100 Things I Like: Lights and Shadows at Sunset

That glowing stop sign? It's reflecting the sun's light as it begins to set over the hills. You're looking at the southwest corner of the intersection at Shore Road and San Felipe Road, also known as Dunnville Corners.

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100 Things I Like: Big Rig Trucks

Driving north on Bolsa Road, aka Highway 25, just before Shore Road.

When I was a kid, I lived on Hillcrest Road near the Catholic cemetery. Late at night after most of the world had gone to sleep and I lay in bed waiting for sleep to find its way to me, I occasionally heard big rigs  shifting their gears as they gained speed to somewhere along Fairview Road. Always wondered where they were heading.

Just did a quick search on trucking companies in Hollister. Still are quite a lot around.

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100 Things I Like: Swank Farms

If you're heading south on San Felipe Road, just look for this sign
that points to the Swank Produce Stand.

If you shop at farmers markets in the Monterey, San Jose, or San Francisco areas, you've probably stopped by the Swank Farms booth. It's the one with the delicious heirloom tomato salsa. The owners, Dick and Bonnie Swank, also have a produce stand next to the Hollister Airport. It's one of my sources for fresh eggs, which come straight from the hens on the grounds.

The Swanks have made visiting the produce stand a family fun adventure, with a farm corral, pedal carts, gigantic jumping pillow, mining sluice, and other activities. And, every fall, the Swanks create an elaborate corn maze and haunted ranch that lasts until October 31. 

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100 Things I Like: Pedaling About

I'm pedaling east on McCloskey Road.
Slowly, but surely.

Hollister is a great place to ride your bicycle. You can go up and down hills as far away as you want. Or, just pedal into and around town to do errands. The husband and I like to do both. We haven't done much lately, and I miss it.

If you're into cycling, check out the Condor Classic on October 22. There are several rides, from 10 miles to 100 miles, starting from San Benito High School. This is its third year.

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100 Things I Like: The Gnarly Trees of SJB

Pepper trees. That's what those huge gnarly trees around San Juan Bautista are.  I like gazing at them because I like to find faces in the gnarls. There are at least two faces in that tree above.

There used to a few 150 year old pepper trees  around the San Juan Bautista State Historic Park. The trees were diseased, so they got chopped. Left are just the stumps.   For more about those historic trees, check out this story by Adam Breen that was published in The Pinnacle.

The next time you're in the second largest city of San Benito County, and have the time, take a walk around town to gaze at the gnarly trees yourself. Until then, you can see a few more here.

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