Russian River meets the Pacific

Russian River meets the Pacific
Originally uploaded by S'mee.

This map shows the road we took that sits about 500 yards from the Russian River, absolutely spectacular scenery, relaxing and invigorating at the same time.

By the time you wind your way to the sea you are treated with even more beauty. There is something about seeing what your fourth grade teacher taught you as a reality that always gets me! (It's gorgeous!) And, as an extra bonus, if you look very carefully at this photo you can see tiny light dots right at the bottom of the "S" shape to the left of the inlet water on the sand. Those tiny dots are actually elephant seals! (see May 03, 2005 post) From this vantage point we were too far away to see them without using our binoculars. I am curious about the mix of fresh and salt water and if the seals preferences and does it matter? The seals seem to be the young born last winter and were just happy to be sunning themselves on the sand.

The Pacific coast near Jenner, CA.
Originally uploaded by S'mee.

Using the map above, you can find a small "1" in a circle above Jenner. This photo is approximately where that point on the map is. We got out of the car and the perfume of the wild flowers hung in the air. I was very surprised, thinking the salt air and breezes from the altitude would have swept all hints of the delicate flowers up the mountain side. But it was all around us, sweet and fresh. There were other places we stopped along this same coastline where you could see and smell wild dill, wild lavender, and flowers I am unfamiliar with. About this point in our trip we also saw deer on the cliffs above us! I am telling you, this is a great drive! The roar of the ocean as it crashes on the rocks and cliffs, the birds swaying and gliding and the smell of the sea, flowers, and herbs! What else would make you this delirious?

The coast near Jenner, CA.
Originally uploaded by S'mee.

Someone obviously had the same idea as I, and actually set up housekeeping! Look closely at the photo, just about center is a large boulder. Just below the protection of that boulder is a driftwood shelter! HOW COOL IS THIS? Man! Thor pointed out that there is plenty of driftwood, blackened by the year's fires, for providing building material and fuel to keep warm. Lucky dog who lives there!

I am as excited now as I was seeing it when I took the picture. I truly enjoy the coast so much! Just thinking back on the memories of growing up near the ocean, the really funky smell of a wharf, dock or harbour; the sounds that all of the ocean life offers; these things are exhilarating to me and just refresh my thinking! I have been really blessed! It is hard for me to think of people who live where there is no access to an ocean. I cannot imagine my life without these beautiful expressions of my Heavenly Father. It just flat out amazes me. Seeing the foam and the waves, the birds pecking out their food, deer (DEER!) grazing nearby, it all sends me!

If you would like more visual inspiration j.michael rowland's photography of this wonderland we toured is total eye candy!

More info on the Point Reyes National Seashore is here, and here: Point Reyes Lighthouse & Point Reyes.

The ride to the "redwoods"...

The Catholic Graveyard at Tomales CA.
Originally uploaded by S'mee.

Thor and I headed out the last day of our trip for a "quick look" at the Redwoods. Thor had visited them as a child and wanted to shared their beauty with me! Unfortunately childhood memories being what they are, Thor hadn't quite calculated the distance to the redwoods from San Francisco and we ended up on a freeway headed north. The freeway was a glorified parking lot and luck being what it is, we turned off and drove west! (My favorite direction!) Although we never made it to the redwoods, we had what turned out to be, one of the best driving day trips ever.

We turned off the 101 at the 12, driving through some of the most picturesque land. This map shows the route. Sebastopol is an artsy, wine country introducing, bed and breakfast-y kind of town. After the redirection from a road block caused by an accident we then went north through Forestville (self explanatory name), Guerneville, and on to Jenner at the coast. I felt a bit thrown back to my old hippy days (at least wannabe) as we drove through these little earthy towns with all natural food stores, hemp purveyors, rainbow pretty-much-anything-you-want, and art and craft boutiques. And lots of alternative couples feeling comfy in their own shoes to put it politely. The flip side being the white folks in dreads and India batik. Talk about mixing your cultures with fashion. But that's those darned artsy types. For me, it looked like heaven, for Thor, well that's another story.

The photo above is (terrific segue) a portion of the Catholic cemetery in Tomales. (looking at the above map, find Cotali and go straight west -and slightly lower- to the tiny little angle on the red line. That bend in the road near the water is Tomales.) A small historic town of (what the town sign said) 5. We think perhaps someone has erased the extra zero(s); but it's not for us to say. That aside, It is a quaint little town, very quiet the day we visited and we only saw about 5 actual folks walking around (so perhaps the sign was correct although the housing states there should be more.) We took the side street up the slope to the hill where the wrought iron gates waited wide open, and drove into the grounds. To the left of the drive way were the tombs. All had the raised curb and further raised cement borders; with the unused graves still grassy and full of wild flowers. Once "furnished", evidence shows a cement slab covers the crypt; and head stone or foot stone mark the resident(s). Interesting.

After leaving Tomales we drove out to Point Reyes in hopes of visiting the light house. It was closed, but after researching what we missed, I am a bit glad we got there too late. This website tells the history (very interesting!), but also that it is equivalent to climbing a 30 story staircase to get down to the light house, and then back up! Hello knees! So I am content (for now) to read all about it. You should too! Have fun!

Carlton's Log: Day Five (yeah I know day 4 is absent)

Three hours ago we pulled into the driveway after a straight bee line for home, no breakfast, no lunch - only potty stops along the way! Thor and I wanted to be HOME NOW! lol

Too pooped to write much other than I took whopping 312(?) pictures. So as soon as I can transfer the c.d. from Thor's laptop to the monster on the desk... you'll be the first to see some of the more worthy shots, like maybe 10. lol. Face it, I am cheap and it depends on how much is already used for on this month's Flicker account!

As Chronicler commented yesterday, Thor likes to drive. So we drove! We head out of the hotel at 11:00 and we weren't back until 10:30-ish that night. Where did we go, what did we see? We went up the 101 for about an hour, decided it was a parking lot and headed for the coastal hwy 1 route in hopes of seeing Giant Redwoods. We got as far as 40 minutes north of Jenner and then meandered our way back home to the hotel. Along the way we saw places I had never been before and Thor had forgotten. We went through the artsy town of Sabastapol and the tiny neighboring towns around it. We encountered a head on TC involving a semi-truck and a mini-van. (Seemed nasty but a slow hit -right turn vs. left turn- no wahmbulances, just a ton o police and a road block which sent us through really beautiful country along the Russian River.) We saw Bodega Bay ("The Birds" was filmed here), slowly drove through Tomales, population according to the sign, 50; and enjoyed the view of the ocean water from the inlet at Point Reyes. Curiosity caught us by the neck and we had to go check out the light house on the point. (Note to sign makers on the peninsula: If you are going to tell us it is closed Monday and Wednesday, might want to include that it is also closed well before sunset at 4:00. Thanks.) Saw a bunch of very happy CA cows and rich people who do not want you to go see the light house. (Note to rich people: Hey folks, you have the great privilege of living on "protected" National Property. That means unless we have some sort of connection and a ton of money we can't enjoy the "National Property" everyday as you do. You have your terrific home and great view, can't we just drive by and get along?) We eventually made our way out to the Muir Woods and down through Sausalito, then back over the Golden Gate and "home". Whew!

More details tamale or later tonight if I get an opportunity. We leave for the BY-U late Monday to drop off #5 and then home again on Thursday. (This is the third time I have had a new car, second if you count that the car is "mine" to drive primarily. It feels very odd that it is sitting in the back yard just waiting for me to take her for a drive.... sigh)

O.k. See you all later.