Archive for September, 2007
San Jose to Oakhurst, CA
We left at 8.30 am and the temperature was 65 degrees. Our route – 101, 152, 99, 145, 41
We encountered more traffic than we are used to but we left two and half hours later than normal so that is understandable.
As soon as we hit the start of the two lane section on 152 the traffic slowed right down and we could see a stopped traffic ahead. We thought our worst fears had been realised and that it would be stop/go all the way to the 152/156 interchange. Two police cars, sirens blaring, sped past. Fortunately the hold up was only 100 yards ahead so we were able to pick up speed and traveled at 55 all the way to Casa de Fruita – apart, or course, for the 40 limit through the road works.
Last week, when we traveled this part of the route to Fresno, there were no fruit stands open but today The Fruit Market just before Case de Fuita was open for business.
Just past Casa de Fruita the helicopters were gone and the mustering center was no more. The fire up at Henry Coe State Park was 100% contained last Tuesday though the fire continues to burn. There were over 868 personnel involved in putting out the fire and over 47,00 acres were burned.
I swear the level of the San Luis Reservoir is lower than last week or, should I say, the islands look bigger. We we drove downhill into the Central Valley the view was clearer than last week, obviously due to the fire.
We stopped in for a coffee at Starbucks in Los Banos. It was crowded and it took ages for get served. There were a lot of young cheer leaders in line. Tom just has black coffee but I had a cafe latte. After waiting for some time for my drink, I noticed that one cup had been waiting to be collected for some time. I checked the name written on the side and it said ‘Markum’. I asked everybody waiting for their drinks if their name was Markham and all said no, so I assumed they had misheard my name. We sat outside in the sun reading the New York Times for an hour. Well, we sat in the sun for 20 minutes and then moved into the shade because it was getting too hot. A quick visit to the restroom and at 11 we were back on our way again.
As we approached 99, the Sierras could be seen indistinctly in the distance. We passed a road named 15 3/4. Would you fancy that as your address?
At Madera we turned left on Cleveland. It was signposted Yosemite. As we drove through a residential area there were a lot of yard sales going on. Them hills are gettn’ closer.
Leaving Madera behind us, we entered farming country. We passed huge ranches on our right owned by Agri World with orchards on each side of the entry gates. We notice fig trees to our left. The Sierra foothills are looking up with the main peaks of the Sierras rising behind them. All the grass is short and brown, sorry ‘gold’ but there were few animals.
We turned left onto Highway 41 and the grass is beginning to disappear and the gound is becoming more rugged. Now we are into the foothills and there are lots of rocks and trees. Elevation 1,000′.
We stopped in Coarsegold to stretch our legs. Coarsegold is an old mining town and they have a historic village with a wigwam outside. We bought ice cream at Rose’s Frosty and sat outside to eat them. While we sat there several old Fords passed.
Entered Oakhurst at 1.15. We overtook all the old Fords struggling up the hill. Although the check in time was 3, we were able to get into our room at the Best Western Yosemite Gateway Inn. Right outside our room is a nicely restored Model A. We drooled over it for a few moments.
The reason we have come to Oakhurst on this particular day is to attend one of Tom’s class reunions. It is up at Bass Lake this afternoon. After a quick freshen up we set off on the seven mile trip to the lake. Tom used to ‘hang out’ here in his youth. The reunion was held at the Pines Resort which is right on the lake. As we were early we went for a drink at Ducey’s Lodge and sat out on the patio to enjoy not only the drink but the view. It was pretty spectacular. Lots of power boats out on the lake and the weather was perfect. We drunk in the view for an hour until we make out way to where the party was being held.
At first there were not many people there but soon the place began to fill up. Tom recognized some people but lots of them he didn’t know at all. This was my first all American class reunion and it was fun. Most people were very friendly and, as to be expected, there were a few characters. There was food, which we enjoyed, and a no host bar. Later on there was birthday cake and dancing. We didn’t stay til the end as we have an early start tomorrow, so at 7.30 we made our way back to the hotel for an early night.
September 16 2007 | Further Afield | 1 Comment »
Tom’s Dad and step mom live in Fresno and we love to go and visit them several times a year. We always leave early in the morning and stop off for breakfast in Gilroy and today was no exception.
The first part of the journey is south on 101 and at 6 in the morning there is very little traffic around. It was just beginning to get light but it was smoggy, probably due to the fire up near the Henry W Coe State Park just east of Morgan Hill. It was been raging since Tuesday and on our journey today we saw lots of activity in connection with the fire fighting efforts.
From Gilroy we took 152 east towards Pacheco Pass. Gilroy is the ‘Garlic Capital of the World’ and the pungent smell of garlic is strong today. Over the last few years we have noticed how much this part of Gilroy has been built up. Each time we pass there seems to be a new retail establishment. Just past the Gilroy Foods and the source of the garlicky aroma the road becomes a two lane highway and soon the town is behind us and the scenery becomes rural.
The first fruit stands appear but at this time of the day they are all closed. We pass two wineries on our left, Mistral and San Ysidro, but I don’t think either produce their own wine or have tasting rooms. Then we pass small farms with cattle, goats and horses grazing and soon we are into the foothills. On the right we pass a large lake but rarely do we see many wildfowl on it. One of the farms has put up a large, hand painted sign which says ‘Thank You Firefighters’.
The first signs of roadworks appear. It looks like 152 is to be widened to four lanes and work on the 152/156 interchange has started which should reduce the notorious bottleneck at that particular junction. Just about here the highway opens up to four lanes and as we start to climb an extra lane is added.
Casa de Fruta is on our right. We used to stop for breakfast there but became disenchanted with the food in the restaurant. Tom remembers the greeter who flipped coffee cups but those glory days have passed. There are many attractions there though ranging from a childrens’ zoo, an interesting display of fruit, vegetables, nuts, etc for sale, a wine store, camping, motel, gas station, RV Park plus much more. At the moment they are holding a Renaissance Fair which runs until October 14.
Just past Casa de Fruita on the left is a mustering center for fire fighting effort with an assortment of helicopters waiting to get to work.
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September 12 2007 | Special Places | No Comments »
395 Leavesley Road, Gilroy, CA 95020. Tel 408 842 9901.
Click here for their web site.
Tom and I stop here every time we take a trip to Fresno. We leave home at about 6 and rollup just as they open at 6.30 am. It’s easy to find. Just take Leavesley Road west from 101 and there it is just two blocks down.
Although it’s a chain and the usual layout of booths around the outside and tables and chairs in the middle plus chairs up at the counter, it has a lot of differences. The bear theme is used throughout from the carved bears outside to the bear claws for sale at the til. There is also a retail section selling mugs, T-shirts and cuddly bears.
The servers are efficient and friendly. The menu is printed to look like a newspaper with articles from the Gilroy Evening Dispatch on the front and back and the menu in the middle. Today the stories were all from 1958. The main story featured Alaska becoming the 49th state. There was an advert on the front page for a brand new Studebaker with a starting price of $1,795 and a classified ad on the back for a three bedroomed, house with one and a half bath bathrooms for $14,500. Ah, those were the days! Every time we go the stories are different.
Tom ordered Joe’s Bear Scramble for $8.49 and I had my usual oatmeal which was $3.99. Coffee of $1.99 with lots of refills.
Normally at that time of the day it is very quiet but today there were a few firemen in, obviously snatching a quick bite to eat before they returned to fighting the fire up at Henry W. Coe State Park, which has been raging for a several days.
In no time at all our meals were served. My oatmeal came in a small deep bowl on an oval plate. They both had the same black and white pattern around the rim. It came with brown sugar and raisins in small plastic pots and milk in a tiny glass jug. A twisted orange slice on top of what looked like a leaf of curly kale was used for decoration. The cinnamon flavored oatmeal filled the bowl and was delicious. Tom enjoyed his scramble as well.
Adorning the walls were many old photos of Gilroy, sports posters and photos and, of course, prints of bears. Old hits of the sixties were being played (quite loudly I should add) on an old juke box. For the first time I went up to have a look at the juke box and discovered that you can actually choose what to play from a huge selection and all for free.
The bear theme extends to the restrooms or, should I say, Maws and Paws. Loved the picture in Maws. It was of a mother bear standing up with just the heads of her three cubs appearing out of the fog. There were two stalls, one with mother and baby changing facilities. The facilities were rather basic but clean. The water was hot. Two paper dispensers, one motion activated. The used paper towels were deposited into a hole between the sinks which made the place look a whole lot tidier.
We can recommend the Black Diner in Gilroy as a good breakfast stop. As there are 36 other locations in California, Washington, Oregon, Colorado, Arizona and Nevada, we will have to watch out for them on our road trip.
September 09 2007 | Breakfast Log | 2 Comments »
Tom and I are beginning the countdown to our first ever, two week, road trip.
We leave on Saturday, September 15, with the first stop at Bass Lake, which is in the Sierras, 50 or so miles northeast of Fresno. The next day we drive to Death Valley, where we will spend two days. Then it’s on to northern Arizona, southern Utah and points north. No real schedules just going where we fancy and staying longer if we like it.
If you have any suggestions we’d love to hear from you.
Stay tuned. More to come……
September 04 2007 | Further Afield | No Comments »
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