Spending Time in Gilroy, California

After visiting Yosemite National Park we picked a spot close to San Juan Bautista, where we will be joining the SoCal Alpine group tomorrow. 
And it just so happens that there is an Elks Lodge close by right here in Gilroy, the Garlic Capital of the World. The lodge is next to a golf course high on a hill, and is also a venue for weddings and banquets. There are 8 sites with water and electric hookups and although we were warned that the RV lot fills up quickly, there are only five of us here. One morning I noticed rather large birds strutting across the parking lot. They were wild turkeys that live around here. They didn't seem at all concerned about us. I wonder if they realize that Thanksgiving is approaching!

With rain in the forecast, it was a good time to catch up on blog posts, do some shopping and house work, and finish a few baby sewing projects that need to be completed before we fly off to meet our grandson in December. 

burp pads, bibs, and blankets to welcome our grandson

There is a song about California and rain. It goes something like this: 
Seems it never rains in southern California
Seems I've often heard that kind of talk before
It never rains in California
But girl don't they warn ya
It pours, man it pours....
And man did it pour! We thought we were still in rainy Seattle when the heavens let loose a couple of times, once solidly through the night, and once a few days later during the morning. The rest of the time, sprinkles landed softly for a few minutes off and on, but not enough to stop us from doing anything outside.

Ray, their friend Kate, Leda and Michael 

After we arrived in Gilroy, we realized that our Alpine buddies, the Wynns, live close by, so we spent a couple of great days with them. Had dinner with them in their lovely home one evening, and did some wine tasting the following day at Sarah's Winery on a pleasant sunny afternoon after the rain passed. Gilroy's claim to fame may be its extensive garlic production, but vineyards are stiff competition it seems, and there are many boutique wineries scattered around the greater area. Sarah's was fun, and even I, who am not much of a partaker of alcohol in general, swirled the vino, breathed in the bouquet, and tasted the wines being offered that day. 

along a trail among the redwoods

On another cloudy but rain-free day, we went exploring the trails in Mount Madonna County Park. 
It's described as "one of the most majestic of Santa Clara County's regional parks and recreation areas." I can see why.
Most of the park is redwood forest and most of the trails wind through these tall trees. 

Perched high on a hill, the views from the park overlook the Santa Clara valley to the east, and Monterey Bay to the west. 

clouds hanging over Monterey Bay to the west

We followed the road up to the top and looked down into the Santa Clara Valley. 

Santa Clara Valley

We also drove through one of the many campgrounds and noticed that a large motorhome was parked in a site. The road leading up to the park is quite narrow and very winding yet this RV had managed to make it up there. 

Tomorrow we drive the short distance to San Juan Bautista where we will stay for a week, having more fun with our Alpine friends. There will be 27 coaches at the rally. And as we have come to learn, it will be a lot of fun, with socializing, eating, happy hours, and a field trip to Monterey. It's Senior Camp at its very best;)