The small coastal town of Point Arena has become one of my favorite places to stay and explore the Mendocino coast; and the Big Guy likes it too, because he can reliably find a nice, secluded spot along the shore to cast a line within the Stornetta Public Lands. With miles of trail covering a variety of terrain and beautiful […]
I’ve always loved to hear the call of the Red-winged Blackbird, described in the National Audobon Society Master Guide to Birding as conk-ka-ree or ok-a-lee (no “Okily-dokily!” Ned Flanders jokes, please!). I went for years without enjoying the sight and sound of these handsome birds, partly because of local habitat loss and partly because I wasn’t spending time in the […]
I’ve discovered that the small town of Point Arena in Mendocino County is a great place to spend a few days — or even longer — no matter what time of year. The last time we were there was in December; the weather was a bit unpredictable, and I didn’t get out and go hiking as much as I normally […]
I’ve stopped at the small Moat Creek parking area a number of times now, always to follow the short path to the shore. The site is just a bit south of the town of Point Arena, and the beach is popular with surfers (high tide) and with tide pool explorers (low tide). On this visit, I decided to check out […]
Back in the summer of 1990 my family visited (for the first and last time) what was then Marine World/Africa USA in Vallejo, California. There have been lots of changes to the park since then. The place is now known as Six Flags Discovery Kingdom, and there are more rollercoasters these days than large animals — although some animals do […]
April 2023 in Rocklin, California
Even on a trip to an area with beautiful scenic views like Eagle Lake in Lassen County, my favorite photos usually end up showing the small details and tiny creatures that also abound. I probably shot more pictures of butterflies than anything else during my stay! But I had a feeling it would have a good camera trip just as […]
It’s not the type of terrain I normally fall in love with, but just look at the beautiful sagebrush hills and plains near Lassen County’s Eagle Lake! This is California’s second largest natural lake, and although the lake is low right now, I saw butterflies everywhere I looked. Cattle were bawling from somewhere across the fields. A cool breeze kept […]
