Quiet Places Near Paso Robles

Quiet Places Help Me Stay Sane in the Midst of Stress

One thing I really appreciate about living in Paso Robles and Templeton is the number of quiet places one can find close to home when one needs a short retreat from stress or noise. If neighborhood power machinery gets to me, I can hop in the car and be somewhere quiet in five or ten minutes. That was not the case when I lived in southern California. Here are some of my quiet places to destress near my homes in Templeton and Paso Robles.

Quiet Meadow Across from Industrial Park on Linne Road in February before Rain, © B. Radisavljevic

Paso Robles Quiet Escapes

The River Walk

I have written extensively about the Salinas River Trail and Larry Moore Park elsewhere on this blog and on HubPages. Check out My Search for the River and How It Found Me and Short Walk to the River to get a feel for how secluded the park and riverbed can be on weekdays. The park is busier on weekends, and our peace may not last too much longer after the city builds new ballfields and parking lots there. For now, though, it's a short walk from home when the gardener comes with his power machinery.

Tree Hanging over bed of Salinas River, Larry Moore Park, © B. Radisavljevic

Oak Lane

I can also take a ten-minute walk to Oak Lane, a road with small farms just outside the city limits. There I can see a variety of farm animals and huge oak trees on this quiet country back road that ends beside the river.

A Large Oak Tree on Oak Lane in Paso Robles, © B. Radisavljevic

Vineyards

When I'm in Templeton, there are too many quiet country roads to even list here. My favorite quiet places when I walk in the late afternoon or early evening just at dusk are the vineyards. I prefer those that don't have gates to lock me out when the tasting rooms close.  One of my favorites is Peachy Canyon Tasting Room. The grounds are beautiful and also quiet after the tourist have left for the day.

This is one of my favorite spots there. I love the oaks, in which the squirrels often play.

Peachy Canyon Gazebo Behind Tasting Room,  © B. Radisavljevic

After finishing a visit to the grounds of Peachy Canyon's Tasting Room, it's often about time for the sun to set. If there are a lot of clouds to make that sunset interesting, I usually head a bit farther south on Bethel Road and park by the windmill at Castoro Cellars. The entrance gate is usually closed by then, but Bethel Road is peaceful and sunsets are beautiful there. Here is one of them.

Golden Sunset with Castoro Cellars Windmill, © B. Radisavljevic

Another peaceful place to walk is actually quite close to the 101 Freeway, just west of South Vine -- Twelve Oaks Drive. The first thing you see there is Doce Robles Winery. It has one of the best views of the sky from any direction. The vineyards are quiet and the views are scenic. Sometimes I get no farther than the vineyards, but sometimes I walk quite a way south on Twelve Oaks Drive, which is a dirt road that leads past other vineyards and small farms.

Oak Tree Beside Doce Robles Vineyard, © B. Radisavljevic

I put one of my favorite shots of the Castoro Cellars Windmill on these two Zazzle products.

 Windmill at Castoro Cellars Vineyard Wine Bag Windmill in Castoro Vineyard at Sunset Throw Pillow

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This is my seventeenth post for the 2016 AtoZchallenge, a Blogging Challenge for the month of April, 2016. My theme is Things You Can See or Experience in North San Luis Obispo County. Here are links to the other posts if you missed them.

A is for Acorn
B is for Barney Schwartz Park
C is for Cattle in Wine Country
D is for Dark Star Cellars
E is for Electric Wires
F is for Family Farms
G is for Graveyard Vineyards
H is for Horses
Insects in My Neighborhood in April
J's Burgers in Paso Robles: A Review
Kosta is God's Gift to Me from Across the Ocean
Laguna Lake is Full Again
Mission San Miguel Photos
Niner Estates Decorated Heart Hill with Vineyards
Ocean Photos from the California Central Coast

Paso Robles Police Vehicles

Related articles

• The Paso Robles Area is Where I Belong
• What I'd Miss Most If I Ever Had to Leave Paso Robles Forever
• Spring Has Sprung in Wine Country
• A Windmill on My Mind

January 21 Is Squirrel Appreciation Day

I Have Enjoyed Tree Squirrels Since I Was Young

I first met squirrels when I was about six years old with my mother at the Capitol Park in Sacramento. They were so tame they would come and eat out of my hand. They were tree squirrels. I thought they were cute and always enjoyed seeing them.

I still always look for them when I'm around trees. I've seen many of them in the oak trees behind Peachy Canyon's Tasting Room On Highway 46 West and Bethel Road in Paso Robles. (Or is it Templeton? It's one of those in between places.) I was unable to  get a photo because the squirrels were moving to the next tree before I could get them in focus. They are very nimble and very quick. They are fun to watch. I support  Squirrel Appreciation Day for tree squirrels most of the time.  The squirrel in the photo above was found in a tree on Oak Lane in Paso Robles.

I Have Mixed Feelings about Ground Squirrels

I continued to enjoy and appreciate squirrels until one summer they destroyed most of my garden, plant by plant, very systematically, until there were no tomato or cucumber plants left. I never saw the culprits, but my husband finally saw the tail of one whisking away one day. Before that we had no idea of what had hit us. These culprits were ground squirrels, and they are very active in our area. I can appreciate how cute they are at Moonstone Beach, where I photographed this one, or almost anywhere but in my garden. Those who venture into my garden, however,  I declare war on.

This photo is of another ground squirrel who lives inside or under this tree stump at San Miguel Mission. I had fun playing hide and seek with it during a visit to the mission last year. Click the link above to see the rest of the photos. I spent quite a while watching it.

I loved this photo of two ground squirrels I saw checking each other out at Moonstone Beach in Cambria.

In case you ever see a tiny ground squirrel that appears to be orphaned and you want to help, my friend Rex Truelove has written this article on Caring for Orphaned Ground Squirrels. I have never run into this problem on my property because the neighbor's cats would have found them before I would have.

Products to Help Fight Squirrels, Learn More About Them, or Express Squirrel Appreciation

Squirrel Traps

If you have a destructive squirrel, you might want to look into one of these traps.  I've been told the Squirrelinator works very well.  Whichever solution you  try, you can expect a tough battle. Before you buy a catch and release type trap, be sure it's legal to release the squirrels in your area. Many areas forbid releasing the squirrels because they aren't appreciated everywhere. They can carry diseases and destroy crops.

Learn more about squirrels or celebrate them.

 Outwitting Squirrels: 101 Cunning Stratagems to Reduce Dramatically the Egregious Misappropriation of Seed from Your Birdfeeder by Squirrels C.R. Gibson 16 oz Porcelain Coffee Mug, Gift Boxed, Dishwasher & Microwave Safe, Measures 5 North American Tree Squirrels Squirrel : Coloring Book Vol.7: A Coloring Book Containing 30 Squirrel Designs in a Variety of Styles to Help you Relax (Volume 7) Rabbits, Squirrels and Chipmunks: Take-Along Guide (Take Along Guides) Aurora World Miyoni Grey Squirrel 8 Squirrels of North America Squirrel Coloring Book: A Coloring Book for Adults Containing 20 Squirrel Designs in a variety of styles to help you Relax and De-Stress (Animal Coloring Books) (Volume 17) Good Luck Sock Women's Squirrels Crew Socks, Size5-9,Grey

How do you feel about squirrels? Are you going to celebrate them today?

Unusual Oak Tree Trunk Shapes

Unusual Trees Seen at Peachy Canyon, Isolated, ©B. Radisavljevic

Wine country in the Paso Robles / Templeton area has more than grapes. It's also full of trees, especially oak trees. On just one vineyard property you may see many varieties of oak tree. Drive Highway 46 West from 101 to Jack Creek Road and you will see deciduous oaks, evergreen oaks, oaks with canopies, and oaks that reach high into the sky. I won't even attempt to name them, since many are also hybrids. They come in  all shapes and sizes.

Unusual Trees Seen at Peachy Canyon Surrounded by Other Trees

You can find many of these varieties near the corner of Bethel Road and 46 West, and most especially on the grounds of Peachy Canyon Tasting Room, the old Veris Cellars property, and Zenaida Cellars. I have featured many of these in past posts. Today I will show you a couple of trees with interesting trunk shapes I found at Peachy Canyon in January,  2014.  I show you just the trunks near the ground in the top picture of this post. I show you the entire trees in their place among the others near them in this photo.

When I enlarged the top portions in my photo editor, it does appear the two trees with the oddly shaped trunks are oaks, but judging from the bark they may be different species. One seems to have smoother back than the other. See some of the other oaks I have photographed in the North County in the related articles at the bottom of this post.

If you love oak trees as much as I do,  you might want to own one or more of the books below. I own the first one, and it devotes about five pages to oaks common in California. It also has photos of the bark, leaves,  and fruits  of many of the other trees we see on our streets and in our parks. I bought my copy after the author led a nature walk to identify the trees in the Paso Robles City  Park, and it's been a great help to me. After reading the reviews of Oaks of California,  I'd like to  buy that book,  too, so that I can learn more about the oaks I see every day.

 Californian's Guide to the Trees among Us, A Oaks of North America Oaks of California

Related articles

• Oaks and Wires
• What I'd Miss Most If I Ever Had to Leave Paso Robles Forever
• Large Oaks Near the Old Carnegie Library in the Paso Robles City Park
• Would You Like a Room With An Oak View?
• Jack Creek Road in West Templeton
• A Photo Walk Through the Vineyards of Zenaida Cellers

Looking Back at Peachy Canyon Tasting Room, 2013

It's no secret that I think the grounds of Peachy Canyon's 46 West Tasting Room are beautiful and peaceful places to roam with my camera. It's a bit more lively inside the tasting room itself, but if you step behind the tasting room to the park-like area for picnics it is tranquil. I especially love the large oaks where I sometimes see squirrels playing. Often the winery cats will come to say hello and ask to be petted, and we all know petting a cat is calming.

Peachy Canyon Gazebo and Picnic Area, ©B. Radisavljevic,  ©B. Radisavljevic

Autumn is one of the most colorful times to visit any vineyard. I took these photos in early November, 2013. Just click on them to enlarge them.

Ripe Grapes on the Vine at Peachy Canyon,  2013,  ©B. Radisavljevic

Grape Leaves Dressed for Autumn, Peachy Canyon, 2013,  ©B. Radisavljevic

Guardian of the Vineyard, Peachy Canyon, 2013,  ©B. Radisavljevic

I'm thankful I have such a generous neighbor who allows me roaming privileges when I need to find a few minutes of peace in the midst of a hectic life. Next time you approach the corner of Bethel Road and Highway 46 West, stop in and taste some wine. Then take it out on the grounds to sip in tranquillity in the shadow of the oaks as you look out at the vines.

Friendship Card, Peach Canyon Winery Cats Greeting Card
Make a card on Zazzle using your photo.

The Giant Chair at Peachy Canyon Winery has Been Moved

In a previous post about unique sights at Peachy Canyon Winery's tasting room, I showed you a chair made for a giant. Last time I was there, I discovered they had moved it. Now I know what it's for, and you do, too.

It just goes to show that you never know what you will find on your next visit to Peachy Canyon. I hope we will always find Peaches and Herbie.

Here's an old photo I have of Herbie taking a cat nap.

Related articles

• A Blur of Fur in the Flowers at Peachy Canyon Tasting Room
• What I'd Miss Most If I Ever Had to Leave Paso Robles Forever

A Blur of Fur in the Flowers at Peachy Canyon Tasting Room

In the early evening last night I was exploring Bethel Road, and that always means I make a stop to walk the grounds at Peachy Canyon's Tasting Room. It is a very peaceful place when all the people are gone, and I wanted some summer photos.

As I left my car and started to walk through the entrance, I heard unhappy meows. I looked around to see if Peaches or Herbie, the winery's Maine Coon cats were around, but I  couldn't see any cats at all. The meows continued. The sounds seemed to come from the flowers near the entrance, so I took a closer look, and as I approached I heard movement. Then I saw some fur among the flowers.

I waited, and sure enough, a cat emerged. It kept meowing, but my last experience with a cat I met on a walk resulted in a crop of flea bites on my leg, so I opted not to get too friendly this time. I had nothing to feed it and no drink to give it. It gave me an accusing look.

Since I could think of nothing else to do, I continued my short walk through the grounds. I ignored the fact that I was being followed. It seems the kitty gave up after that and disappeared. I found out later it was Herbie and I just hadn't recognized him.

Related articles

• Two Unique Tasting Room Sights at Peachy Canyon
• How Much is the Kitty in the Window?
• The Shy Little Kitty
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Two Unique Tasting Room Sights at Peachy Canyon

I have lived for at least ten years surrounded by wineries, vineyards, and tasting rooms, and it seems more move in every day. At least three have changed ownership in my own neighborhood during the time I've been here and another is in the process. I have visited at least 33 tasting rooms while living here, but today I saw sights at Peachy Canyon Tasting Room I've never seen anywhere else.

What's new is the chair. I'm not sure of its significance, but it seems to have been built for a giant with short legs.  I don't remember seeing it here before, and it looks like the vineyard beside it has also been replanted.

Herbie and Peaches, the Peachy Canyon Maine Coon cats, are also unique to Peachy Canyon's tasting room. They are not new. I look forward to seeing them every time I visit. Today, though, they were interacting together in a way I've never seen them behave before, and I was glad I had my camera. Remember, you can enlarge the photos by clicking on them for a closer look.

Related articles

• What I'd Miss Most If I Ever Had to Leave Paso Robles Forever
• Photo Essay: Green, Green, Green
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