It took me a few decades, but last May I finally returned to Fort Bragg in Mendocino County for the first time since I was a kid. Even though on this occasion we were only passing through and I didn’t have much time to look around, it was still great to see this part of the Northern California coast again. […]
Whenever a trip to Clear Lake has us staying in Nice (same pronunciation as the city in France!) one of the first things I like to do is take a stroll along Lakeshore Boulevard with my camera, preferably in the morning. Despite its rather grand name, this street is a narrow side lane without markings or sidewalk; I normally see […]
In the middle of the night I had what seemed at the time a brilliant inspiration for Throwback Thursday, although I remember thinking it would take a fair bit of work to put together. Alas, when I woke up this morning I had absolutely no clue what that fantastic idea may have been (and maybe it’s just as well)! So […]
The historic lighthouse at Point Cabrillo is only one of the cool buildings to be found at the Point Cabrillo Lightstation State Historic Park in Mendocino County. Sitting just off Highway 1 and adjacent to the parking lot is a restored farmhouse which is all that remains of the former town of Pine Grove. The buildings at Point Cabrillo are […]
As we drive along Highway 1 in the southern half of Mendocino County, if we notice a sign saying “Coastal Access” we stop to check it out for its fishing potential. This was what happened back in March when we happened upon the Spring Ranch Nature Preserve, just south of the town of Mendocino. It’s very easy to miss, with […]
The name of 16th century conquistador Juan Rodriguez Cabrillo has been attached to quite a number of geographical landmarks and structures, mostly in Southern California. So I was a little confused when I first heard about the Point Cabrillo Lighthouse in Mendocino County, and of course I had to visit the site and see it for myself. On my first […]
We spent the past week exploring up and down the Mendocino coast while the Big Guy looked for some new favorite fishing spots. The downside of these adventures is that I only occasionally get a chance to visit popular beaches and hiking trails, take a wander through the Mendocino Botanical Gardens and the local museums, or sit and contemplate in […]
It’s a tough life as I try to make the most of my handful of days on the Mendocino coast. While I’m having a blast shooting the profusion of wildflowers and spotting new (to me) butterflies, I’m missing out on the chance to just sit and gaze at the ocean for hours at a time. Difficult choices, but I’ll try […]
There is so much room to roam over the Stornetta Public Lands near Point Arena that during our three separate visits I’ve only managed to scratch the surface of this beautiful coastal hiking area. In September 2021 I thought I was doing pretty well when I managed to walk from the northern gate to the private road running from Highway […]