Californio
Central California is still mostly farm country with gently rolling hills spattered with black oak trees and the occasional cow.
We drove south from San Juan Bautista, one of the old mission townes dating from the Californio days before America collected California from Spanish Mexico. .
The old mission sits right on the San Andreas Fault and has somehow survived since its founding in 1797. The town around it retains the flavor of the times...
These guys still hang out on the town's streets. This was the "cock of the walk". I named him The Rooster Donald...
A memorial from the town cemetery ...
Heading south on Route 25 during a green and rainy winter...
I love the gigantic California Oaks...
Route 25 is also known as the Airline Highway. Contrails are ubiquitous...
We drove it early in the morning just as the sun was coming up...
Along the way is the Pinnacles National Park...
Early light...
From there we head south to Lone Pine, Mount Whitney and Death Valley. They'll show up in the next post.
Until then, thanks for looking, as always.