Explorations in Northern California.
Finally, I’m on the road. I launched at about 3pm last Monday, driving through Ramona and Santa Ysabel, then dropping into the Borrego Valley down Montezuma Pass. It is one of my favorite routes east from San Diego. The route carries me past a fairly reliable location in the Henshaw Valley to find Tricolored Blackbirds … Read more
On February 27, I left San Diego on what turned out to be a 16,000 mile tour of western North America that lasted 7½ months. I began with a slow crawl north up the Pacific Coast, with my first stop in San Luis Obispo, and followed it to the Olympic Peninsula in Washington. During the … Read more
Sunday in Fort Saint John, I drove to the local college campus, where there was public parking for a “Community Forest”. Much like Fort Nelson’s Demonstration Forest, this woodland preserve has trails that weave through the trees for the enjoyment of the nature-loving public. I found no shortage of bird-life on my walk, but I … Read more
I spent ten days in Medford (Oregon), addressing minor upgrades to the RV, spinning the most recent yarns about my trip. During this time I enjoyed the company of my sister-in-law, and a couple of visits with my oldest niece. I wasn’t able to see my nephew, his wife, his youngest daughter, or my brother-in-law. … Read more
Citizens Dock and the boat basin in Crescent City’s harbor have provided me with many productive bird meetings in my past travels through this region. During my past visits to the sheltered waters of the inner harbor, I’ve met Common Murres, Common Loons, Great Blue Herons, Black Turnstones, Belted Kingfishers, Wandering Tattlers, Western Grebes, and … Read more
Departing from Eureka, I headed north on US-101. On my way, I stopped to investigate a location I found on my maps just eight miles north, called the Arcada Bird Sanctuary. I found the sanctuary a lovely place to visit. It is yet another example of a community getting together to convert a wastewater facility … Read more
Since my last entry in this month’s journal, I’ve had two really amazing stops in Point Reyes and in Bodega Bay. As I pen these words, this morning I’m finishing up my third day and second night in Fort Bragg. I used my time here to finish weaving my Bodega Bay Yarn. I’ve been feeling … Read more
Bodega Bay is only 34 miles from my Point Reyes Camp near Point Reyes. Years ago I stopped at The Tides Restaurant and enjoyed their good food and a ring-side seat watching birds and wildlife a couple dozen feet below on the harbor’s waters. I found more of the same on this visit. After breakfast … Read more
After driving all day up the coast and through San Francisco, Friday afternoon I pulled into Olema and booked into the RV Park there. Having driven all day from Carmel through gale-force winds and intermittent rain, I was glad to settle in a few miles from Point Reyes Seashore. I booked two nights and had … Read more
I left San Simeon early Friday morning and spent several hours at Piedras Blancas watching Northern Elephant Seals and the turbulent waters of the Pacific Ocean. In years past, I’ve seen waves crash into the white rocks for which this beach is named. The larger rock stands 74 feet above the water’s surface. Sometimes crashing … Read more
