2015-10 Sonoma Coast, California
Hello All,
Our next adventure out of Santa Rosa, California, found us returning to the coastal town of Bodega Bay. From there, we leisurely followed the Sonoma Coast Highway northbound. We found the drive to be through some awesome coastal scenery. We didn’t make good time because whenever the mood struck us we stopped along the way to take it all in and to snap a few photos. And, the mood struck us often as it is a truly scenic area of our country.
Our next adventure out of Santa Rosa, California, found us returning to the coastal town of Bodega Bay. From there, we leisurely followed the Sonoma Coast Highway northbound. We found the drive to be through some awesome coastal scenery. We didn’t make good time because whenever the mood struck us we stopped along the way to take it all in and to snap a few photos. And, the mood struck us often as it is a truly scenic area of our country.
Small sandy beaches are mixed in with the rugged rocky terrain. It is simply beautiful to say the least.
In the following photo you can see how the highway curves around the coastline. It is a spectacular drive. Below is one of the many nice secluded little beaches.
A few folks were on the beaches enjoying the beautiful spring day. The warm sun and ocean breezes felt wonderful.
Adding in the birds, flowers, and waves crashing into the rocks, just enhanced the experience. What a wonderful way to recharge your internal batteries!
We turned off on a gravel road that looped out onto a point of land along the coastline. The area was loaded with blooming ice plant. Colors varied from the typical pink, to yellow, and predominantly white. It was lovely in our eyes.
But what really caught our eye in the area were the tall orange flowers up next to the rocks. They were a new first for us and we thought they were beautiful! Later we learned they are named “Red Hot Pokers.” The name kind of fits them.
Okay, we know they are hard to pick out in the above photos so here are a few close ups. In our eyes they were gorgeous and aptly named.
As we continued on down the highway our belly buttons started playing tag with our backbones so we started watching for a place to get some lunch. Mother Nature was decorating the sides of the highway with red hot pokers and other wild flowers.
As we passed a small lagoon we noticed a small eating establishment named Café Aquatica and decided it would be our choice for a lunch stop. It was in a picturesque setting right on the lagoon. That’s it on the right in the following photos.
It wasn’t an original idea as other folks were having lunch and enjoying the wonderful spring day on the deck and in chairs scattered around the property.
While we waited for our lunch to be prepared, and our number to be called, we walked around the area taking photos. Hummingbirds were quickly darting in and out feeding on the nectar of the beautiful pride of madera flowers.
After a bite to eat we continued our trek on down the highway. It is truly spectacular scenery for those of us that enjoy the coast.
This next photo is a good example of the importance of slowing down when traveling along the coast or any other place for that matter. You can miss so much by traveling too fast. Note the driftwood on the right side of the stream that is flowing into the ocean. Now look at what appears to be more driftwood on the left bank of the same stream.
Now we will zoom into what appeared to be driftwood on the left bank of the stream. There were hundreds of Pacific harbor seals hauled out onto the sand basking in the springtime sunshine.
At another stop on our journey, Dave and this western seagull made quite a connection. It was not intimidated by us in the least. Perched with its tail into the wind it was having “a bad feather day!” We laughed and thoroughly enjoyed taking photo after photo as it posed for us. It is the little things in life that bring us joy. Our advice is relax, slowdown and enjoy the wonders around us. There is beauty and interesting things everywhere. You just have to look for them.
Our next adventures will take us into the wine country of Sonoma County and then a Japanese Tea Garden in San Francisco. We hope you will consider riding along with us. In the mean time stay safe, enjoy friends and family, and the world around you.
Until next time,
Dave & Barb
The Traveling Browns
Until next time,
Dave & Barb
The Traveling Browns