Page:Motoring Magazine and Motor Life October 1913.djvu/13

 October, 1913

��AND MOTOR LIFE

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��a fringe of trees, its soft, cool glow strongly dimmed.

Being Sunday, San Jose was still asleep when we left at six in the morning headed for Milpitas and Mission San Jose. In the refreshing glory of early morning, we sped through, booming an early greeting from the open exhaust. A few sleepy natives watched our advent and exit, unstirred, smiling. They had chores to do, it appeared — milking, feed- ing and watering, and all those sorts of rural things.

We came, at length, to Niles, and climbed the canyon of that name, in spite of some unfavorable roads and twisting, treacherous turnouts. In the early morn- ing glow we found it beautiful. Small wonder that it is the scene of such stir- ring Western motion picture drama. Every imaginable setting is to be found there.

Good roads now, the climb over, and the scant city of Sunol is at hand. We pass swiftly through; one needs but a cursory glance to see it all; but we are immensely grateful for the good road there.

A long expanse of wonderful dirt road next, having turned to the left at a most elaborate "Four Corners," including iron fence and stone gateway, and rows of blue hills and distant vistas of valleys, orchards and more hills set in purple haze yet for the rising sun to dispel. The blase, the passive observer, here take heed, for enthusiasm can remain hushed and dormant no longer. Nature is at her best, and demands admiration and ap- proval; not to see, feel and enjoy this feast for the eye is to cheat the r.oblei instincts. California and climate l^oth begin with a "c," and "c" can be spelled "see," the three being wholly synony- mous. To see is to feel, and having seen and felt, we therefore may enthuse, en- thusiasm becoming perpetual. Wherein lies California's charm.

The beautiful, quaint town of Pleasan- ton is inclined to be Eastern. Its pleas- ure to the eye, however, involuntarily lifts the foot from the throttle and invites leisurely approval.

On to Livermore and Dublin. Splen- did roads and with inspiring panoramas on all sides! The cool air whips into the face and awakens that exhilaration that only early morning and a speeding motor car can inspire.

At Dublin, more highway under con- struction compelled us to turn to the right toward San Ramon, turning again to the left, which led us through the only unpleasant part of the journey — the Cull Canyon. Dust, ruts, turns and curves, both while climbing and descending to Haywards.

���Lake County mountains. America's Switzerland in an S. G. V.

��From Haywards over a perfect road to the Foothill Boulevard is all that one can ask en tour. The time was but 10 a. m.; but to us, having traveled constantly since 2 a. m., the day seemed nearly gone. We were the only car going in, while hundreds passed us outbound.

��Dusty and tired, but in that contented frame of mind which attends, and only can attend, the finish of the perfect tour in the refreshing open country, the hills and valleys, we caught the eleven o'clock boat, and completed the trip when the ferry disgorged us at San Francisco.

��IP@inim§niik ToomrBim^

��Many pleasant tours in the vicinity of San Francisco invite the motorist to a day's travel. One may roll through the park to the beach, follow the Sloat Bou- levard and the Junipero Serra Boulevard to the county road, thence past the ceme- teries to the smooth new highway which has lately taken the place of the famous El Camino Real; or, if one is so inclined, he may climb to the Corbett Road, which circles the Twin Peaks, to pursue it to its

��intersection with the Sloat Boulevard. Again he may tour through the Mission, or bounce over the cobblestones to South San Francisco, and travel that road which mounts the hill through which the rail- road tunnel passes. All are interesting, and are sufficient in number to provide variety.

After reaching San Mateo, an inspiring drive in itself, the motorist has the choice of many trips through the hills that lie

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