Gualala, California - 2004

We motility northward of the Bay Area to see our side yesteryear side destination, Gualala.  Pronounced “wah-la-la,” this is ane of the small, lilliputian towns along the Mendocino Coast inwards Northern California, almost 10 miles southward of Point Arena.

It’s some other "Tim"less getaway piece he’s at summertime military camp inwards the mountains close Lake Arrowhead.  It’s over 500 miles together with 8 hours of driving to larn here, hence nosotros halt overnight inwards a forgettable motel inwards the memorable, cute lilliputian town of Martinez on the due east side of the San Francisco Bay.  The side yesteryear side morning, nosotros buy the farm on on the 101, moving over to Highway 1 when nosotros larn to Petaluma.  It’s a beautiful coastline crusade yesteryear Tomales Bay, Bodega Bay (where Hitchcock fimed The Birds), together with Sea Ranch where nosotros lastly cross the Gualala River into the small-scale town.

Our lodging would live at The Seacliff on the Bluff, an inn sitting correct on the border of a cliff overlooking the lagoon together with the ocean.  While semi-accessible rooms (bathtub) are on the bottom floor, nosotros got a room upstairs for this trip.  All rooms hither characteristic floor-to-ceiling windows looking direct out at the ocean, a deck, two-person Jacuzzi tub, fireplace, virile individual monarch size bed, robes, together with a refrigerator stocked amongst a liberate bottle of champagne.

It’s non actually draw of piece of occupation solid unit of measurement oriented but for a romantic getaway, it’s ideal.  Rates run from $140 - $175 for the summertime months but telephone telephone ahead together with sometimes they conduct hold a liberate 3rd nighttime available if you lot pay for 2 nights.  We did together with it brought our full to approximately $300 for iii nights, or almost $100 per night.  For a large, oceanfront room amongst spectacular views.

It’s almost lunchtime when nosotros larn inwards together with side yesteryear side door is a small-scale shopping pump amongst a deli called Trinks.  We conduct hold a yoke of actually delicious sandwiches along amongst some wonderful desserts.  It was a delicious luncheon together with we’ll maintain this inwards hear later on for a picnic.

Dinner was at a identify across the street from the supermarket that had an outdoor deck amongst a spectacular sentiment but suffered from mediocre nutrient together with incredibly deadening together with borderline rude service hence we’ll only motility on…shall we?

The side yesteryear side morning, nosotros larn dorsum to Trinks together with larn some sandwiches together with dessert to larn along amongst a lite breakfast.  Our goal today is Annapolis.  No, non the dwelling draw of piece of occupation solid of the Naval Academy but a small-scale hamlet upward inwards the hills behind us.

We’ve brought our picnic luncheon upward from Gualala, upward hither high on a hill, to Annapolis Winery.  Letty loves chickens hence the rooster logo similar a shot picks upward her interest.  Mine is piqued yesteryear the bang-up white wines they conduct hold there.  We accept payoff of the liberate tasting together with larn a bottle of their delicious gewürztraminer to larn amongst our deli luncheon together with conduct hold a wonderful lilliputian picnic out on their lawn.

Driving dorsum down, nosotros explore some of the surrounding area.  We see the Timbercove guild together with and hence accept a expect inwards this differently designed chapel side yesteryear side to the route inwards Sea Ranch.

Dinner this night would live at a lilliputian Mexican articulation only northward of Gualala.  It is really proficient together with makes upward for the lousy dinner nosotros had the nighttime before.  It was called Lucy’s together with hence but I believe it’s gone or changed its raise since nosotros were there.

The side yesteryear side morning, we’re heading the other way.  Yesterday, nosotros went south, today nosotros larn north.  To foremost off, nosotros caput upward to Point Arena together with the Point Arena Lighthouse.

Out on the rocky together with turbulent point, this lighthouse has been assisting navigators since 1870.  It was destroyed inwards the 1906 earthquake together with rebuilt.

Today, it yet is inwards service, but this lilliputian lite on the runway is what industrial plant today.  The Fresnel lens within is yet inwards perfect condition, but is only for looks these days.

You tin lav see the lighthouse together with much of the grounds, visitor’s center, together with gift store are accessible.  Unfortunately, similar most lighthouses of this vintage, the exclusively access to the overstep is via a long, steep, circular Fe stairway.

It’s a chip foggy today anyway but it yet makes a prissy halt along the way.

Next, we’re heading to ane of the state’s many fine vino countries.  As much every bit I knock my dwelling draw of piece of occupation solid state, ane affair nosotros are justifiably proud of is our vino industry.  Truly populace bird amongst many, many official Viticultural Areas.  In fact, in that location are currently over 100 officially designated AVA growing areas inwards the state.  Today, we’re heading to the Anderson Valley AVA, located inwards a redwood filled gorge along the Navaro River almost xx miles southward of Mendocino.

Along the way, on highway 128, nosotros halt to accept a lilliputian hike through the redwoods.  The areas on both sides of the route are business office of the Navaro River Redwoods State Park.

Emerging from the forest, nosotros brand it to Husch Vineyards where nosotros gustatory modality the wines together with purchase some of their bang-up chardonnay. 

We buy the farm on along until nosotros accomplish Gowen’s Fruit Stand where nosotros larn some fruit for luncheon together with savor out dorsum amongst a friendly pooch that wandered by.

Back inwards Gualala, it’s foggy again, but nosotros commons at the terminate of town together with hike out to the sand spit that separates the body of body of water from the lagoon.  It’s almost a mile or hence hike together with nosotros terminate upward across from our room…so unopen I could throw a stone together with hitting it but nosotros must hike all the agency dorsum the agency nosotros came.

The fog lifts only inwards fourth dimension for sunset together with nosotros determine to indulge inwards the champagne left inwards our refrigerator along amongst some fruit from the stand upward nosotros visited earlier. 

We sit down out on the balcony, amongst a burn roaring behind us inwards the room, together with feed scraps to the seagulls that dry reason on our rail.

Sitting dorsum amongst a drinking glass of champagne, a burn to our back, together with the Sun setting over the Pacific, it’s fourth dimension to wrap upward this trip together with brand the long crusade home.

Darryl

Copyright 2010 – Darryl Musick

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