Tuesday, June 23, 2015

Over the River and Through the Woods

Sonoma County, CA, is a beautiful place. Rugged beaches, rich green pastures, redwood forests, meandering rivers (with very little water), small artsy towns, vineyards.....something for just about everyone.

With the current triple digit temperatures and smoke-filled skies in other parts of the state, it is definitely the place to be this week!

After our trip to the wilds of Pt Reyes on Wednesday, we decided Friday was a good time to head inland and spend some time in the forest. Just before the small town of Jenner, Hwy 116 turns off to Duncans Mills. Literally in the curve of the road is the local general store and several artisan shops. The Cape Fear Café serves a delicious breakfast, and has outdoor seating, so we made that our first stop.

The neon ATM sign sort of kills the ambiance
Once again we were earlier than is appropriate for a laid back burg in the semi-wilderness so we hung out on the boardwalk and I played with the camera.







So much color after our gray, foggy day
In some places the Russian River is little more than a wide creek, but the hills and pastures are still green. There are cattle of every color scattered throughout the area.

Just moovements, no sound (sorry, Mime humor)

The highway winds through forest so thick it is nearly dark. The creek bed along the road is dry with occasional ponds that will also die without a few good rainstorms. It is extremely beautiful, and extremely desperate. 

The small town of Occidental fills up the sudden opening in the trees, with old brick and clapboard buildings and a couple newer motels. I wander a few small shops while Bill waits with Tessa. Given how he loves to shop it's a huge sacrifice <ha>.

There aren't a lot of people on the road and we take our time making the loop back through Bodega and return to our spot on the harbor.

Since our arrival, we have been visited daily by this female hummingbird. Given the number and size of these cone flowers beside our rig you would think there would be dozens of them. She might be small and flighty, but this girl can keep a secret!

Shhh, they're all mine!






8 comments:

  1. Ha! From your title I thouht you were off to Grandma's house. Cute little town. Cape Fear Cafe looks like a sweet breakfast spot. Is there a Cape Fear there? I know the one on the Cape Fear River in North Carolina. I'd be with Tessa and Bill I'm afraid. Shopping R not me.

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    1. I'm not sure where it got the name, but haven't seen a Cape Fear near there. I can't do malls and department stores, but do enjoy the local artisan shops when I can find them. They're like book stores :-)

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  2. Boy, if there is one place we love in California, it is Sonoma. Jodee, we look forward to the day we get to return. Thanks for the photos. What a wonderful place!

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    1. I forget how beautiful it is until I'm in awe of it once again.

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  3. Looks like the new camera is working out pretty darn good:) I love all the colorful flowers. Sounds like a good place to be with the temps. Love that photo of the cone flowers and humming bird:) Cute little General store.

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    1. Thanks Pam. I keep trying to figure out why we lived in SoCal all this time :-)

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  4. What a pretty little town! The poppies are gorgeous. Isn't it amazing how different the climate can be when you travel inland from the coast? I'd go shopping with you -- I love browsing unique little shops and galleries. :-)

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    1. In another lovely little town, Trinidad, and have fallen in love all over again. We'd have a lovely time!

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