Looking Down Swope Alley

Swope Alley is a unique street in Downtown Hollister. Between West and San Benito Streets, the alley runs east to west (or west to east depending on your point of view). Nothing strange about that.

But, on the other side of of San Benito Street, Swope Alley runs behind the storefronts. It goes from north to south (or south to north) between Seventh and South Streets. That's what you're seeing in the photo.

Interesting, huh? I wonder what the story is about Swope Alley

Friday Morning in Downtown Hollister

Another Hollister moment to love. Need I say more.

Irrigation Pipes

I have a soft spot for irrigation pipes. Sounds weird, I know. But, they were a part of my childhood. The Daddy worked for various farmers in San Benito County as an irrigator. Between the ages of four and eight, he and the fields were my babysitter.

One of my memories is of playing next to the large irrigation pipes from which water rushed down vegetable rows from the small open gates in the pipes. I made sure to see where the Daddy was as he worked his way across the field to the other end. When the water reached the end of a row, Daddy held his shovel high above the row. My job then was to shut the water gate for that row. Looking back, it was one of the best jobs I've had.

By the way, this scene is on Union Road, near Ladd Elementary School.

Dark Clouds, But No Rain

We've been having strange weather. High temperatures with humidity, which you'd think would break into rain. Nope.  Dark clouds passing through, which, again, you'd think would result in rain. Ha!

We can only hope that some of this weather may give us a surprise summer rain.

The Masonic Lodge Clock Tower

I think it's time for another view of our famous timepiece in Downtown Hollister.

Until tomorrow. Tick, tock. Tick, tock. . . .

Looking Up from San Benito Street

This is an interestingly quirky, but pretty, view, don't you think? I'm standing near Wentz Alley, across from the biker mural. If you look at the right hand bottom corner of the photo, you can see a tiny bit of the mural.

The View from Seventh & West Streets

The Gabilan Range stands to the south and west of Hollister. When I'm downtown, I don't think of it being there because of the trees and the buildings being in the way. Then all of a sudden I get a peek of the mountains. Wow!

A Different View of Downtown Hollister

Just when I think I've photographed everything under the sun in downtown Hollister, I see this view. Don't you think that if the banner wasn't there, the photo could be of somewhere in Southern California? 

By the way, that's the tower of the Porter House on Monterey and Sixth Streets.

D is for . . .

Looking North on San Benito Street

Drag. As in the main drag.

In Hollister, that's the main street which is called San Benito Street. I was an adult before it dawned on me that the main street in Downtown Hollister was not called Main Street.

Looking south on San Benito Street

D is also for dragging. As in cruising the main drag.

Remember the movie American Graffiti? Teenagers in a small town dragged the main street all night long in their cars or their parents' cars. That was Hollister way back when. After school and on weekends, teenagers slowly dragged the main street from one end to the other, and back again. I recall a guy sitting in a nice comfy chair on a corner of the main street, as if he was king of all the cruisers.

Today, Hollister's main drag gets closed for the Farmers Market every Wednesday afternoon, between May and September.

In July, it's shut down for the Hollister Motorcycle Rally around July 4th, and then again for the Downtown Hollister Street Festival and Car Show later in the month.

And, let me not forget that the street also closes for the various annual parades that take place throughout the year, such as the San Benito County Saddle Horse Show & Rodeo Parade, Veterans Day Parade, and Lights on Celebration Parade.

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An Elephant of a Branch

The magnolia tree (at least that's what I think it is) in the center of O'Neill Drive is humongous. But, I had no idea its branches were so thick and enormous. I wonder when the tree was planted.

Magnolia trees are native to Southeastern United States and can grow up to 100 feet tall. California doesn't have the rainfall that the South does, so the heartiest trees in the right conditions may reach 80 feet tall.

Click here to see a full shot of the evergreen tree on O'Neill Drive, which I took last March.

The Small Town Feel and Comfort

I just love it! This is looking south on College Street from the Ding-a-ling Cafe during breakfast. That cafe has some of the best salsa around. I like spreading it on my pancakes, followed by syrup. Yummmmm!

Rain Art

Last week, the rain created a pretty good size puddle at the corner of Fifth and Monterey. The puddle offered a cool reflection of a tree from across the street, as well as cool patterns from the rain. Do you see the face, by the way?

A Late Afternoon Flight Around Downtown Hollister

Today is Wordless Wednesday.

Autumnal Mellow Yellows

Yellow leaves in the Fall. Of course, lots of them on the ground with red and orange leaves. But, yellow flowers in Autumn? Of course not. They pop up in Spring and Summer.

Wrong! Yellow daisies and yellow daylilies greeted me as I walked around the perimeter of the Sunnyslope Medical Center yesterday.

Today is Monday Mellow Yellows. That's where I'll be, checking out other posts featuring the color yellow. Click here to join me.

Heading Home on Fourth Street

Fourth Street Bridge

I like it when the Husband drives because I can take photos out the car windows. And, that's what I did a week ago Saturday, as we drove back into Hollister via Fourth Street. Enjoy the sights.

Mi Ranchito Market

Gateway Palms Apartments

Lupita's Supermarket

Coming into central Downtown Hollister

Today's meme is Sundays in My City, hosted by Unknown Mami. And, that's where I'm heading. Come join me by clicking here.

Huge, Old Gorgeous Trees

The trees in front of the old Hazel Hawkins Hospital are sooooo big, I couldn't fit them in the photo. Well, I could've stepped back a couple more feet or put the camera setting on panorama. Maybe next time the Husband and I walk this way on Monterey Street in historical downtown Hollister.

We have no idea what kind of trees they are. The Husband thinks they're more than a 100 years old. Perhaps they were planted at the same time the former hospital was built, which would've been around 1907.

Today is Our World Tuesday. Come check out what other bloggers around the world are posting by clicking here.  See you tomorrow.

A Reflection of Downtown Hollister

Here's what a weekday afternoon in Downtown Hollister looked like recently. I took this reflection in the window of the recently opened Hooligans Skate Shop at 535 San Benito Street.

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Rumbling Through Town

I haven't seen too many big trucks rumbling through town since the Highway 25 bypass was built a few years ago.  So, this orange dude of a truck caught my eye as it rumbled through the intersection. I managed to get a shot before it got too far out of range.

I'm hanging out at Our World Tuesday. Click here to check out bloggers from other parts of the U.S. and the world.

Sidewalk Signs in Downtown Hollister

Sandwich board signs in front of stores are rather quaint and personable. I saw quite a few of them when I was strolling through town the other day. I think the cutest of all the signs I saw was the one for Irma's Fashions. 

Until recently the City of Hollister prohibited the sidewalk signs. Don't know why, but I'm glad they decided to let businesses put out their signs again. Not only for the quaintness they bring to downtown Hollister, but also the business they bring to the shops and restaurants when customers suddenly pop in because they saw the signs.

A San Benito Street Reflection

As I passed by the  Best of Times Cafe the other morning, I couldn't help but stop to take a photo of the reflection in the restaurant's window.  Wouldn't you?

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