MORGAN HILL AND JARDINES DE SAN JUAN

Leaving San Benito, we headed north through Hollister toward the Morgan Hill Thousand Trails Preserve but first we had to refuel at the Garlic Farms complex, including their Truck Stop, which had a really good price for diesel fuel. Unfortunately, we arrived just minutes after a U. S. Army military convoy of some ten trucks. These were five really big tank transporter flat beds and about five Humvee type vehicles. If you haven't been in any diesel truck stops, there were 14 pumps and numerous big rigs already there. The soldiers had taken over and were out directing traffic like a military operation, although they were very nice about it. Then when it was finally our turn, the stupid card reader wouldn't work and Fran had to go into the office with our PenFed card (and stand in line with half a dozen Army guys waiting to pay for their fuel). Since our motorhome will not fill quickly (just spits it back since the truck stops have high-speed nozzles), it took a while to fill. Then Fran's card wouldn't work, so I went into the office with my card and it wouldn't work either. I finally had to use another card which did work, but no 5% fuel discount as with our PenFed card. We still had to fill the PT Cruiser with high octane gasoline which was on the auto fuel side of the complex. About this time the PenFed fraud department called to ask if we really were using our card so far away from home and for hundreds of dollars, which of course we were. They have called previously to check, which I appreciate, as they are watching our account; but in this case, it was a real pain in the ...... (you know where). All in all, it was the worst refueling experience we have ever had.

We finally did get to the Preserve and a couple days later headed to San Juan Bautista for a luncheon, again with our friend Maxine Tibbs.
The Jardines (Gardens) de San Juan is our favorite restaurant in this area, serving excellent Mexican fare on a beautiful patio in their Spanish garden.

A beautiful sunny day brought out the vivid colors of the blooming plants, together with a vast array of succulants, many of which had a beautiful display of colorful flowers, not usually expected of cactus (cacti?).