It is the year of the snake, and the hibernating Gators have
had the worst losing streak since 1979. Trivia: Did you know that a Gator can
wag his tail like a dog?
Of the 4 million sports car enthusiasts that use their rides
to get away from it all and change their focus from everyday problems to “the
challenge of a mountain road”, California Highway 25 is a well-kept secret only
shared by a few. When I was on it a few weeks ago, I only met one car on my
2-hour excursion near Hollister, CA.
Now, the saggers in high school all wear sweatshirts with
HOLLISTER on the sleeve. When asked what “HOLLISTER” means, they say it’s just
a brand. HOLLISTER is a real place, and you will find the start of Hwy. 25
downtown.
The Hollister hills are a study of geological phenomena. On
one side of the highway are rolling hills, and the other is mountainous sheers.
In the hills you will occasionally see a farmhouse in a crease.
Highway 25 is a work of art, built right on the San Andreas Fault line, so if you are afraid of earthquakes, “don’t even think about it.”
There are spots on the road you can go 100 MPH (not legally), and scare the
crap out of yourself. In the beginning, about 15 miles out of Hollister is the
coolest mom & pop restaurant that serves fantastic soup and crab crepes.
Halfway through this “stairway to heaven”, there is a
turn-off called Peachtree Road. This is a desolate, two-lane road that narrows
down to one lane and makes you believe that you are at the ends of the earth.
If you are afraid of blind curves, “don’t even think about it.” This is truly a
“stoner” road, with absolutely no danger of cops. If you want to get further
adventurous, take the Indian Valley Road. Don’t break down because the imminent
Indian attack is still prevalent.
Since all roads lead to I-5, keep on going and you will find
your way home, wagging your Gator tail behind you. So good luck, be careful,
and enjoy.
The spirit of the road,
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