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 […]
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 […]
I always enjoy driving through the small coastal towns along Highway 1 in Sonoma and Mendocino counties; you can often spot weathered old houses and other cool details without even getting out of the car. But on this occasion, a foggy midmorning in September, I had the chance to walk along a back road parallel to the main highway. There […]
In our visits to the Sonoma and Mendocino coastline, we sometimes feel a little frustrated to find that some of the most beautiful and tempting areas are inaccessible. The reasons can vary; a lot of coastal property is privately owned and jealously guarded. Or maybe the landscape doesn’t allow for safe access to the shore. We’ve also found that some […]
I could really spend hours gazing at the ocean off the Northern California coast, and I sometimes manage to shoot a few pictures as well! We were fortunate to make it over to the coast on three separate trips last year, in April, September, and November. It was the first time in ages that I’d seen the coast in springtime, […]