Rhodies and Redwoods and the California Coast -

 Farewell to Rio Vista

On Monday morning the 11th of June we packed up again. Hitched up the trailer and bid a fond adieu to Rio Vista. We had no clear destination ahead or way to get there. We just began heading towards Highway 101 via Vallejo and hwy 37 which goes past Mare Island and the top of San Pablo bay. It was a nice clear day and traffic while heavy wasn't terrible.
 I got off of 101 in Petaluma and began heading for the coast. We were in familiar territory and memories came flooding back as we passed places we had know in the past. A lot of the roads in California have remained the same over the years, two lane narrow winding mountain roads that can be dangerous if you drive too fast. I try to pull over when there is a big enough pull off so that the drivers behind don't get frustrated and do something stupid. I don't go real fast when pulling that trailer.
 The road we took eventually gets to the Russian River and winds along through the redwoods giving occasional peek a boo views of the river. Forestville, Rio Nido, Gurneville, Monte Rio and Cazadero. Little towns build initially for logging, now tourist spots. This was my old stomping grounds and the first place I lived when moving to California. I lived on the Russian River outside of Forestville in a schoolbus at a nude beach. Memories! Wow the time flies by.
 Soon we went through Jenner by the sea and turned the corner onto Hwy 1, the coast highway. It was incredible. A clear sunny warm day on the coast. I turned into the first turnoff overlooking the Pacific ocean and the Russian River emptying into it. What a sight! We couldn't have had a better day for it.

Hello to the Pacific ocean

 In the foreground is the Russian River as it egresses into the Pacific

Looking to the west and north. Hwy 1 winds along the cliffs

We stopped for awhile just taking in the view and taking some photo's of the area. There's a large sandbar at the mouth of the river and harbor seals use it as a birthing beach. There were more than a hundred of so seals lazing on the banks. You can count them if you wish. I didn't. 

 Harbor seals lining the banks of the sandbar behind the breakwater

Zoomed in with the telephoto lens. One of the youngsters is swimming in the water.

It was still early in the day but we didn't go far up the coast before looking for a spot to camp for a couple of days. We went to Salt Beach Park to the Gertsle Cove campgound and got a campsite for two nights. We were away from phone signals and the wifi wasn't coming in so after setting up and getting the animals settled in the trailer we took the truck and backtracked down the road to a hotel and restaurant. We sat at the bar overlooking the ocean and I had a beer while Denise used their wifi to book us some reservation up the coast near Crescent City. The Federal parks have a 48 hours wait for reservations in busy parks so we had to get them now. It's difficult sometimes to find a spot open with consecutive days. We would be staying 4 days, Denise was able to find a handicap site in Mill Creek Campground so we were set. We headed back to Gertsle Cove stopping along the way to photograph wildflowers.

 Lily

 This old stump looked cool weathering on the roadside.

 Orange bush monkey flowers

  Coast Lily Lilium maritimum

 Rhododendron

 A California Quail

 We had a delightful two days at Gerstle Cove. In the afternoon the wind at the beach is blowing at near hurricane force but as soon as the sun sets and it begins to cool the wind dies down. In the morning it's dead calm until afternoon. I took Pata out first thing in the morning and we took the trail leading down from the campground to the beach. We not exactly beach. You are on the cliffs above the ocean. Its a tough scramble down the rocks to get to beach in most places. A younger me would have been down there without a care but the present me was content to walk the edges and look from the top. Trying to get down with a camera and a dog on a leash was not a good option. We got to the meadows before the sun had crested the mountain. It was cool and the shadows were deep but there was only light fog and the sky was clear. What a nice morning for a walk on the cliffs.

 The surf crashes against the rocks

 The succulents were just about to bloom.

 Gerstle Cove still in the shadows. The building on the cliff is the visitor's center. It was not open during the days that we were there.

 If you did make it down the cliff there's not much of a beach in most places

 The meadow still in shadow. The campground sits high above in the trees at the top.

A Columbian Black Tailed deer feeding in the meadow.

After Pata and I returned to the trailer we had breakfast and I drove Denise down to the cliffs to enjoy the views before the winds returned.

 Just north of the campground is the Kruse Rhododendron State Reserve. It's situated in the redwoods and takes you up the mountain past stands of trees and at this time of year rhododendrons in bloom. It's an awesome sight. There are various wildflowers blooming and butterflies flit from flower to flower. We spent a delightful couple of hours traversing the park before coming out to a road the led back to Cazadero. We turned around and went back through the park, it was the shorter route.

 Andrew's Clintonia a flower in the lily family

 Rhododendrons blooming high above under the story of trees

 Salal

 Douglas Iris

 Coastal Lily

 California Sister

 This house was near the end of the road. The road goes right through the property. On the right side of the road was a riding stable and arena.

Acorn woodpecker

The stay at the coast was pleasant and relaxing and as usual ended all too soon. But there are new roads to explore and new places to see. I was amazed to find out that in all her years growing up in California Denise had never been up the coast past Jenner. I'm glad she finally got to see it. Onward to the next destination.