Yipee! Rain means it’s officially fall
It could hardly be called news, but it rained last weekend.
Irrespective of what the calendar says, I can’t reconcile myself
to calling it autumn until after the first rains visit San Benito
County. Thanks to our Mediterranean climate, the season’s first
rains usually come after a five-month drought.
Yipee! Rain means it’s officially fall
It could hardly be called news, but it rained last weekend.
Irrespective of what the calendar says, I can’t reconcile myself to calling it autumn until after the first rains visit San Benito County. Thanks to our Mediterranean climate, the season’s first rains usually come after a five-month drought.
So it was on Saturday. I was the guy on a bicycle near Paicines, grinning like an idiot as the rain came down.
I love the change in seasons, the smells that rise from the earth after a good shower. Flower bulbs are pushing their way through the soil in our garden. A good crop of garlic is on its way. White-crowned sparrows, the little brown guys with the black and white striped caps are back in the garden, returning one of my favorite songs to the landscape.
I stopped at the Paicines Reservoir, a shallow impoundment just off Airline Highway south of the Paicines General Store. The county water district gravels a large pullout area so it’s possible to visit in all weather.
The reservoir is low now, but it held enough water last Saturday to have attracted large rafts of waterfowl. A great egret napped at the water’s edge.
Across the lake, a bald eagle surveyed the scene. Finally, a coyote trotted along the lakeshore, all the while keeping an eye out for me.
Combining some casual wildlife watching with a bike ride is a favorite pastime of mine. Occasionally, I’ll try to log one new species for every mile covered. That’s ridiculously easy for first few miles. Once an outing crosses the 25-mile mark, things begin to get a little tougher.
Saturday’s outing did not contain any great surprises, but a flock of western bluebirds was worth a stop, just to admire their iridescent blue backs. A yellow-billed magpie merited a chuckle for its raucous carrying on.
The magpies found in San Benito are found only in Central California.
Because they’re associated with the oak savanna that characterizes much of San Benito County, I think of them as our very own signature species.
I won’t be riding this Saturday, Oct. 11, but a few other people will. The Condor Classic makes its first appearance this week. By Monday, more than 350 riders were signed up to leave from San Juan Oaks Golf Resort on one of four rides showcasing some of San Benito County’s most beautiful country.
If you happen across any groups of brightly dressed riders think about how many of them will be experiencing the landscape we too often take for granted for the first time.
Two of the four rides go as far south as Pinnacles National Monument. That’s appropriate, not just because the park is celebrating its centennial but also because the ride benefits the Pinnacles Partnership, a nonprofit dedicated to promoting the park and its mission.
Rides range from about 20 miles to as long as 100 miles. Now would not be too soon to begin training for one of next year’s rides. Further information can be found online at www.condorclassic.com.
