Fort Bragg

MacKerricher State Park-May 28-31-After eating a hearty Memorial Day brunch at the galley,we headed over to the Mendocino Coast and Fort Bragg.  It was a little hairy cutting west from Willits to get to the coast, hense some tense marital moments.  However, it all seemed worth it when we arrived to the most beautiful campsite along the coast (#119).  We could hear the soft lull of the waves but we were tucked back among the trees with a nice meadow around us. 

After getting Miss Jim B settled in, we had an early dinner and hopped on our bikes.  This is a biker’s haven.  The old logging rode that was used to haul the redwoods to the coast is now a paved trail that goes right along water.  Absolutely beautiful.  We enjoyed going to Laguna point and the rockery (where the babies and mother’s rest)  to see the harbor seals. The sunset was absolutely spectacular.

Talking to Grandma

Watching the seals

The next day, Stefan ended our day by saying, “I liked this day.”  I think we would all agree that this was a special one.  Stefan and Janae started building some huts this morning at the campsite.  They really got into it and would eventually over the next few  days make quite an Indian village complete with a smokehouse, underground storehouse, stable, jail, ceremonial dance hall and etc..  Seeing creative minds so engaged in a self-directed project is a huge endorsement for home schooling and experiencing life as we are on this trip.

Late morning we set-off to sight see in Mendocino.  This town is where they filmed the tv series Murder She Wrote.  This is absolutely one of the most quaint and beautiful towns that I have seen.  Every turn was a new picture.  Loved the Victorian buildings and flowers.  We enjoyed a picnic lunch behind the visitor’s center, strolling through the little shops and having a delicious cookie and coffee at a shop across the street from the old Mason hall with the redwood carving on top.  This little town is just a place where you feel good and I met a woman in her 70s tending to her garden.  I think this is really a place I could spend my last years.

Many of the houses had their own water towers that once were pumped by windmills and now many are being remodeled into guest cottages

Sondra at 70

Angel Trumpet plant

Our scenic picnic

Again we had an early dinner at Miss Jim B and set-off  in the southern direction on the haul rode.  We rode to the end and enjoyed searching for sea glass treasures at Glass Beach before ending up at the amazing Fort Bragg Beach.   Janae and Stefan enjoyed venturing to a little cave and then jumping into a watery sand pit and making quite a mess.  The highlight for me was witnessing another stunning sunset and hearing the crashing waves as we rode home.  Yes Stefan, I liked this day too.

Looking for sea glass at glass beach

Fort Bragg Beach

A glorious end to a beautiful day.

Wednesday morning, Janae and I had a mother/daughter outing to the Mendocino Botanical Gardens.  The rhododendrons are in full bloom and are quite lovely.  Janae’s favorite flowers were the fushias and mine were the rhodys.  We had tea and coffee with delicious shortbread made by the Englishman’s wife of the little  shop before we left.  When we got back, Stefan had made many additions to the village.  After eating lunch, Janae and Stefan worked for hours independently on their project while Mark and I practiced in our neighboring meadow.  This is the life.  We then biked some more, stopped at some new beaches and ended up again at Fort Bragg Beach. 

In competition with the beautiful scenery are the beautiful people we meet along the way.  This place was no exception and we really enjoyed getting to know the neighbors on either side.  Tonight we had a spontaneous smorgasbord dinner with Shelly and John.  It was very interesting learning about her work with mediating and helping the Indians with their treaties.  She studies archives and helps them write their history as well.  It was fascinating learning about her work and learning that she was part of the Indian sit in at Alcatraz in the 70s.  Janae and Stefan loved her information about the soil where we are and how one can tell that is rich in Indian history.  It is dark and rather greasy as a result of the animal fat and fires that they had.  Shelly and John got married 30 years ago this week and Janae and I saw today where they got married in Mendocino Gardens.  Shelly is also cousins with Michael Davis of Hipbone Music.  What a small world!  We also had wonderful conversations and connection with our other neighbors Jonathan and Diane.  His son is a trumpet player in NYC.

The finished village

It was hard saying goodbye to these dear people (and the seals)  who so embraced us and showered Janae and Stefan with lots of attention and adulation around their village.  This is an awesome place and we had great weather (albeit a tad chilly), not a cloud in the sky.