A Sunday at the Pinnacles National Park

We are so fortunate to have a national park in our backyard. The Husband and I met up with friends last Sunday at the Pinnacles National Park. The east side, of course. By 10 a.m., the parking lot at the Bear Gulch Nature Center was full, so we took the free shuttle from the Visitor's Center. Too bad, there isn't a shuttle or a bus from Hollister. It would be a great way to enjoy the gorgeous scenery to and from the park.

Here are a few photos of Pinnacles National Park from our hike. Enjoy!

V is for. . .

Veterans!

Veterans Memorial Building

Veterans Day Parade

Veterans' Mural

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U is for. . .

Utility boxes.

Last December, the City of Hollister funded a project to paint murals on five plain utility boxes throughout Downtown Hollister. The murals, painted by Joel Esqueda and Rolan Resendiz, local artists, depict various cultural aspects of Hollister and San Benito County.

The mural on the utility box at the northwest corner of South and San Benito Streets celebrates cowboys and the annual rodeo.

At the northwest corner of North and San Felipe Streets is another utility box with a colorful mural. It honors the Ballet Folklorico, a traditional Mexican dance performed at local festivities.

On this utility box is a poem by local award-winning poet Rachelle Linda Escamilla. It reads:

"Our hands, like water, 

shape the land. 

Our bodies split 

the grassland; 

this valley 

a labor of love."

~ Rachelle Escamilla 

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T is for. . .

Tractors. Vintage ones, too.

The tractors on this page can be seen around the grounds of Casa de Fruta, a roadside orchard resort several miles northeast of Downtown Hollister. Along with having an amazing display of old-time tractors and other farm equipment, Casa de Fruta has a great produce stand, wine tasting, restaurant, carousel, mini-train, and more.

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S is for. . .

The former home of John and Almira Steinbeck on Monterey Street

The Steinbecks. 

John and Almira Steinbeck, to be precise. They were the grandparents of author John Steinbeck, who was born in Salinas and lived there until he graduated from Stanford. 

John and Almira Steinbeck were originally from Prussia. They first moved to Palestine before migrating to the United States. They settled in Hollister around 1874. They owned a dairy on  Line Street, which back then was in the country. When they retired from farming, they moved into town, purchasing a house on Monterey Street. 

As a child, John Steinbeck and his family, from what I understand, visited their grandparents in Hollister by driving a surrey over the Gabilan foothills via the Old Stage Coach Road. Part of the road is known today as the Anza Trail. Something to think about the next time you hike that trail. 

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