista. First stop was the Pinnacle Farmstand in San Juan Valley for fresh locally grown organic vegetables and fruit. Only past 9:00 a.m., the place was already full of customers with potatoes, broccoli, beans, tomatoes, peppers, onions, lettuces, squashes, cantaloupes, apples, and other produce in their baskets and reusable bags. We're fortunate to have a source for organic vegetables and fruit in the area.

From the Saturday-only produce stand, we meandered the back roads to the Mission City. The further west we drove, the deeper we went into the morning fog. At Prescott Road, we turned left onto San Juan Highway to town while the fog veered to the right to head back to the coast.


It was a hard choice for breakfast: San Juan Bakery or Vertigo Coffee ? Vertigo Coffee or San Juan Bakery? The Husband let me choose, so sweet of him. 

Vertigo now serves delicious pastries, baked on the premises. The last time we were there, we had a peach scone with our mocha latte. Sigh, sweet delightfulness.

Because it had been awhile, I opted for the bakery where the Husband and I shared the last ham and cheese croissant that was in the display case We also split a raspberry and cream cheese croissant, and each had the perfect bite of an apple fritter doughnut hole. Droool. It's a good thing we don't live within walking distance to the bakery.


If I had remembered to wear my hiking boots we would've walked up the De Anza Trail for a bit. Instead we wandered a couple of blocks, peeked into store windows, and read signs about upcoming events. We also sat for a short spell on a comfy bench, enjoying the beautiful morning and saying hello to passersby.

Our last stop in San Juan was Vertigo Coffee where we purchased a bag of their roasted coffee beans, which comes with a free cup of coffee. Whooo-hooo!

See ya.


Friday, November 18, 2016

I Spy . . . Green Hills!


I spy with my little eye a band of sunlight on the flanks of the Gabilan Mountains.  That was this past Wednesday as the Husband and I drove east on Highway 156 through San Juan Valley. Notice how green the hillsides are becoming again. Whooo-hooo! 



Sunday, March 20, 2016

Spring!

Apple orchard on Duncan Road
Once upon a time, the back roads of San Juan Valley zigged and zagged among apple orchards. Imagine how the valley looked when the trees were full of blossoms.

Thursday, March 17, 2016

A Reflection of the Gabilans


I spied this reflection of the Gabilan Range while the Husband and I drove through the San Juan Valley after a very nice rainy day.

See you tomorrow.


Thursday, December 17, 2015

Sparkle, Sparkle in San Juan Valley


At first glance, it looked like a lake. After all we did have a good rain the previously day, but, it was merely the sun's reflection on plastic tarps.

See you tomorrow.

Monday, December 14, 2015

The Last of the Apples


Still a bit more fruit left in the organic apple orchard in San Juan Valley. No doubt they're crisp and yummy, with the natural refrigeration.

See you tomorrow. 

Sunday, December 13, 2015

A Birthday Mocha


Getting a mocha java at Vertigo Coffee is worth pedaling over 13 miles on a beach cruiser. That was my birthday gift to me. The mocha java. And, a ride through San Juan Valley.

If you'd like to read about my ride, click here to go to The View from the Top of the Ladder.  See ya tomorrow.


Tuesday, November 17, 2015

Day In, Day Out

San Juan Valley

Lots of very hard work go into farming and ranching every day. It doesn't matter whether temperatures are over 100 degrees or in the low 40s, nor whether it's windy, foggy, or raining.

Many thanks to the men and women who do the backbreaking work of growing, nurturing, and harvesting food for everyone!

San Juan Valley


Wednesday, October 7, 2015

See You Next Year!


Last Wednesday was the last day of the Downtown Hollister Farmers Market. Until next year, at least two places to find local, fresh fruits and vegetables are Bertuccio's–The Farm at the corner of Highway 25 and Union Road and the Pinnacles Farmstand in San Juan Valley on Saturday mornings.

Wednesday, May 20, 2015

San Juan Valley


This is a close up of farm tunnels in San Juan Valley. I took the photo from Mission San Juan Bautista. In the far distance are the Diablo Mountains.

Here's the original photo:


I'm participating in Nature Footstep's Digital Art Meme today. To check out other participants or to take part, please click here.


Sunday, December 21, 2014

Morning Breaking Over San Juan Valley


This view is of San Juan Valley, from Mission San Juan Bautista, looking to the east towards Hollister and the Diablo range. This is just before sunrise. The morning was overcast, but that didn't take away from the glory of the breaking of the day.

Today is the Winter Solstice. That means it's the shortest day -- and the longest night -- of the year, as the Earth travels around the sun.  Earth now begins its jig on its axis that causes us, in the Northern Hemisphere, to see the sun setting later each day until the Summer Solstice. The universe is amazing!

This morning the San Juan Intertribal Council held its 18th annual Winter Solstice Sunrise Ceremony at dawn in the mission to celebrate the day of Spirit Renewal. Listening to the songs, chants, and prayers as the light worked its way into the darkened church was uplifting to my soul.

Friday, December 19, 2014

Glory, Glory Hallelujah!


"Wow, oh, wow, oh wow!" Thankfully Byxbee Road was up ahead. I turned the corner and came to a stop. Who wouldn't want to take a photo if she could, right?

To see a close-up of the mist rising from those fields in San Juan Valley, click here.

Today is Skywatch Friday. Click here to check out the sky in other parts of the world.

Wednesday, December 17, 2014

Rising Mist in San Juan Valley


It's Wordless Wednesday. Click here to check out other posts with me.

Sunday, December 7, 2014

The Historic Path Below Old Mission San Juan Bautista


Below Old Mission San Juan Bautista is a short and easy walking path that overlooks the San Andreas Fault. We've been having some good rocking and rolling lately, by the way. Small healthy earthquakes in the threes and fours on the Richter magnitude scale to ease the tension of the fault. So, I hope.


Okay, back to the path which is actually a segment of the original El Camino Real that ran between the 21 California missions, from San Diego to Sonoma. You can access the path either by the stairs next to the mission or from the south at the end of Franklin Street. The path swings behind the mission and up to First Street by Casa Maria. Unfortunately, you are only allowed to walk part way on the path.

It's worth the venture, considering that you'd be briefly walking on the historic El Camino Real alongside the amazing San Andreas Fault as well as seeing some gorgeous views of San Juan Valley.



Sunday, November 16, 2014

One of a Kind


Rather unique tomato, don't you think?  I wonder if it was the butt of all jokes among its peers.

These organic tomatoes waited patiently to be bought at the Pinnacle Organic Saturday Farmstand.


Saturday, September 20, 2014

Gears Make the World Go Round



Where would farm machinery be without gears?

I took this photo a while back at Pinnacle Farm in San Juan Valley when we were purchasing some yummy organic produce at the farmstand. It's open every Saturday, from 9 AM to 1 PM. A great place to go locally when the Hollister Farmers Market closes this coming Wednesday.

The Weekend in Black and White—that's where I am today. Come join me by clicking here.

Friday, June 13, 2014

The View through a Cemetery Gate


This is a view of San Juan Valley through the cemetery gate on the east side of Mission San Juan Bautista. More than 4,000 Native Americans and Spanish settlers and priests are buried in the mission cemetery.

Tuesday, May 20, 2014

A Fleeting Moment


Do you recognize this section of Highway 156, between Hollister and San Juan Bautista? It's on the south side of the highway, near the turn off to Mission Vineyard Road.

Whenever I see this clump of trees, I think I'm somewhere like Lake Tahoe. Of course, the moment passes when the vegetable fields come into view. How about you: Are you momentarily transported to another place when you see a certain view in San Benito County?


Friday, February 21, 2014

Sunday, February 9, 2014

Fields of Cauliflower


Roasted cauliflower anyone?

If you've driven Highway 156 to or from San Juan Bautista recently, you may have noticed the beds of white on the south side of the highway.


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