Relax!

No. That's not an epitaph on a tombstone, although it would make a great one.  It's actually part of a sign on a building near the intersection of San Juan, Mitchell, and Union Roads. Yup. It's the restaurant called Relax! Grillin & Chillin Roadhouse.

Today I'm participating in Our World Tuesday. Please click here to read posts by bloggers from around the world.

Rural. Rustic. And, Red.

This gorgeous scene is from the intersection of Bolado and Southside Roads, just below Tres Pinos.

I'm hooking up with Mrs. Nesbitt's ABC Wednesday. Today's letter (I bet you guessed correctly) is R. To check out other R posts, please click here.

A Mellow Yellow Tractor

I saw this old guy on Southside Road. Notice the crank? I wouldn't mind having it standing in our front yard. I can already see it sporting many kinds of flowers.

Monday Mellow Yellows is where I am today. Click here to see what bloggers around the world are posting.

Beyond

 I was back up on Cienega Road, again, enjoying the sights.

Hanging out at The Weekend in Black and White. Come join me, by clicking here.

Up on Cienega Road

One of the advantages of pedaling a bike on our country roads is the ability to stop at the point where  you want to take a picture. Click, click, click. I took this photo on Cienega Road the other day.  Because of the drought, I was surprised and glad to see a bit of green and color on the hills.

I thought I'd go out of my comfort zone and "art" the photo up in Photoshop. That was a lot of fun to do.

Hooking up at Geometric Friday, hosted by LorikArt.

Watch Out for Deer

On Sunday afternoon, the Husband and I took an out-of-town friend on a drive down some of the country lanes in our county. On Comstock Road, we came across a bunch of deer hanging out at the end of the road. Interestingly, the three males standing on the road were separated from the four females by a wire fence. The females were grazing on the grass. It looked like the males were saying to them, "You've got it going on."

As we drove closer, two males ran across the street and up the hill, while the third jumped the fence and  nonchalantly walked pass the females. The ladies? They stood their ground, munching away at the grass as they kept an eye on us.

Today, I'm hooking up with Our World Tuesday. Click on the link to check out photos and posts from other parts of the world.

The View from Los Viboras Road

Los Viboras Road is another country lane off Fairview Road. Near the end of Los Viboras, the road is lined on both sides with old eucalyptus trees. And, it is from there, that I took this photo earlier this year. In the distance is the mountain called Three Sisters and Santa Ana Peak.

Willow Creek Road

Yesterday, I posted something about Old Hernandez Road. Today, you get a peek of the Diablo Range from Willow Creek Road.

To get to these roads, you turn onto the San Benito Lateral, a very short road off the east side of Highway 25, a few miles south of the Pinnacles National Park. At the fork of the lateral is the former town site of San Benito. Go right,  Old Hernandez Road. Go left, Willow Creek Road. Both roads come to a dead end, but they're still worth the jaunt if you like seeing awesome countryside and mountains. 

Once upon a time, the artist Thomas Kinkade owned property off of Willow Creek Road, which he called the Windemere Ranch. Want to see one of the paintings that Kinkade did of the area? Head over to this link to see the Windemere Ranch Sunset.

The Horse Statue on the Hill

The other day the Husband and I drove as far as we could on the north end of Old Hernandez Road in the southern part of San Benito County. It was the first time for both of us. We were very amazed at the beautiful topography along that windy road. The expanse of the valley floor and the diversity of the Diablo Range above it, from rugged jaggedness to sudden badlands to something in between.

One of the surprising sights was the statue of a horse on a hilltop. At first glance, I thought it was a rather huge horse standing still. Does anyone know anything about the statue?

Every weekend hundreds of off-road enthusiasts drive their trucks, carrying or hauling dirt bikes and ATVs up Cienega Road to the Hollister Hills State Vehicle Recreation Area. Individuals, families, and groups come from all over the state for fun-filled rrrrrroarrrrrring up and down the Gabilan slopes.

The park was originally the Harris Ranch, owned by Howard Harris. He built many of the trails for ranching, mining, recreation, and other purposes. For many years Harris operated a private motorcycle park. In 1975 he sold his property to the state and, in October of that year, the first state vehicle recreation area park was opened.

Blending into the Scenery

Don't you just love how the Hollister Hills SVRA painted their barn?

Cruising on Cienega Road

It's supposed to be in the 70s or 80s this weekend, according to the weather forecasters. Perfect weather for checking out how Spring is popping in the Pinnacles National Park or just taking a drive in the country. 

Caw. Caw. Caw. Caw.

Have you been hearing or seeing crows a lot lately?

I just read that crows like to roost in groups, particularly during the fall and winter.  I've often wondered why there are so many crows hanging out in the orchards around Enterprise and Southside Roads.

Sunset from San Felipe Road

I'm participating in Skywatch Friday today. Click here to see the photos of other participants.

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Looking for a 2014 calendar of San Benito County? How about a Su-sieee! Mac design? It's available at Zazzle.com. Click on the below to see it at Zazzle.

2014 San Benito County Landscapes Wall Calendar by SusieeeMac

The Back Roads of San Juan Valley

I think this was taken on either Lucy Brown Road or Bixby Road. But, then, it could've been Flint Road. This road look familiar to anyone?

Anyone else remember driving down those roads when the fields were mostly apple orchards?

More of Comstock Road

This photo is another shot from our drive on Comstock Road earlier this month. The road ends at the French Ranch, which I understand is one of largest ranches in San Benito County. The Indart family was the original owner of the property. The patriarch was Juan Indart, who migrated from France to California in the early 1850s. He eventually settled here in the 1880s. If you're interested to learn a little more about him, check out this link.

Meandering on Comstock Road

On Saturday, the Husband and I did the Shop Hop. How about you? Which shops did you check out?

We only visited a few participating businesses, two of which were first times for us. On our way to M&M Garden Mart, we missed the Spring Grove Road turn so ended at the next road which was Comstock Road. Instead of turning around immediately, we decided to meander its full length. That is, to drive until we hit a dead end. It was probably only a few miles more after the houses, but it surely seemed like forever. A nice forever of wandering.

© 2012 Su-sieee! Mac. All rights reserved. www.take25tohollister.com

Looking Up from John Smith Road

The husband and I finally are in decent enough shape. Yay! The other day we successfully pedaled our  cruiser bikes up Sunnyslope Road and over to Best Road, via  John Smith Road, then back home by way of Airline Highway. It was a short distance, between 6 and 8 miles,  but mostly uphill.  The satisfaction of being out in the open was well worth the huff and puff of it all.

Hmmm. I believe I have a new category of posts: bicycle rides.

Quien Sabe

Yesterday, the view was from Union Road. Today, the sweet view is looking up Quien Sabe Road from the North side.  Yep.

A View from Union Road

One of the sweetest views in San Benito County is from Union Road, just pass the intersection at Airline Highway (aka Highway 25). This is just a bit of that view.