While driving to the Monterey Peninsula or on return trips to Sacramento there never seems to be time to stop at San Luis Reservoir. It's located in hills of the western San Joaquin Valley near Pacheco Pass.

Situated along Highway 152, it's seven miles West of Interstate 5 or 33 miles East of Highway 101 from Gilroy. It's a great stretch of driving, water on one side, rolling hills and farmland on the other side.

The accompanying San Luis Reservoir State Recreation Area is noted for its boating, board sailing, camping and picnicking. And nearby, fruit stands, old barns, stables and various fields of crops provide a refreshing, appeal backdrop.

I've driven past the reservoir more than 100 times in the past 20 years, but I had never taken the time to stop — until Nov. 19 while returning to Sacramento from Carmel after reporting on the Callaway Golf Pebble Beach Invitational for four days.

On a mid Monday afternoon I abruptly decided to pull into the visitor center at the Romero Overlook. There's plenty of information about reservoir's history via audi-visual and printed information, and there are telescopes for viewing a near panoramic view.

What caught my attention was how the sun reflected off the water and the quickly changing clouds. I quickly grabbed my digital camera and snapped a few images.

I won't wait 20 more years to stop at the San Luis Reservoir again.