A loop route from Hollister to the Salinas Valley and back, taking in some dirt roads. The route first goes to San Juan Bautista, and rhen over the Anza trail, a State Historic trail that was the original road over the hills from San Juan Bautista to Salinas. The trail is open to hikers, cyclists and equestrians. While in San Juan, check out the old Mission, built in 1779. There are restrooms in San Juan, as well as a feocery and cafes. The Anza trail is 4 miles long and climbs over the hill between San Juan and Salinas. The climb out of San Juan is 2.7 miles. it is steep to stsrt with, but eases off and levels out once at the top of the ridge. the descent from the top is 1.5 miles of wide trail, it is rocky with loose gravel at the top and turns to dirt half way down. once on the other side it is a flat 23 mile ride up the Salinas Valley to Gloria Road, just past Gonzales. cycking upmthe Salinas Valley is a scene out of East of Eden, the Steinbeck novel about the area. it is miles and miles of vegetable fields with views of the Santa Lucia range towering 4,000 feet over the west side of the valley. the wind comes off the ocean and usually provides a good tailwind going south. the route passes Gonzales, and it is advised to make the 2-mile detour into town to stock upmon water, if necessary. there is. one for the next 25 miles. Gloria Road climbs gently out of Gonzales and passes the Swiss Rifle Club just before the start of the dirt road over the mountains. Gloria road climbs 3.7 miles at an aversfe 7% grade. This County road is well graded packed sandy dirt. The views of the Salinas Valley expand as fhe climb progresses. Near the top, the view stretches from Soledad to the Montery Bay. over the top of the ridge the road travels through a broad, grassy valley and then through oak forest for 8 miles. it is an easy down grade and a cery pleasant ride. Just watch for washboard, which can usually be avoided by riding on the edge of the road. it gets rocky with a couple very short, steep climbs in the last mile and half. Gloria road ends at Highway 25 (Airline Hiway). Take Airline left (north) to Pacines (13 miles). The first 2 miles is a fast descent to Willow Creek, and then follows rhe San Benito River for a couple miles. This gorge is also the San Andreas fault line. Rhe hills are notably broken up with numerous land slides visible. There will be a head-wind on this section, but the road haslarge undulations, so the wind is not as bad as it could be. The downslopes allow faster riding, and the upslopes block some of the northerly wind. Pacines is a good place to stop for food and water. Indeed, it is the only place! The sole business is a small store with a cafe. the route follows Panoche road east 2.5 miles to Brown’s Valley Rosd (no sign indicsres this road), a dirt road going off ot the left (north) just before a small hill. Browns Valley road climbs over the ridge seen to the north, to McCreery Ranch Road (AKA, Santa Anita Road). It is 6.5 miles total, the initial 2.5 miles being the main climb. The grade vsries vetween 4% aand 16%, the steepest section being st the very topmof the climb. Note a white house at the top of the ridge. The road goes by, and around that house. Once over the top it is a fast ride down and through Browns Valley. there are two more short climbs before getting to the paved road. Take a left (north) on McCreery Ranch road and follow it down hill to Quien Sabe Road. The paved rosd is barely maintained so is very rough, with thousands of filled potholes. watch for ipen potholes,and rhe hundreds of squirrels that constantly dart across the road. tske Quien Sabe Road down hill to Tres Pinos and back to Airline Highway. Tres Pinos has a minimart st the gss ststion, and several cafes. at this point you can choose to take the direct route back to Hollister via Airliepne Highway (4 miles), or take rhe low-traffic, ore pleasant sceneic route along the river on Southside Road, which ends up in South Hollister, and only 0.25 miles from the same point on Airline Hiway.