View from Old Stagecoach Road

Looking down the trail on the San Juan Bautista side. As you can tell it was
a beautiful day. Late afternoon. Few hikers. One bicyclist heading down.
Three equestrians heading up.

Taking Old Stagecoach Road was one of the ways that people could get between San Juan Bautista and Salinas. Today, the three mile stretch from San Juan Bautista to the Salinas side is now known as the Juan Bautista de Anza National Historic Trail.

It's a wonderful hike. A bit (okay a lot) strenuous if you aren't used to walking steadily uphill for more than a mile. It's about another mile to the crest, although that climb isn't so harsh. Now, if you're in awesome shape, the hike up and down is nothing. Me, ouch, my aching knees on the way down. All worth it.

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.

Looking Up: Mission San Juan Bautista

Up there on the cliff is Mission San Juan Bautista.  I took this photo from the original El Camino Real, which ran from Mission San Diego to Mission Sonoma. If I understood what I read, several feet below where I stood runs the San Andreas Fault. I am amazed that the mission has stayed up all these 200 years.

Do you see what looks like green benches below the fence? I was told that they are remnants of the bleachers for the once-upon-a-time annual San Juan Bautista Rodeo.

The Corner of Monterey and Fifth Streets

I did not realize that the San Benito County Administration Building and its setting are quite gorgeous until I saw the scene from this angle. Guess it's true what they say about not being able to see the forest for the trees.

Coming Up: An Afternoon of White Elephants and Champagne

On Friday, March 16, 2012, the White Elephant Silent Auction and Champagne Tea will take place at the San Juan Oaks Golf Club, from 1:30 to 4:30 p.m. This annual fundraiser is sponsored by the Women's Club of Hollister and the  Friends of the San Benito County Free Library. It benefits both the Women's Club Girls' Scholarship and the Friends' Book Fund.

The cost is $30 per person, which includes a light buffet with champagne, tea, and coffee. And, of course, a chance to buy some interesting items.  If you donate an item for the White Elephant Auction, you will receive a free raffle ticket.

For more information or to purchase tickets, check out the flyer below.

Please click on the image for a larger version.