Road Trip - The California Coast

My blog is calling and I find myself feeling guilty for never finishing this fabulous road trip.  So let's shuffle back to September of 2013 and make our way down the spectacular California coast.  Growing up in Reno, with relatives in several areas of Northern California, I spent many happy times  all along the coast, so I am always thrilled with the opportunity to go back. 

From the Oregon coast, Highway 101 took us into California's magnificent redwood forest, where the quiet and a feeling of reverence surrounds you.  How happy we should be that mankind finally came to its senses and quit logging the oldest growth redwoods, and protected huge areas of forest in national and state parks. 

There is nothing quite so peaceful as a stroll among these giants.

South of the redwoods, Highway 1 takes off to the coast and takes you on a wild ride to the little town of Fort Bragg, where the abalone diving used to be great, twisting and turning its way along the rocky shoreline.  Just make sure you are the passenger on this ride so you can enjoy the unrivaled scenery without having your eyes locked on the narrow road.

So many lovely little stops - Mendocino, Gualala, Fort Ross, Bodega Bay, Point Reyes, Tomales Bay and then along the headlands of Bolinas Bay, past Mt Tamalpais before finally descending into the madness that is the San Francisco Bay Area.  On a warm, cloudless Sunday, Sausalito was teeming with people, cars and bicycles, a stark contrast to the lonely, peaceful places we had just been.  Crossing the Golden Gate we decided to stop and see the America's Cup headquarters near the terminus of the bridge.  It was a non-racing day for the big boats, so finding a parking space was easy and we enjoyed strolling the grounds and being awed by the size and technology of the boats.



With too little time and too many places yet to see, we forged south through the intense San Francisco traffic, back onto Highway 1, stopping for the night at funky little Half Moon Bay.  So many places I want to spend more time, like Santa Cruz and Capitola, but we'll save those for another time.  It's not like I haven't been there before.  Rounding Monterey Bay, we stopped at Elkhorn Slough, a birder's paradise.  How I would have loved to be out there on a kayak, among the sea otters and a dizzying array of birds.

In Monterey, a walk along Cannery Row, a classic car show, lunch overlooking the bay, and gray whales breaching in the bay.

Winding along the Cabrillo Highway, the magnificence of the Big Sur coast will take your breath away.  Again, just be sure you are not the driver!  After the big rock slides of recent years, a new tunnel is being constructed, an engineering and construction marvel.

Just before San Simeon, you reach the Piedras Blancas bay, where the elephant seals are hauled out on the beach, mostly juvenile males, resting, basking in the sun, playing in the water, honing their fighting skills.

Next stop, Morro Bay, where our hotel overlooked the big Morro Rock, the harbor and all the people action on the streets below.  



Just east of Morro Bay lies one of California's lesser-known wine regions that, in my humble opinion rivals Napa Valley for quality and diversity.  Spend a couple of days touring the vineyards and tasting the zinfandels and you will be equally impressed.  

Last stop before San Diego - our favorite campground, San Elijo State Beach to check out our site for our Christmas camping trip.  

And then, one of our favorite big cities - San Diego and our farewell to the Coast. A wonderful meal in Little Italy capped off our weeks of indulgence in all the bounty that California offers.  And then we were Arizona-bound.  All too soon.

May all your travels take you to the places of your dreams.

Road Trip - Oregon

The ocean was the goal.  But there was still the beautiful state of Oregon to traverse.  Few think of Oregon as desert, But from the Idaho border, traveling west across Oregon to the high desert town of Bend, the landscape is a vast, open, sagebrush-covered, wind-swept land, punctuated by fascinating geologic formations and lava fields.  From Bend, the land rises into the Cascade Range and the lovely little town of Sisters, named for the peaks that stand guard over it.  It was there that we spent the night, with llamas grazing just outside our room.  We searched out an interesting restaurant, The Open Door, and spent a pleasant evening dining in the garden on fresh beet salad and flatbread pizza.

Up and over the winding McKenzie Pass we went rising 2000' through Ponderosa pine forests before opening up to an amazing lava field dating back over 2000 years.

The jagged peaks of the Sisters, Mt. Washington and Mt. Jefferson rise abruptly out of the rocky chaos.  At the summit sits The Dee Wright Observatory, built entirely out of volcanic rock by the CCC in the 1930's.  Small observation openings, lava tubes, reveal the surrounding geologic features.

Mt. Jefferson through the lava tube, Oregon's second highest peak.

Bronze Peak Finder at Dee Wright Observatory

A flock of red crossbills entertained me on my climb to the observatory.  Most flew away at my approach, but one little guy was quite unafraid and posed patiently.

From the summit we descend into the lush greenness for which Oregon is so famous, winding along the beautiful McKenzie River, emerging into the bustle of Eugene.  We pushed on to the coast, my ocean fix long overdue.  Driving down Highway 101 brought back good memories of many trips past.  The Oregon Dunes, seafood in Florence, incredible state beaches.  In Bandon, we settled for a few days in a funky little guest house with a great view of the harbor, and walking distance to all of the town.

 Lazy days were spent exploring the beaches, the wildlife refuges, the lighthouse, the village and the harbor and the seafood restaurants.

Right behind our inn was a most amazing museum filled with 'artwork' created from the trash washed up on the beaches.  The Washed Ashore Project aims to educate and create awareness about marine debris and plastic pollution through art.

American oystercatchers poked through the rocky buffet just out of easy camera range, but I succeeded in capturing this one.

Fog settles in along the coast, creating surreal and ethereal scenes.

Next Up, continuing down the coast of California. Perhaps I can finish documenting this trip before the next one begins.  Well, perhaps not.

Meanwhile, Happy Winter Solstice!