While staying a few nights at the Fort Ross Lodge, we decided to take a drive up the coast beyond Gualala, farther than we usually go on our escapes to the ocean. Since I failed to consult a map, I had the mistaken impression that Fort Bragg was just a short trip up the coast, and I expected we would make it at least as far as Glass Beach. But since we turned off Highway 1 to explore each time we spotted a sign saying “Coastal Access,” the afternoon slipped away before we had gone about an hour’s drive north. We had a great time, but we were still a long way from Fort Bragg when we decided it was time to turn around and head back to our motel.

One of our stops was at the Point Arena Pier. The pier was closed, so we couldn’t walk on it, but we were able to walk around and explore the surrounding area. I even found a historical marker.