Today’s going to be a big travel day. We’ve got to make it down to Bodega Bay, north of San Francisco. We start off the day right by getting some showers. Zev made the coffee this morning and did a great job. Josh was helpful in getting the Westy packed up. In a nearby town Randi has learned that there is a drive through tree. Being that we haven’t passed up any other experience this trip, we decide to pay for this one too. I’m not sure I’d recommend this to anyone, but we had fun with it, and the van barely made it through! Back on the 101 we continue our trek south. Soon we arrive where route 1 splits off from the 101. Route 101 would be faster for sure, but the 1 meanders along the coastline. After a quick decision, we turn off and take route 1. The first part is a torturous, windy road up a mountain range and then back down the other side. The Westy is a great vehicle but it wasn’t made for hills, and it wasn’t made for tight turns. Put the two together and, well, let’s just say it was a slow, rolling time. After the 22 miles of this we were rewarded with a great view of the Pacific Coast. Route 1, and us (by default), continue along the coastline. It really is a fun road, but it takes a long time. We had great views of the rocky coastline and we travelled through some great little towns.
One place we stopped for a while was in Mendocino. I found a coffee shop where I could sit and update this blog. The kids found a nice little toy store. Randi checked out a few of the shops in town. All the towns along the coast obviously hug the ocean. Mendocino is a quaint, Victorian type of town. Over an hour passed by and we still had a good distance to go on the ol’ route 1 so off we went. The views continued, fog rolling in occasionally. At one point the road climbs high along some bluffs and then down the other side. It can be a little scary to approach a hairpin turn without a guard rail, several hundred feet above the ocean.
It was a fun drive, it was a long drive, but honestly it seemed to go quickly. Nevertheless we were happy to see the signs for Bodega Bay State Park. As we entered the campground the ranger told us that there were spaces for tonight but that the rest of the weekend was sold out because of the holiday. Now Randi and I knew we would be traveling during July 4th but we didn’t make reservations at any of the campgrounds we’ve stayed at, that goes for July 4th weekend as well. We’re starting to get worried about the next few nights but we’ll deal with it later. Bodega Bay is a pleasant place. We could hear the ocean pounding but we couldn’t see it. The fog was thick this evening. It was also pretty chilly. The boys and I went on a little walk to find the beach and couldn’t seem to find it. We turned around when we lost the trail and the fog thickened. Back at camp we made some pasta, and later played some hacky sac. (we bought another hacky sac in Mendocino. I say another because its our third one of the trip. Each has developed a small hole and the sand inside starts leaking out.) One more campfire and of course the obligatory roasted marshmallows and then its off to sleep.
One place we stopped for a while was in Mendocino. I found a coffee shop where I could sit and update this blog. The kids found a nice little toy store. Randi checked out a few of the shops in town. All the towns along the coast obviously hug the ocean. Mendocino is a quaint, Victorian type of town. Over an hour passed by and we still had a good distance to go on the ol’ route 1 so off we went. The views continued, fog rolling in occasionally. At one point the road climbs high along some bluffs and then down the other side. It can be a little scary to approach a hairpin turn without a guard rail, several hundred feet above the ocean.
It was a fun drive, it was a long drive, but honestly it seemed to go quickly. Nevertheless we were happy to see the signs for Bodega Bay State Park. As we entered the campground the ranger told us that there were spaces for tonight but that the rest of the weekend was sold out because of the holiday. Now Randi and I knew we would be traveling during July 4th but we didn’t make reservations at any of the campgrounds we’ve stayed at, that goes for July 4th weekend as well. We’re starting to get worried about the next few nights but we’ll deal with it later. Bodega Bay is a pleasant place. We could hear the ocean pounding but we couldn’t see it. The fog was thick this evening. It was also pretty chilly. The boys and I went on a little walk to find the beach and couldn’t seem to find it. We turned around when we lost the trail and the fog thickened. Back at camp we made some pasta, and later played some hacky sac. (we bought another hacky sac in Mendocino. I say another because its our third one of the trip. Each has developed a small hole and the sand inside starts leaking out.) One more campfire and of course the obligatory roasted marshmallows and then its off to sleep.
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