Wednesday, April 16, 2008

The road less traveled


We get a beautiful view of hills behind our apartment, just few miles away and we were told Calaveras Blvd goes through those mountains and hills. Its Spring time here and you can see greenery all around and trees blooming with different kind of flowers. Saturday evening was time for some adventure and we decided to checkout where Calaveras goes!

And we set out with the GPS fully charged, in case we miss the route! The road goes through heart
of Milpitas, all the major stores located on either side. We knew Freeway CA-237 becomes Calaveras Blvd when it reaches Milpitas. Harsha was always eager to know at what points these freeways begin and end. After 2/3 miles driving through the city, to our surprise we saw a board, which read "End CA-237"!! On the other side of the road there should be a board "Start CA-237", we have made it a point to keep an eye for it, next time. Driving past, the city limits ended and it started looking like a laid-back town now. Some lovely ladies came past on horse back!

The view had completely changed, all green meadows, cows grazing, horse stables and very few old houses here and there. The road had become curvy, with huge trees on one side and valley on the other. The car speed had reduced to merely 20mph! We had reached an altitude of about 600/700 ft and it was scary to drive on the edge overlooking the valley below. Reflecting the setting sun rays, hills looked beautiful with deep blue water reservoir (later I found its Calaveras reservoir) in the valley. I was enjoying the senery, but Harsha couldn't keep his eyes off the road! We had driven for almost 30 mins, but we had hardly seen 3-4 cars, and in between couple of people on bicycles and motorbikes. Even I had started wondering how long is this route, and was it a right decision to come during evening time. The GPS was not working in that location and neither our mobiles! Though I was a little bit scared, was encouraging Harsha that its just another couple of miles. The road was still very curvy and was getting a bit dark admist the mountains as sun rays hardly reached there. Perplexed and undecided whether to take a u-turn or continue on this same route, we continued driving ahead, and suddenly I saw my mobile had caught the signal! That was a sign that we are coming out of the ghat section. And in a short while even our (voice enabled) GPS maina started murmuring! The roads had started becoming less curvy, and within a mile, the road was quite straight ahead with 40mph speed limit board! We gave a sigh of relief! Soon enough there was signs for freeway entrance for I-680 N and from here we knew the road back home! We had come around 17 miles away from our house via the less traveled road! Now, I know what lies behind the hills just behind our apartment! :)

Two roads diverged in a wood, and I--/ I took the one less traveled by, / And that has made all the difference.- Robert Frost

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