I spent most of this week on a business trip to New York City – well, actually, most of that time was spent trying to get the hell out of NYC.  (A ton of flights got canceled due to weather.)  Anyway, I decided to drive winding and beautiful Highway 9 from Saratoga (just outside of San Jose) to Boulder Creek as a way to get my bearings straight again.  (Oh, how I love the Bay Area.)  Join me on a trip down Highway 9!

I realized I had my camera in my car when I was a few miles up Highway 9.  The trip went from Saratoga, to Santa Cruz, back up to Boulder Creek, and over to Los Gatos.

Here’s basically where the drive took place:

And a closer look:

I realized I had my camera (a weak Sony DSC-P72, so bear with me) so I pulled over to take a shot.

Let’s see what’s ahead…

Here is the Highway 9-Highway 35 intersection.  A few years ago, my good friend Anuj and I drove down Highway 35 from San Francisco at night.  It was a great time.

This is a few hundred yards past the intersection.  The picture does not do the height and depth justice.  This is facing South.. ishesque.

Let’s keep going…

Approaching the Highway 9-Highway 236 intersection.  Turning left keeps you on Highway 9 towards Boulder Creek.

21 windy miles are really fun!

Camp Campbell, just a few miles north of Boulder Creek.  This is where I went to 6th grade science camp.  I have so many awesome memories from spending just a week here that I got a lump in my throat when I saw the sign.

The Mountain Store.  Awesome.

Just a few hundred yards away from Boulder Creek.  I don’t know what the flowers signify.

Here we are in Boulder Creek!  Maybe I’ll drive to Big Basin in the next episode.

Facing North.  I really like this town.

Going south, we hit Ben Lomond.  This pic faces north.

Tee hee.

Whuh oh. The guard cat at Spanky’s is coming to check my credentials.  I got let go with a warning.

Just down the way is Felton.  This pic faces Northeast.

And the opposite direction.

Hah!

A few miles south and we hit the Santa Cruz city limits.  Beach town?  It’s also a mountain town.

This is where Highway 9 ends in Santa Cruz in rather unspectacular fashion.  Highway 9 meets Highway 1 a few blocks down, so maybe I’ll do a Highway 1 episode later.

Just a few blocks over – the Plantronics corporate headquarters.  Hah.

Going back up Highway 9 in Santa Cruz, I spotted this.  Santa Cruz rocks.

In Santa Cruz, heading north back up towards Boulder Creek.

These tracks are used by Roaring Camp Railroads.

The tracks going Northeast.

And Southwest.

I just HAD to stop here.

They say it’s a Bigfoot halloween mask.  I say it’s a bassist mask.  Oh, I kid, Dino.

The Felton Covered Bridge, built in 1892.

The bridge is located in Felton Covered Bridge County Park.  Sometimes, I’m amazed that places like these are located just a few miles from Silicon Valley.  Then again, I remember that the Bay Area just kicks so much ass!

This is on Bear Creek Road from Boulder Creek to Los Gatos.  It’s a blindfolded (?) horse!

Here’s a shy horsey.

This is facing southwest.  I really like this pic.

Camelhill Vineyards.  There are a few vineyards on Bear Creek Road.  I also drove past Byington Vineyard & Winery, and David Bruce Winery.

A view of the Camelhill Vineyards.

Finally, here we are right at Highway 17.  Lexington Reservoir is in the background.

Now, I’m going to hop on this thing and go north to San Jose.  Good times.

This tour was completely unplanned since I didn’t even know my camera was rattling around my car, but I think I’m going to do a bunch more this summer.