We picked out site #99 and got all settled and then learned from the campground host that we should have backed in and if we had been there during the busy season, we would have had to reposition the trailer. But, since it was late March and nowhere near full, we were allowed to stay where we were which allowed us to view the ocean from all of our patio side windows.
This photo was taken from the most northern viewpoint on CA-1. Gives a great idea of where we were parked on the bluff overlooking the ocean.Now, let's talk about what it takes to get to this piece of California heaven - the day's journey started in Santa Rosa and included a brief stop in Willits to visit with Forum Friends, George and Claudia Burton after which, we left US-101 for the crooked and narrow 40 plus miles of CA-20 into Fort Bragg. There, we turned north onto crooked and narrow CA-1 traveling another almost 20 miles to the campground. Total travel time from Willits was nearly two hours. The drive wasn't unpleasant and did take us through some very pretty groves of redwoods.
Now, let's talk about what it takes to get out of this piece of California heaven and continue to travel north - two choices; go back the way we came or continue north crooked and narrow CA-1 the 25 miles to Leggett. According to the McDoles, who took the drive from Leggett, the trip was not a walk in the park but doable. What to do? Oh, what do do? (in a soft mournful voice). Well, we left nothing to chance and one morning pre-drove the trip into Leggett and decided that we could make that drive and save ourselves a long trip back to Willits and then up US-101 to Leggett - a savings of 75 miles and at least two hours. Traffic was very light and that helped.
Now, the search begins to find another piece or Oregon coast heaven that is a lot easier to reach and leave.
The first thing we noticed after setting up camp was this large collection of sea otters that were feeding just off the bluff about 300 yards! Out came the camera with the long lens and the binoculars to watch these little critters. You can imagine the excitement that spread through the trailer. Why, there hadn't been this much excitement since, well, never mind.It was a few hours later that we realized we had been fooled by seaweed and other floaty things. Laugh? It went on and on. Oh, we have a new set of binoculars - they confirmed our suspicions.
We only manged to get out exploring on one day and this included a short visit to MacKerricher Stat Park where we saw this whale skeleton - it is as big as it looks. The park facilities includes a large camping area and some sites will accommodate larger rigs. We didn't like it because of all the trees but it is a nice place.
This is one of the little inhabitants of the park. Can't resist taking a photo of anything soft with a large fuzzy tail. We saw it as we walked on the boardwalk that took us along the cliffs.
Spring is a great time to be here because the grass is so green and so many wild flowers are out and about. However, be aware that the wind blows. Yep, blew every day we were there. Pattern is very calm mornings and the last day we had winds 20-40mph - we stayed inside.
I have been promising Sharon a visit to Mendocino for years and finally made good on that promise. First thing we had to do was find Jessica's house (that would be Jessica of "Murder She Wrote" fame and this is supposed to be the place. We had lunch in town and walked about the streets before returning to the campground. It doesn't take long to visit this little town and our guess is it gets really busy in the summer.
My favorite time of the day for watching the ocean was at sunrise when the sun would lighten up the waves but leave the rest of the water in the dark. Made for some great photo ops.
You might think that the place looks the same all day long but that would be wrong. The next three photos are essentially the same scene shot at different times of the day. They are so different and that's part of the place's charm. Oh, it is tough to get down to the beach from the bluff but a few people made the climb - despite the warning not to do so.
The birds in the photos are gulls of one kind or another and they always seemed to be flying north. We don't know where they were headed or if they came back south in some sort of circular feeding route.
We only had one evening when the clouds cooperated and gave us a fairly nice sunset with some color. But, hey, we were on the coast of California, the weather was OK and the company was the best.
We only manged to get out exploring on one day and this included a short visit to MacKerricher Stat Park where we saw this whale skeleton - it is as big as it looks. The park facilities includes a large camping area and some sites will accommodate larger rigs. We didn't like it because of all the trees but it is a nice place.
This is one of the little inhabitants of the park. Can't resist taking a photo of anything soft with a large fuzzy tail. We saw it as we walked on the boardwalk that took us along the cliffs.
Spring is a great time to be here because the grass is so green and so many wild flowers are out and about. However, be aware that the wind blows. Yep, blew every day we were there. Pattern is very calm mornings and the last day we had winds 20-40mph - we stayed inside.
I have been promising Sharon a visit to Mendocino for years and finally made good on that promise. First thing we had to do was find Jessica's house (that would be Jessica of "Murder She Wrote" fame and this is supposed to be the place. We had lunch in town and walked about the streets before returning to the campground. It doesn't take long to visit this little town and our guess is it gets really busy in the summer.
My favorite time of the day for watching the ocean was at sunrise when the sun would lighten up the waves but leave the rest of the water in the dark. Made for some great photo ops.You might think that the place looks the same all day long but that would be wrong. The next three photos are essentially the same scene shot at different times of the day. They are so different and that's part of the place's charm. Oh, it is tough to get down to the beach from the bluff but a few people made the climb - despite the warning not to do so.
The birds in the photos are gulls of one kind or another and they always seemed to be flying north. We don't know where they were headed or if they came back south in some sort of circular feeding route.
We only had one evening when the clouds cooperated and gave us a fairly nice sunset with some color. But, hey, we were on the coast of California, the weather was OK and the company was the best.
Absolutely Beautiful! We're all looking forward to catching up again with the "Wises", when you make it up North into the "Or-E-Gone" territory. :-)
ReplyDeleteSay hello to Shelle & Murray for us.
-Gary-