On Highway 101, just south of the 156/San Juan Bautista/Hollister exit (entrance), you drive through a small eucalyptus forest. The trees are descendants of seedlings that were first planted by a farmer in 1912. Click here for an interesting tale about how these Australian trees took hold in California.
If you've ever seen the movie Vertigo by Hitchcock, you may remember a scene in which Jimmy Stewart and Kim Novak are driving through this eucalyptus grove. They're driving south from San Francisco to San Juan Bautista. In real life, that would mean they missed the exit to San Juan.
For more 100 Things I Like About Living in Hollister, click on that link.
Ah yes, I know that grove well. Everytime I would drive through a similar, though longer, eucalyptus grove in Los Osos I would be reminded of the drive from San Juan Bautista to Salinas, a trip I made many times
ReplyDeleteHi Suzie -- Hey I love that eucalyptus grove too. There's one in Carmel Valley I took a photo of but it didn't turn out as well as yours. Love those trees.
ReplyDeleteChuck, there's something quite magical about that grove, both coming and going.
ReplyDeleteL.D., thanks. :-)
eucalyptus trees have a large, lasting presence.
ReplyDeleteLiving on the opposite side of the USA, I only get to drive through that grove on rare occasions, but it always stands out in my memory. I hope it will never be cut down!
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